Being a teacher for 15 years I didn’t know what to expect when stepping back into the interview world. I mean really, what did they want to know? Doesn’t my experience in itself tell it all? And based on my previous interviewing experiences I got both of my teaching positions on the spot, one interview, having a meaningful conversation…done! But boy was it different this time around! Ya see I left my teaching position after having my baby boy because this tired, teacher mama needed a break. And if you’ve read my post, The Diary of a Not So Wimpy Teacher: Doing What You Love With Passion & Purpose, this teacher got her passion back stronger and brighter than before and was ready for new opportunities and possibilities. But that opportunity came sooner than expected and I was NOT ready, nor prepared. But I went on the interview, which was a teaching position in my local school district, and it went great! I answered the interview questions with ease and knew I did a great job. But when walking into the second interview, I was like, “Yea I got this,” but became unsure when I saw the “competition” walking in with a binder tucked under their arms. I thought, “What the heck is that? Do I need one of those? Nah, not me! They must be new teachers.” Well, I was wrong. That binder was a teacher interview portfolio full of all of their awesomeness. And I didn’t have one. I didn’t have a portfolio of awesomeness to share. The second interview was based on “not so engaging questions” with no opportunity to veer off-topic to share my passion, my dedication, and my love for teaching and building relationships with students. So basically, in a nutshell, I bombed that interview. 🙁
But I’m glad I did. 🙂
Why? Because it takes failure to reach success. And I knew I had to up my game. I knew I had to package all of my awesomeness into a portfolio and strut my stuff into future interviews with swag and determination. You’ve got to own that interview. You’ve got to own those questions, own your good work, and own the time you get in that interview, even if it is only 15 minutes. You got to make them remember you. You got to make them WANT to hire you. You’ve got to CRUSH it!
So, I created a Teacher Interview Portfolio to crush future interviews. Because whether you are a new teacher, a veteran teacher, or are looking to change school districts or positions, a teacher’s portfolio and interview planner is a must-have to showcase your best work to land the job you want. It’s a resource that will be ready for future interviews and job postings or one that comes up at a moment’s notice. Being prepared and ready is key to showing that you are the best candidate for the job and that you will be an asset to the school district and the school community.
And what’s even better is that this portfolio is completely editable with pages to customize to your liking and needs. Because no portfolio is one size fits all. These are the bones to work with. You could change font, and color, and rearrange it so that it’s perfect for you. My only suggestion is to keep it professional looking if you decide to add or change it. Resist “cutesy” clip art and anything too colorful or flashy. Keep it professional!
What’s Included:
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Portfolio Cover
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Interview Planner
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Interview Questions for practice
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Interview Ready Questions for the Employer
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Resume Template (Includes a link to teacher resume samples)
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Cover Letter Template (Includes a link to teacher cover letter samples)
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Reference Template
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My Story Template
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All About (Name) at a Glance Template
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Teaching Philosophy Template (Includes a link to sample teaching philosophies)
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Classroom Management Template
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Classroom Organization Template
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Parent Communication Template
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Family Engagement Template
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Lesson Plan Template
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Formal Lesson Plan Template
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Assessment & Data
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Classroom Snapshots (you could use this page for multiple sections in your portfolio)
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Professional Development
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Section Dividers
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Teacher Portfolio Checklist
I know that with a teacher interview portfolio, you WILL land the teaching position that you desire. Get the complete editable Teacher Interview Portfolio and read the reviews that helped so many teachers land the job here. Just add your awesomeness! And here’s a FREE Interview Planner, Resume Template & Interview Guide to get you started.
Interview Tips:
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Show ’em what you know- Don’t throw out too many buzzwords, like differentiation, common core, and higher-order thinking, without elaborating on what you know about each.
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Be real- Just be yourself and speak to your experience and/or passion.
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Smile- Smiling is contagious! Be friendly, and personable, but professional!
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Ask questions- Interview them!
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Sell yourself- this is your time to SHINE! It’s okay to brag a little! Maybe even a lot!
Don’t forget to showcase your awesomeness!
This is what you’ll need:
Now go get ‘em and CRUSH that interview! You’ve Got This!
Good Luck!
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Thanks for reading!
Christine Weis is a passionate educator, classroom management coach, wife, and mom of two busy boys. She enjoys teaching, writing, and creating resources for teachers.
Hi Christine, these tips and questions are very good to approach my interview. Thanks for sharing these tips and questions. Keep Updating.
Thanks Martin! I’m glad you found this helpful! Best of luck with your future interviews!
Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
This is awesome! I love that you included interview questions by the employer and for the employer! What a great resource to help get ready for an interview! Thank you for putting this together!
Thanks Lori! I tried to think of everything to support success in the interview process. I hope it helps many teachers to showcase their awesomeness. Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
These tips are great for any interview setting. Be a strong candidate and prove what you know. Confidence is key
Thank you and YES!!! Proving what you know and CONFIDENCE is so important. Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
Wow, what a great resource for people applying to teaching jobs. I have a couple of friends who are teachers and they’ve told me about the interview process and how stressful it can be. I’m going to forward this to them.
The interview process is a bit overwhelming. I have sat on many interview panels and it’s not easy being in the hot seat. In my opinion I don’t think the interview process is that effective. I have seen many people interview VERY well and then prove otherwise in the classroom. I think having a meaningful conversation with a few quality questions is key to getting to know the candidate. I’ve seen teachers get the run around too…coming back for multiple interviews. Fortunately I got both my teaching positions on the spot in one interview. Whew! Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
This is such a great resource! I have a few people I know who could benefit form this!
Thank you! Yes…I think we all do! Please share as you see fit! Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
amazing view on how to act on interviews! I love how the kit you made is so diverse and can really adapt to every situation/ industry where you are at!
Thank you! I agree! These tips and strategies for interviews can apply to any profession. All professionals need to have a portfolio to showcase their awesomeness. 😉 Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
These tools are sure to be helpful to anyone that is in looking for work and in need of interview tips.
Thank you! I agree that anyone in any profession could benefit from putting together a portfolio and using these tips. Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
Fab kit, when armed with that how could you not impress! Great post
Thank you! That’s the plan! Be ready, be prepared and impress! Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
This is an amazingly thorough resource Christine!
I can definitely relate to how learning from our mistakes often brings forth something better! I’m sorry to hear about your interview, and I think that this post needs to be read by all teachers – new and veteran. We learn and grow so much as we struggle together, so thank you for being so open and sharing this with us!
Thank you Kim! I hope other teachers will make and take a portfolio of their awesomeness to their next interview. Some job postings come up out of nowhere and there could be some competition. I now know to be ready for whatever comes my way.Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
this sounds like it’s super helpful!
YES! I hope so! Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
This is a sure shot for success!
Very well made template with all necessary data presented at a glance.
Thank you! I hope it’s helpful to many teachers! 🙂 Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
These templates are great. This is definitely something more experienced teachers should know about when they’re ready to transfer or reapply.
Thank you! For sure! I hope this is useful to all teachers, new and veteran! Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
This sounds super helpful! My Dad is a teacher and I remember him trying to help me prepare for my first interview and having no idea where to start. It’s a very different field!
I think it’s hard preparing for any interview in all professions. I have sat on many interview panels and found that some people interview well and some don’t. I think we miss out on some real potential to people that don’t interview well. It’s best to be as prepared and organized as you can be going in. Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
Oh wow, this is such a great resource for a job interview! You’ve thought of everything!
Thank you! I hope it helps many teachers. Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
Wow you have genuinely thought of everything! I’m always so impressed by your ideas and professionalism and yet still you continue to go one step further. Also, it’s incredibly lovely of you to help out the teachers that you could one day compete with – giving them your top tips etc. Although considering you’re such a natural, you’ll never have any problems 🙂
Thanks so much Zoe! I appreciate your thoughtful comment and kind words. I figure we teachers are all in the same boat and helping others in this profession is what I am happy doing. Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
This is a really good idea to help people get organized before an interview and have super professional materials. Good work!
Thank you Crystal! I hope it’s helpful to many teachers. It helped me to get organized and focus on my strengths. Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
I like that you created such a comprehension kit with interview tips. It looks jam packed with resourceful information.
Thank you! I hope it is useful to all teachers, new and veteran. Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers