Virtual interviews have become increasingly common in education, but they present unique challenges that can make it harder to fully demonstrate your strengths as a teacher. Without the benefit of in-person interactions, it can be difficult to build rapport, convey enthusiasm, and showcase your teaching style effectively. However, with thoughtful preparation and the strategic use of digital tools, you can still make a strong impression and highlight your qualifications in a virtual format.
What you can do in advance:
- Ask what to expect during the interview. You can prepare accordingly if you know whether they’ll want you to talk through a lesson plan, share some artifacts or simply answer their questions.
- Ask if you can email them a video of yourself teaching, so your interviewers can get a better sense of how effective you are in the classroom.
- Check out the school’s website and social media to see their goings-on and what accomplishments they celebrate.
- Prepare some talking points you want to cover and the questions you want to ask during the interview. You can keep them – as well as notes to yourself like “Smile” or “Speak slowly” – on one side of your screen to refer to if needed.
- Before the interview, check your internet connection, camera, microphone, and any necessary software and choose a quiet, well-lit space with a neutral background to maintain a polished appearance.
- If you plan to share artifacts, have those all called up and just a click away.
What you can do during the interview:
- Refer to simple notes you’ve prepared for yourself, being very careful not to read scripted words or get distracted from the conversation.
- Ask questions that will help you understand the culture of the school – such as what traditions or events define their school community? Or, what is the relationship between teachers, students and administration like?
- Ask if there are teachers you could reach out to so you can get their perspective to better understand if the school is likely to be a good fit for you.
- Ask if you can visit the school or receive a tour.
While virtual interviews are convenient, they present some challenges to a teacher candidate – both for demonstrating your potential and for deciding if a school is the right fit for you. If given the choice to interview in-person or online, it’s to your advantage to pick the former. But, if virtual is your only option, remember there are things you can do to overcome the challenges and make the most of the opportunity.
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