When you’re looking for a new teaching post, it can sometimes feel that the interview process is focused on answering the interviewer’s questions - so much so that you forget to ask smart questions of your possible future employers
You should effort into asking questions that show:
- you’re ready to jump right in
- allow you to gauge whether the role is a good fit for you in the first place.
Don’t let the interview opportunity go to waste.
1. “WHAT DOES SUCCESS LOOK LIKE FOR NEW TEACHERS IN THIS SCHOOL?”It’s better to know, even before day one, what it would take to succeed in your position. Heidi Solti-Berner, evolving workforce talent leader at Deloitte, recommends this question because it gives the hiring leader a chance to spell out the qualities of high performers in the organisation.
“Once you have a clearer picture of this you can better demonstrate how those identified qualities are aligned with your work ethic, professional goals, and overall personality.”
In addition this helps ensure you’ll start off with insider knowledge about how to thrive in your new school. It also shows that your main priority is to start delivering impact right away.
2. “HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE TEAM AND LEADER I’D BE WORKING WITH?”
Yes, getting a job is important, but it’s even more important to work in a school where you’re supported by a leader and colleagues who are proactive about helping you grow.
Chelsea Kovak, a recruiter at the business-loan platform Fundera, explains that “nothing has a bigger impact on your ability to develop and grow in a role than the amount of mentoring and focus you can get from your leader.”
But Kovak also points out that this question helps you understand the work culture, since it “gives a sense of the way the team will work together and can really prepare you for the culture of the school or company you’ve signed up for.”
If the interviewer shares even a few background details of the team’s dynamics, they can be pretty telling–and hopefully help you decide whether it’s the right environment for you.
For instance, do they mention that the team is collaborative and works on planning together? Or, does your team only consist of you and your leader? Is it a growing staff that’s looking to add new faces over the next six months? This is all useful information when you’re sizing up a role. But what’s more, asking this question gives you one last chance to show the interviewer that if you’re offered the position, you’ll be able to fit right in with the team.
3. “IF OFFERED THE JOB, WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND I DO TO GET OFF TO A GREAT START?”
While the first question focuses on your long-term success, this last one gives you intel on what it would take to stand out immediately. And according to Jeremy Payne, VP and head of operations at Remote Year, says that asking this question helps the interviewer visualize you in the role.
In addition to getting yet another chance to reassure the interviewer why you’re up for the challenges ahead of you, Payne adds that it’s also a useful data-gathering opportunity: “It allows you to determine where you would need development and provides you with advice toward that development–all in one response.” And best of all, since the interviewer is thinking about what you in particular would need to start off on the right foot, the suggestions you’ll hear will be tailored to your skills and credentials.
Adding these three questions to your mental lineup while you’re prepping for interviews can help you wrap up your conversation on a high note. They let you show the interviewer that success and culture are both equally important to you, all while letting you suss out whether the team, position, and expectations fit with your personal career goals.
