Interview Preparation Handbook

You tidied your CV, have been put forward for a role and now you’ve been asked to interview. Excited? Scared? Both? Interviewing can be a nerve-wracking experience, you want to portray yourself in the best light, answer all the questions thoroughly and be genuine!

No need to panic, there are a few steps you can take before entering the interview room to ensure you are putting your best foot forward.

1. Take time to prepare

• Whether you have a week or a couple of hours to prepare before your interview time, prioritise preparing to give yourself the best chance of nailing the interview.

2. Know yourself

• What are your professional and personal goals? What or who motivates you in your daily life? Who are you and what is your story? What are your strengths and areas for growth? Read over and know your CV inside and out.

3. Know the school

• Check out the school’s website and Facebook page and have a look at how they present themselves online and in the community. Have a look at their values, upcoming events, and other gems of info that you can mention in the interview! Network, do you know anyone who works at the school?

4. Prepare your mind

• Be confident and believe in yourself! Have a look at some breathing exercises to help calm the nerves. Apps such as 1 Giant Mind, A Smiling Mind and Headspace have some great free guided meditations.

5. Prepare your body

• Have a good night’s rest, eat a solid breakfast, and have a professional, clean outfit ready to go. Double-check the day/time of the interview, the location of the interview and how long it will take to you get there. Ensure you arrive 10-15 minutes before the scheduled interview time. </span

6. Take time to practice

• Mock interviews can be almost as challenging as the interview however they are an effective way to ensure you are enunciating your words and putting them into a comprehensible sentence! Practicing with your brother, housemate, partner, or cat, means you can get real-time feedback (maybe not with your cat) and practice conveying the message you want to send.

Now that you know how to prepare for your interview, check out our comprehensive guide on how to answer questions during the interview!