Interviews

[sophie_1003]

I will soon be applying for teaching posts and am terrified I will be asked a question I don't know the answer to; what's the best response if this happens?

[bednobs]

say "i'd like to think about it some more - can we come back to it at the end" then hope they don't remember.
Or simply say "i'm afraid i dont know/don't have experience of that"

[squarebear]

What would you do if it were one of the pupils asking you a question? If the prospect of this terrifies you, I would suggest searching for a different career.

[bednobs]

ach it's easy with pupils - you just have to say "why don't YOU find out and tell me what you've found out tomorrow"

[sophie_1003]

Exactly bednobs; or "Hmm, I'm not sure, let's find out" then do just that; it's not so appropriate to do that in an interview! And thanks for the advice, have looked at some example questions and they don't seem as specific as they thought I would be so I've relaxed a bit now!

[R1Geezer]

Do you mean a question related to the subject you are teaching so you'd presumably feel embarrassed not to know it. Or are you talking about a more general question that they always ask and expect a stock answer but you are afraid that you won't give the stock answer. I was once asked "what would you like to be doing in 10 years", now I know they where expecting some sort of carreer aspirartion but I gave my own stock answer which was "I hope that I'm rich enough not to have to be a wage slave"; Doh! Didn't want the job anyway!
In general it is always better to own up if you dont't know somthing rather than waffle.

[sophie_1003]

I'm an Early Years specialist so if they ask me questions about that I'll be ok, it's more if they ask me about the primary curriculum because I've had less experience in that and those experiences weren't very positive!
If I get a question where I get a bit stuck I'm hoping that I'll be able to answer it somewhat then add "However; as part of my continuing professional development I have identified that my knowledge and experience of this area could be improved upon and I will be looking to do this in my induction year of teaching"
Thanks for the advice R1Geezer! Those sort of questions annoy me too; especially when I've applied for part time shop work it's been "Well to be honest; I'm going to uni so hopefully not working here!" although I think I just made some rubbish up!

[boxtops]

That's a good ploy, sophie - a keenness to develop in the role always goes down well, shows you want to improve your skills and knowledge. I made a big mistake a long time ago of trying to bluff my way through an answer I knew nothing about - I got the job but it still embarrasses me. Now I would say "I haven't had much direct experience with that" or similar, and acknowledge that it's an area which I need to address.

[karenmac60]

See, I've never been sure what they want with that one. If you say you hope to have advanced and show you have gumption and ambition they might think you just want that job as a stepping stone and won't be around long. But if you say you hope to still be there and working hard so as to prove your loyalty then they might pin you as unambitious!

[sophie_1003]

Yeah that is an issue Karen; will have to think about that one; will probably say I would like to be an Early Years leader or something; I'm not even sure yet!

[sherrardk]

Hello Sophie - it's natural to worry but your friends will also be going to interviews and will get the same stock questions so you can compare and prepare before each one as a group. They know that you are a 'novice' so they aren't trying to catch you out. Good luck.

[sophie_1003]

Thanks sherrard! This is the sort of thing I get worked up about before anything's even happened; think once I've had the first one (and have got a mock one at uni) will be able to relax a bit!

[sherrardk]

For my first secondary teaching job I was the only one there and I was sat in the Head's office while they went off to discuss me (and I was so nervous I was nearly in tears!) and the window cleaner asked me what I was in trouble for - he thought I was a pupil! Two years later I was demanding a promotion or I was off. You will be fine, they need you more than you need them. Good luck. x

[sophie_1003]

Lol, brilliant story! I have a few friends who have been mistaken as work experience pupils so at least I won't have that problem! Thanks; will probably be shouting it from the rooftops if (and being more positive; when) I get a job!