All right, well, welcome back future teacher to this course how to nail the teacher interview. This is Sam Ryan gal again. And again, I want to thank you for hanging in there with me and going through this course with me, I am so excited about the idea of helping you be a teacher. Again, I spent 22 years in the classroom, and I love the best part of my life. And to be able to now share some of my wisdom that probably most of it I gained through trial and error, to be able to share that with you really is a joy really is a joy. And I am so so grateful that you have allowed me to come in and share what I know and what I've learned over the years with you.

As an assistant principal now, I have a different perspective and it has given me an insight into what I really want to see in a new teacher. When I sit on an interview panel, there are certain things that I want to find out about the the candidate Some of these some of these qualities, I really cannot put in a question. And this session is one of those one of those things that I just, you just can't answer. With a straightforward question. You'll understand what I mean when we get into it. This recommendation is a big one.

It's a big one. It is be a team player. This is gigantic, gigantic. So pay close attention to this one, because this is one that's really going to set you apart. If you can articulate this and you can demonstrate this in the interview. There might not be a specific question.

Are you a team player, but it's one of the most important qualities that those on the interview panel are looking for. I read somewhere, you can teach skills, but you can't teach attitude. And that is so true. I would rather hire someone with few skills but With a willingness to learn than someone who thinks they know everything, see I can. I can teach you classroom management. I can teach you how to organize a lesson.

But I can't teach you to be nice. I can't teach you to be to believe in kids, right? I can't teach you to work well with your, with your colleagues. That's something that you have to learn yourself. So when I'm in the interview, kind of looking for someone that's going to be able to work well with others attitude is more important than ability. Now, I have known many teachers who do great things in the classroom, but they can't get along with the adults in the school.

They have the best classroom procedures, but they are always in the middle of the drama with other teachers. No school administrator wants someone like this on their staff. Unfortunately, it's difficult to determine which counters will be drama kings or queens in the interview. Even the letters of recommendation will say good things about the candidate as a memory The interview panel I can't ask, do you like drama? That's why you got to make sure that you including your answers some kind of statement that reassured the panel that you are someone who gets along with everybody. Now, if, if you're not that kind of person, if you don't get along with everybody, if you're always arguing, if you're always having some kind of conflict with someone, it's time to look in the mirror, right?

You can you can choose to blame everybody else, but they don't get you and they don't understand your death just the way I am. I gotta tell you right now, that's got to change. Because if you come into the interview and portray that kind of attitude, you got no chance. You got no chance, I'm sorry. Important to be reflective, right? And we're talking about a little bit more about that as we go on in this session.

So there's always some kind of drama right? There's always some kind of drama on campus. school administrator spent a lot of their times mediating conflict or having crucial conversation with staff members who just can't get along with other staff members. I hate that. Oh, Though your ability to deliver creative and engaging lesson plans might be amazing. If you are equally as skilled at gossiping, I don't want you on my staff.

Being someone who gets along with everyone, that's a talent and it's what I'm looking for in a candidate. So here's some quick tips to help you get the I get along with everyone message across, you're in the interview, and you're asking me questions about lesson planning and classroom management. But in the back of their minds, were saying what am I going to be able to work with this person? So in your responses and even the way you you address the the panel, here are some tips that will allow you to get the I get along with everyone message across, right. So number one, be happy. The interview can be a little intimidating, but do your best to be happy.

I want to work with happy people. They'll smile a lot, right? Number two, don't complain. This is big. I hear this all the time. It doesn't matter if you're justified in complaining about the previous jobs.

Had don't do it, don't do it. You know, I heard someone say, I want to be a teacher because when I worked as a mortgage broker, all the people that were fake, and they only thought of money. This may be true, you know, but it'll make you look like someone who likes to point out people's imperfections. And I have too many imperfections to mention. So I don't want you working with me if you're going to point out my imperfections, right? If you have to talk about previous employment, find something positive.

Talk about the positive don't mention the negative stuff, right. Number three, don't be a no at all. Yes, the administration is looking for someone who is qualified and has the skills necessary for the position but they don't want someone who isn't open to learning new things. I remember interviewing a candidate who had just moved over from another country, and he was involved in curriculum writing and administration in his previous position before moving to the United States. He definitely had the skills and experience for the job and he didn't waste an opportunity to remind us just how qualified he was. The panel felt that he wouldn't be someone who would be open to learning new ways of doing things.

He could have been a great addition to the staff. He may have been a team player and someone who worked well with others. But he focused on trying to impress us with his experience. He wasn't hired, I would have advised him to let the resume do the talking in regard to his experience, and focus on sharing his enthusiasm for learning the new system and collaborating with others. That should have been his focus, right? Be teachable.

Even if you know a lot. One of the quotes I live by your level of success will seldom exceed your level of self development. This is a quote by one of my favorite philosophers, Jim Rohn. And it's so true. The more success I want, the more I had to learn. This desire to keep learning has to be a character trait that comes out in the interview.

You're probably nodding your head in agreement, right? That's why you're taking this course. Right? Make sure that your desire for learning comes down in the interview. You know, being able to get along with others is just as important as and maybe even more important than being able to manage a classroom of eighth graders like I did. Make sure that the members of the interview panel, know that you will make your work environment better and not worse.

So a good question that you might receive an interview is describe a time when you work with a team to accomplish a goal. What was your role? And what were the results? You know, let me help you with this one. If you get this question, it's because the panel is looking to see if you work well with others, right? So be ready with a time that you were part of a team.

It doesn't have to be a school setting. It could be like when you were part of a sports team or you're working on a project at your previous job or or in college. The main point is to not blame others for failures and give credit to others for successes. This is a big let me give you couple examples, let's say to candidates tell a story about a time when the team was not successful. Okay, candidate number one, this is what he says the team was not successful because there were certain members on the team who just didn't pull their weight, and we fell behind. I made sure my responsibilities were completed and on time, but I can't change people.

Candidate number two, the team was not successful. But you know, after reflection, I realized that I could have provided more support to my team members who were struggling, I needed to communicate the objective better, and I missed some opportunities to really make a great contribution. But I learned which candidate gets to start by his or her name, right. Being someone who's able to reflect and acknowledge the role in a negative situation is a quality that school administrators love. Well, what about a time when the team was successful? Which of the two following responses do you think would impress school administration candidate number one, I was on a team with a few of my co workers In my previous job and we secured an account that made the company a large profit, I was recognized with the Team Leader Award, I am very proud of how I was able to lead my team to such a success.

Candidate number two, as part of a team in my previous job, we were able to secure an account that made the company a large profit. I was recognized with an award as a team leader, but I was just lucky to be part of a team of hardworking dedicated co workers who made that possible. Which response better demonstrates a dedication to teamwork, right. Be that candidate who is okay with shining the spotlight on others. That's just good life advice, right? But he will definitely help you in the teacher interview.

All right, guys. Hope you enjoyed that one. That's one of my favorites. You know, you got you got to be a team player. It's very important that in the interview you you demonstrate that you work well with others. Don't talk too much about you, you know, don't try and sell yourself that much.

Talk about how you can contribute to the team that is big. That's what I'm looking for. That's what most school administrators will want to see. They want to see someone who can work with the team. Alright, so that's it for this session. We will see you in the next session.

Have a good one. Talk to you later.