Interview techniques for ECTs to land your dream role

Having completed your teacher training, the next step for any ECT is to find a school that you think is right for you. Then you can look to secure your dream role and kick-start your teaching career.

So in a bid to help you stand out in an interview, here a few tips to help get your life as an early career teacher off to a fantastic start…

Make sure you know what to expect

Remember that the interview will likely only form part of the process and that a school might expect you to look around, teach an interview lesson and to meet staff and pupils.

Make sure you’re aware of what to expect in advance so that you can prepare everything you might need – don’t be afraid to ask questions before-hand if you’re unsure on any parts of the process.

If you are expected to teach a lesson or to present, as an early career teacher you should opt for topics that you know well, as this will enable you to showcase your knowledge and passion effectively.

Speak clearly and concisely

Take a second to compose yourself before answering any questions during the interview and carefully consider what you wish to say to ensure you’re answering what is asked.

Try to avoid mumbling and make sure that everyone in the room can hear your answers if more than one person is interviewing you.

Demonstrate your skills

While you may not have a lot of classroom experience, you still have an array of relevant skills that you’ll need to showcase in the interview.

Look to the job description for hints of what the school is looking for and think of examples where you can demonstrate the key capabilities that are expected – these could come from your time in teaching training or any other part of life.

Anything you say when you answer a question should be backed up by at least one example, and by more if possible if you really wish to stand out.

Look to have pre-planned examples in mind, which can then be referenced if certain themes and topics come up in the interview.

Showcase your research

Prior to any interview for a new role, an early career teacher should spend plenty of time reading about the school and digging deeper into how it operates.

Then during the interview, look to mention aspects such as the school ethos and its values, and use examples show what they mean to you.

An ECT may also wish to reference past exam results or news stories, as these also help to demonstrate that you’ve taken the time to learn about the setting in which you want to work.

Focus on you!

The nature of being an ECT means that others might have more classroom experience than you, but it’s likely you also offer things that they cannot.

The interview is an opportunity for you to showcase your enthusiasm for the role and the sheer fact you have the interview is a sign that they liked your application.

Take a positive mindset into the interview with you and you’ll hopefully be a step closer to landing your first dream ECT role!

You can view all of our jobs here or alternatively you can submit your CV - your local education recruitment consultant will get in touch with you shortly.