Information for Teacher Candidates

Education Fairs in Colorado

Click here for locations, dates and times for Teacher Education Fairs throughout Colorado 

Preparing for the Fair

Teacher Education Resume Packet

Interviewing Skills

Careers for Mountaineers Online Career Management System

Education Fair Tidbits. . . General Information:

• Interviews you will experience are mostly screening interviews, which can lead up to a final interview on site with the district. However, some districts will come prepared to offer a contract at the fair.
• Interview slots are limited to 30 minutes each. Show up early to guarantee an interview.
• Most districts that attend the fair do not yet know their hiring needs, but will interview you anyway. Other districts are already looking to fill specific vacancies.
• Interview topics will consist of typical questions related to any type of job, but will also specifically consist of teacher related questions such as methodology, lesson plans, dealing with parents and standards.

Do’s & Don’t's when attending a fair:

Do . . .

• Dress and act professionally.
• Carry several copies of your resume with you.
• Bring your portfolio with you, in a condensed form.
• Market yourself. The first 5 minutes of the interview are crucial.
• Do talk about the love and passion you have for children.
• Talk about teaching standards.
• Attend and stick to scheduled interviews. Excuse your self politely when you need to go to the next interview.
• Let the recruiter know you are the #1 candidate, without cutting anyone else down.
• Get a job the first year out of college. Each year after college without a teaching job makes you less and less marketable.

Do not . . .

• Try to sell yourself when signing up for an interview. Just get an interview agenda ASAP. It is competitive.
• Be overly picky or you won’t get an offer.
• Be a no-show for an interview. Make sure you cancel if you plan not to attend.
• Take the first contract offered, especially if you are very marketable. Ask if you can visit them at their district. Do additional research on the district.

Interview Questions

Employer Questions

The following questions are representative of those that you are likely to encounter in your interviews. Use these to practice and you will be prepared to communicate your teaching skills.

1. Why do you want to teach?
2. What is your philosophy of education?
3. With what kind of student do you most (least) like to work?
4. Describe your style of teaching.
5. Would you like to be involved in school (community) activities?
6. What do you plan to be doing in five years?
7. What are your career goals?
8. Describe your student teaching experiences.
9. What was your biggest problem in student teaching? How did you resolve it?
10. What three words would your students use to describe you as a teacher?
11. How do you individualize your teaching?
12. How do you feel that the “rapid learner” should be provided for in your area of teaching?
13. What is the greatest attribute you can bring to a class of students?
14. What are the qualities of an excellent teacher? Which of these qualities do you have?
15. How would you work with students who perform below grade level, especially those from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds?
16. What grade level do you prefer? Why?
17. How would you use teacher aides and parent volunteers?
18. Are parent/teacher conferences important? Why or why not?
19. Why do you want to work in our district?
20. What do you know about our school district?
21. Why should our school district hire you?
22. Describe the idea classroom.
23. How do you relate with minority students in the classroom?
24. A student is consistently late to your class. How do you handle the situation?
25. What would you do, or how would you treat a student who refuses to do the work you assigned?
26. How would you handle a student who continually “acted up” in your class?
27. How and when do you discipline a student?
28. How should a student’s educational achievement and progress be measured?
29. You know that a staff member has been talking behind your back about what he or she sees as your ineffective teaching methods. What would you do?
30. What do you expect from your supervisor?

Candidate Questions

If you are serious about teaching in the district where you are interviewing, there are many questions to which you need to know the answers before you accept an offer. By asking pertinent questions of your interviewer you will show your interviewer that you do understand fundamental issues relating to teaching. You should have several questions in mind before you arrive for your interview. Below are several questions that should give you a good start.

1. What is the teacher/student ratio in your district?
2. Do you encourage teachers to earn advanced degrees?
3. How many classes a day will I be expected to teach?
4. Do you have teachers serving in areas for which they do not have full certification?
5. Tell me about the students who attend this school?
6. What textbooks does the district use in this subject area?
7. Do teachers participate in curriculum review and change?
8. What support staff members are available to help students and teachers?
9. How does the teaching staff feel about new teachers?
10. What discipline procedures does the district use?
11. Do parents support the schools? Does the community?
12. Do your schools use teacher aides or parent volunteers?
13. What allowances are provided for supplies and materials?
14. Does the administration encourage field trips for students?
15. How are teachers assigned to extracurricular activities? Is compensation provided?
16. Does the district have a statement of educational philosophy or mission?
17. What are prospects for future growth in this community and its schools?

For more information or to schedule an appointment for a cover letter/resume critique, contact:

Career Services Coordinator
Mariah Green
Taylor Hall 302A
(970) 943-7122
mgreen@western.edu