Tips For Interviewing Teacher Candidates
Adapted from: Kenneth D. Peterson (2002). Effective
teacher hiring: A guide to getting the best. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
Chapter Four: "The Hiring Interview."
1. Practice your interviewing techniques on several of the best
veteran teachers in the district.
2. Have a list of off-limits questions
handy to help avoid them.
3. Systematically use a variety of question types, but emphasize
behavioral examples.
4. Work methodically and stick to your interview plan (exception:
know when to add a spontaneous question).
5. 20/80% rule: talk 20% of the time and listen 80%.
6. Don't register disapproval of candidate answers.
7. Be ready to define esoteric terms or acronyms.
8. Use active listening; once in a while summarize candidate statements.
9. Reassure the applicant that the interview is helpful.
10. Keep the many limitations of interviews in mind as you work.
11. Know and avoid the sources of bias for individual interviewers.