How to Get Your First Teaching Job Interview - 7 Frequently Asked Questions

Getting your first teaching job interview can be more difficult than many beginning teachers realize.   For any one teacher job opening, there can literally be hundreds of applications.  But in many situations, school districts do not advertise open teaching jobs and if they do, they start with the applications they have on file first.  

In order to increase your chances of getting a teaching job interview as soon as possible, you need to send your resume and application packet to every school district in your area, regardless if any positions are currently open or not. By doing so, you immediately increase your chances of getting an interview when a teaching job does become available.  

In the remainder of this article, I will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about the process of getting a good application packet ready.  By the end you should have a good idea of the steps involved in getting your first teaching job interview.

How to Get Your First Teaching Job Interview - 7 Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get solid letters of recommendation?

You should include at least three letters of recommendation with your application packet.   These should be professional references and not from friends or family members.   The first should be one from your cooperating teacher. You should have received a letter by the end of your student teaching, but if not, you should get one immediately. For new teachers, this is the letter that they'll be looking for.

If you are struggling to find additional references, think about contacting former professors or instructors who might be willing to write a quick letter attesting to your outstanding teaching skills. They are usually more than happy to help.

What documents should I include in my application packet?

At the very minimum, you should include the teaching application (if required by your state), a cover letter, your resume, and letters of recommendation.   I also suggest including a copy of your teaching certificate, your diploma, one or two of your best lesson plans, and a copy of your criminal background check. 

I have no teacher experience, what should I include under employment on my resume?

If you don't have previous teaching experience, you should start by including your student teaching.  I also suggest listing "Private Tutoring" as past experience.   Even if you have never done any tutoring for money, I'm sure you have helped other students for free.   

How should I address the cover letter?

You want to address the cover letter directly to the school superintendent. Create one cover letter first, making it as general as possible. You want to make it so you only need to change the school district address and superintendent name when you go to print them out for each individual school district. 

In your opening sentence or paragraph, you should explain that you are writing to apply for any potential openings. For example:

Dear Superintendent Name,

I am writing to express my interest in any current or potential Math teaching positions that may become available in your school district. I am from your areaand have heard great things about your school ...

When applying for a teaching job, you want to send your application directly to the Superintendent of each school. By doing so, your resume will pass directly from the Superintendent to human resources. It's also possible that the Superintendent will open your application packet directly, which is an added bonus as hopefully your name will be at the top of his head when a position opens up.

How do find schools and names of Superintendents?

Depending on what you state you are in, finding school names, superintendent names, and mailing addresses can be fast and easy. For example, the Pennsylvania Department of Education website has a great feature called EdNa (education names and addresses) that allows you to find information by school district by clicking on a map. See this page to try it out: http://www.edna.ed.state.pa.us/. Other states offer similar services.

Another website that is useful for identifying school districts in your area is http://educationbug.org, which provides profiles on each K-12 school in the United States.

How do I prepare my application packet?

Once you have a list of school districts, you can prepare your application packet to mail. First, print out a cover letter for each school you would like to send an application to.  If you created a general cover letter, you should only need to change the address and Superintendent name.

When putting your application packet together, your cover letter should go first. Then include your resume, your teaching certification, your reference letters, your application, and anything else you would like to include such as a sample lesson plan and clearances.

How many schools should I send to?

The key is to send your application packet to every school district in your area. You never know when one of them will have an opening. Many teachers leave in the middle of the, so just get your resume into as many hands as possible as you never know when a position will be open.

How to Get Your First Teaching Job Interview - 7 Frequently Asked Questions
Check For The New Release in Health, Fitness & Dieting Category of Books NOW!
Check What Are The Top Cooking Books in Last 90 Days Best Cheap Deal!
Check For Cookbooks Best Sellers 2012 Discount OFFER!
Check for Top 100 Most Popular Books People Are Buying Daily Price Update!
Check For 100 New Release & BestSeller Books For Your Collection

Click here for more great teaching job interview tips. Also see my reviews of the Top 3 Alternative Online Jobs for Teachers.

Using Mock Interview Questions and Answers in Your Job Interview Preparation

Using mock interview questions and answers as a preparation tool will improve your interviewing effectiveness. One of my clients used to practice with their pet, which is absolutely ridiculous. An actual person to provide feedback will make your practice more valuable. If you are not utilizing this as a part of your job interview preparation, now is the perfect time to begin!

Working with mock interview questions and answers is a type of role playing. It is the most practical job interview preparation you can utilize. The approach is to have another person ask a series of questions that you expect to hear during the interview. Perhaps the most important part is you taking the time to thoughtfully and fully answer them out loud, just as if you were in the interview. Skipping the answering portion makes the entire mock interview questions and answers session useless. If you take the time and effort to complete the exercise, you will become more comfortable in the skills you want to highlight and how you articulate them. This kind of job interview preparation is very worthwhile, as it allows you to craft your responses in a thoughtful and concise manner.

Frequently, there are a series of fairly standard interview questions. Some of these include:What is it about this company that has you interested? What are your biggest strengths and weaknesses? Tell me about yourself.

Using Mock Interview Questions and Answers in Your Job Interview Preparation

More and more interviewees are asked behavioral questions as a way to test their critical thinking skills. These questions may prove challenging! They require you to provide specific examples or instances when you took an action, solved something, or made a decision. For example; Tell me about a time... Please describe a situation where... What was your specific approach to...

By using the mock interview questions and answers technique with a friend, loved one, neighbor, peer, or human resource professional, you will quiet your nerves, convey your confidence and demonstrate that you are able to capable and will perform positively when hired.

You have invested a lot in your sales tools just to earn the interview. Now, devote the time to increasing your chances of advancing through the process by practicing mock interview questions and answers with someone who can give you candid feedback. You may ask them to specifically listen for any employment gaps you need to address. They might also listen for clarity in why you are looking to make a considerable career change. Just like from a sports or life coach, feedback is a key part of any job interview preparation.

As an example, I had a client who was involuntarily discharged from his last job. Understandably still a sore spot for him, yet one he must overcome because previous positions will be discussed during upcoming interviews. In practicing mock interview questions and answers I helped him organize his responses to include what he enjoyed most and what he learned from the position that will benefit his future employer. By completing all three components (questions, answer, feedback) of this job interview preparation he is more equipped and will perform at an elevated level.

Good luck in your next interview!

Using Mock Interview Questions and Answers in Your Job Interview Preparation
Check For The New Release in Health, Fitness & Dieting Category of Books NOW!
Check What Are The Top Cooking Books in Last 90 Days Best Cheap Deal!
Check For Cookbooks Best Sellers 2012 Discount OFFER!
Check for Top 100 Most Popular Books People Are Buying Daily Price Update!
Check For 100 New Release & BestSeller Books For Your Collection

Employment Coach Sean McCaffrey invites you to receive his FREE information packed CD "Six Amazing Secrets Job Seekers Need to Know Before Writing Your Resume!" at [http://seanmccaffrey.com/] and for more information on mock interviews go to http://seanmccaffrey.com/mock-interview-questions-and-answers/

A Freethinking Secular Wellness Enthusiast Interviews Dr Ken Cooper, Devout Christian - Happy X-Day

I am NOT neutral about Ken Cooper. I like the man. I admire his contributions and initiatives; he is an exercise and fitness pioneer whose works have benefited countless citizens. In fact, I consider Ken Cooper an American hero, a trailblazer who provided a foundation for the wellness movement. Ken is also a friend of mine -- we have been together on many occasions and shared membership in the late and lamented "National Fitness Leaders Association," an honorary body whose members were selected by the President' s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports with support from Allstate Insurance Company and the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce. We have exchanged lots of materials over the years. Going way back, his books on aerobics were among the scientific resources that helped convince my graduate school administrators that wellness was a field deserving of the research I proposed for a doctoral dissertation.

March 4, 2011 was Ken Cooper's 80th birthday. Let's all give three cheers for a grand old man responsible for a world of good works. America is fat and unfit, for the most part, but not because Ken Cooper did not do more than his part to promote a healthy nation. In fact, without his presence on this earth for the past 80 years, things would be much worse. A few years ago, I did an extensive interview with Dr. Cooper. I told him that I thought he should consider promoting wellness more and fitness less, however important exercise is. I wanted him to be less of a guru, also, though our celebrity-focused culture no doubt applies all manner of incentives for him to go along with that role. But I have always wanted to see him lose that white coat, doctor outfit with stethoscope dangling from his neck. This first was seen on the cover of his books and later at his websites! In my quality of life way of seeing things, wellness lifestyles are not medical matters but challenges of philosophy and self-management (more more and far beyond the business of a doctor). The doctor image seems to portray an expert with authority, a figure who has all the answers. In a wellness context, the individual is the responsible agent - and a doctor, nurse and for that matter, all other professionals are simply resources for advice, when called upon. These are some of the concerns I raised with Dr. Cooper and are discussed in this interview.

The first challenge in my view is for physicians and other health promoters to empower consumers with the sense that they can take charge of their own lifestyles. (Not because of doctor's orders but because they appreciate that exercise and a wellness lifestyle represent a better way to live, as well as a healthier choice.) I wonder if now it might be time for Dr. Cooper to go off on a very long vacation - he's worked hard enough. Is there no end to how much endurance for duty this man has. Maybe he should slow down a bit-smell the roses more-it's hard to believe that anyone (let alone a guy who just turned 80) is still going so strong.

A Freethinking Secular Wellness Enthusiast Interviews Dr Ken Cooper, Devout Christian - Happy X-Day

A little background on the good doctor is in order for some younger readers. Kenneth H. Cooper, M.D., M.P.H., wrote the landmark book, "Aerobics" in 1968. This was based on groundbreaking work as a U.S. Air Force flight surgeon and director of the Aerospace Medical Laboratory in San Antonio. "Aerobics" introduced Cooper's 12-minute test and his "Aerobics Point System." The book represented a plea to refocus the entire field of medicine away from disease treatment to disease prevention through aerobic exercise. From this time forward, Cooper's message has been: "It is easier to maintain good health through proper exercise, diet and emotional balance than it is to regain it once it is lost." For at least 30 years, the message was not heeded. In part because of this message and because of a lot of other similar messages during the last decade, it is now happening - medicine is shifting toward prevention and even health promotion. But the transition is slow.

It is often said that Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart brought more beauty into the world than anyone else; it is not unusual to hear similar high praise bestowed upon Cooper. It's possible that he has motivated more people to exercise in pursuit of good health than any other person. A list of his achievements would take more space than allotted here but I'll mention just a few:

* Author of more than 20 books, 30 million of which have been sold in 41 languages (and Braille).
* Set the standard for a fitness center. This year marked the 40th anniversary of the Cooper Aerobics Center in Dallas, which he founded and continues to head as president and chief executive officer.
* Consultant to the fitness world. At present, more than 2,500 universities and public schools utilize all or a part of his programs, as do military organizations in this country and abroad.
* Influence on public health. Cooper's books, the impact of the Cooper Center research programs, his lectures and other initiatives have been highly influential in the 48 percent decrease in deaths from heart disease reported in America between 1968 and 1990.
* Promotion of exercise near and far. Cooper has appeared in fifty other nations. In Brazil, running is called "coopering" or "doing the cooper" and the national fitness test in Hungary is called the "Cooperteszt."
* Professional consultation to individuals and business groups. Cooper and his staff are available for hire to assist companies of all kinds in the start up and design of wellness-related facilities and services. They do feasibility studies, facility design, club management, staffing, exercise equipment recommendations and more. He also manages several websites and markets a line of vitamin/mineral supplements.
* Produces and performs a weekly one-hour radio show.

When we spoke for purposes of this interview, we spent a bit of time discussing mutual friends, memories of meetings over the years, our respective personal fitness activities, the National Wellness Institute and assorted current events. He proudly mentioned the accomplishments of Cooper Center staff members, one of whom had just competed in the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon. Despite preparation at the Cooper Clinic, this person only managed the first two events (the 2.4 mile swim and 112 mile bike) - the run became a near-death experience. While we expressed respect for the dedication and commitment required for Ironman distance events, we agreed that such ordeals are not conducive to or even consistent with optimal health-thank goodness!

My first question was about personal change. I asked if his ideas had evolved over the years, volunteering that I sensed a shift in focus from a strict emphasis on exercise/fitness/ prevention/and testing to a broader awareness and promotion of personal effectiveness. In short, I noted a deliberate move toward wellness. He readily and enthusiastically agreed. However, he did not go on, as I anticipated, about such dimensions as humor and play, critical thinking, relationships, emotional intelligence or the quest for meaning and purpose, though I'm sure he values and promotes all of the above-and more.

Instead, he launched into a discussion of the Cooper Clinic and the research being done there on coronary heart disease and risk factors-and followed that with a commentary on high blood pressure and hypertension, HDL cholesterol and HDL ratios, percent body fat, smoking and alcohol consumption, treadmill performance time and pulmonary function! He mentioned the Center's "Fitnessgram" project. To date, standard tests and individualized fitness report cards for more than ten million students have been distributed. Also noted was the fact that research data are collected daily at other divisions of the Cooper Aerobics Center. The Cooper Clinic has dozens of physicians who conduct comprehensive physical evaluations and provide recommendations for attaining and maintaining good health. The Center's health club has 3,000 members engaged in supervised exercise programs. Each day, information is gathered and added to the computerized database. As at other high-end facilities, members have access to state-of-the-art workout facilities, classes, personal coaching, a day spa and outdoor/indoor running tracks. Cooper said he's personally active in other Center offerings such as the live-in programs that range from four days to two weeks and include medical evaluations, nutritional counseling, supervised exercise, stress reduction training, wellness workshops and personal counseling.

Cooper did not think there was any conflict of interest in recommending his own brand of vitamins and mineral supplements, saying that this aspect of his program was integral to on-going research being done at the Center. I did not pursue this. I might at some future date, when I feel more like playing an investigative journalist ala John Steward or Mike Wallace. But, this chat was designed as a friendly interview.

Dr. Cooper is passionate about his mission. The ambitious agenda and diverse endeavors give meaning and purpose to his existence. His role is to reach out and be of service to others. His pace at 80 is not, of course, what it was - no one entering his ninth decade can be. His physician son Tyler will be his successor. After all, nobody, not even the Father of Aerobics, can live forever. I mentioned and he enthusiastically endorsed the sentiments of Hans Selye, who said, "there 's nothing wrong with retirement, so long as it doesn't get in the way of your work." He continues to speak with animation about his projects -- he is a happy man who is somewhat maniacally-focused (in a nice way!) on his Cooper Center, Cooper websites, Cooper supplements, Cooper research, Cooper travels, Cooper lectures, Cooper videos, Cooper contacts and much, much more projects and services the names of which start with the word "Cooper." It would not surprise me if there's a fast food restaurant somewhere that offers a low-fat "Cooper Whooper Burger." While financial and other forms of success seem to have come to him in abundance, he remains a warm, engaging and kindly figure who is remarkably friendly and accessible.

One of my questions was going to be "How do you avoid getting treated like a guru?" but decided that this was not appropriate for the obvious reason that he clearly enjoys being a guru. People probably reinforce it for him and it serves to boost the Cooper enterprises. Considering that he is first and foremost a physician prescribing for the ill and worried, well and unfit, that's probably what his audience desires. Finally, given that he will be 90 in ten years and a centenarian ten years later, I wondered if he wants to be thought of as the "God of Aerobics" forever? But, I already felt I knew the answer. He would love it.

A Freethinking Secular Wellness Enthusiast Interviews Dr Ken Cooper, Devout Christian - Happy X-Day
Check For The New Release in Health, Fitness & Dieting Category of Books NOW!
Check What Are The Top Cooking Books in Last 90 Days Best Cheap Deal!
Check For Cookbooks Best Sellers 2012 Discount OFFER!
Check for Top 100 Most Popular Books People Are Buying Daily Price Update!
Check For 100 New Release & BestSeller Books For Your Collection

Publisher of the ARDELL WELLNESS REPORT (AWR) - a weekly electronic newsletter devoted to commentaries on current issues that affect personal and social well being from a quality of life perspective. The emphasis is on REAL wellness, which is also the topic of Don's latest book. Read about it here - https://www.createspace.com/3478226 - The "REAL" acronym reflects key issues embraced and advanced in Don's philosophy, namely, Reason, Exuberance, Athleticism and Liberty. Sample copy of Don's latest edition by request. If you like it, you can sign up - the price is right - free. Contact Don at awr.realwellness@gmail.com

33 Radio Interview Tips That'll Make You a Star

You've landed the radio interview and it's time to get ready to actually do it. Now what? Here's a list of interview tips you'll want to read before your next interview. Keep them nearby, you'll be glad you did!

1. Go to a quiet room in your home or office; be sure staff and/or family know you are on a radio interview and cannot be interrupted.

2. Turn off other phones, cell phones and anything else that could create background noise including air conditioners and the radio, etc.

33 Radio Interview Tips That'll Make You a Star

3. Have a glass of water nearby; there's nothing worse than dry mouth on a radio interview.

4. Disable call waiting: dial *70 and then call the studio number. This disables call waiting for the duration of the phone call. As soon as you hang up, it will be reactivated.

5. Be on time. Call the station exactly at the time they tell you, or be at your phone waiting if the station is going to call you.

6. Use a land line phone for best quality. Some stations won't allow a cell phone interview. If it is not possible to reach a land line then use a cell phone in a stationary location and not while you are rolling down the road as the reception could be interrupted mid interview.

7. Do not use a speaker phone or a headset; again, it's about good sound quality.

8. Be self-assured. Remember, you know your topic inside and out. Be confident in your ability.

9. Smile, smile, smile, whether on radio or TV - SMILE. You'll feel better, and for TV you'll look better too.

10. Put some pizzazz and energy into your voice. Try standing while you speak to liven things up a little.

11. Research the show and tailor your message accordingly. Just Google the host's name and station and check out their web site. Is it a national audience or a small town in Ohio? What is their format? Is it News/Talk, NPR or Classic Rock or something else? You need to know.

12. KNOW exactly how much time you will have on the air as a guest, three minutes or 30 minutes...so you can tailor your answers to the time allotted.

13. Practice your sound bites-out loud before the interview. Communicate your main points succinctly. Practice this out loud.

14. Be informative and entertaining without directly pushing your book, product or service. Make the audience "want more."

15. A kind word about the host can go a long way. It's good manners and good business.

16. A person's name is sweet music to them so commit to memory or jot down the name of the host and use it throughout the interview. When taking calls, use the names of callers too.

17. Be prepared for negative comments, from the host or listeners.

18. Be careful not to slide into techno-babble, jargon or acronyms that few know about.

19. Never talk down to your audience.

20. Be respectful of the host because everybody starts someplace. Today they're interviewing you from a college radio station; in a few years they could be a nationally syndicated host.

21. Don't Oversell. Remember you are on the air to provide useful information to the listening audience. If you are an author or selling something, limit yourself to TWO mentions of the book, product or service. You must make it interesting without the commercialism. It takes finesse but you can do it. Often times the host will do this for you and you won't need to mention it.

22. Think of a radio interview as an intimate conversation with a friend and not a conversation with thousands.

23. Radio interviews require verbal answers, not head nodding or uh-huhs. Hand gestures don't count in radio either.

24. Radio will often use interviews live and later cut them up for use throughout the day giving you more airplay. So keep your answer to a 10 to 20 second sound bite. You can say a lot in that amount of time and then you don't sound like you are babbling on. Don't go on more than a minute without taking a break.

25. Don't just answer questions. Tell listeners something you want them to know, something they wouldn't know unless they were tuned in, with the promise of more of the same when they buy the product or come see you!

26. Have three key messages. Short, not sermons. Sometimes the host opens the door, other times you have to answer a question and segue to a key message. A compelling message will have the host asking for more. Usually people can get in two key messages; the pros can get three. But even if you get in only one, you get a big return for the time invested.

27. Lazy hosts open with a lame: "Thanks for being here." Boom! Give a:15-:20 sec summary message. If the host introduces you with a question, be polite, deliver your summary message, then answer the question. "Thanks, (use name), for the opportunity to talk about....Now, to your question (name)..."

28. Maintain a Positive Attitude. BE GENUINE OR TRANSPARENT. Don't fake enthusiasm or sincerity. If you're in a bad mood cancel the interview. Don't pretend to know stuff you don't.

29. Re-read the press release or pitch that got the booking since the host is going to be using that as a starting point. Often a book publicist such as myself, will tie into a breaking news event that relates to your expertise. Be aware of that tie-in.

30. After the interview write a thank-you note. Since so few people do this, you'll really stand out from the crowd. And most importantly, you may get invited back.

31. Whether the interview is live or taped-live, if you stumble, or flub up just keep going. Often what you perceived as a mistake, the listeners won't even notice.

32. Ask for an MP3 of the recording before the interview. Often if you ask ahead of time the producer will record the interview and then you can use it on your web site. Be sure to listen to it later and critique your performance.

33. Ask for a testimonial. Often that MP3 will arrive with a note from the host saying how much they enjoyed the interview, or that " Scott Lorenz was a great interview, he really kept our audience engaged," or "the phones rang off the hook when Scott Lorenz was being interviewed." You can use those testimonials in future pitches and on your web site, blog etc.

Its a good idea to prepare questions for the host to use and include those in your press kits emailed to the stations. Often, the host will read those questions right in order since they may not have had a chance to read the book.

Make sure you know your own material inside and out and are comfortable with everything in it. You are the author of the book, or the press release and they'll ask you, "What did you mean about this or that?" You need to have the answer. You don't want any surprise. That's why as a book publicist I tell my authors they must be prepared.

The bottom line, RELAX, you'll do fine. The butterflies you're feeling are what will drive you to do your best! Just follow these helpful tips and you'll be a radio interview star!

33 Radio Interview Tips That'll Make You a Star
Check For The New Release in Health, Fitness & Dieting Category of Books NOW!
Check What Are The Top Cooking Books in Last 90 Days Best Cheap Deal!
Check For Cookbooks Best Sellers 2012 Discount OFFER!
Check for Top 100 Most Popular Books People Are Buying Daily Price Update!
Check For 100 New Release & BestSeller Books For Your Collection

Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with individuals and entrepreneurs to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz has handled public relations and marketing for numerous authors, doctors, lawyers, inventors and entrepreneurs. As a book marketing expert Lorenz is called upon by top execs and bestselling authors to promote their books. Learn more about Westwind Communications' book marketing approach at http://www.westwindcos.com/book or contact Lorenz at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or by phone at 734-667-2090.