A typical interview will include a brief chat with the headteacher with the other candidates, followed by a tour of the school (usually led by pupils), some time with the department in which you have applied to work, the delivery of a lesson, then a formal interview in front of a panel. You may then be asked to wait with the other candidates for the decision. At the end of your formal interview, you may be asked if you would accept the job if it was offered to you. If you say yes, it is usually expected that you have committed to taking the job.

That said, with many headteachers facing recruitment difficulties, this type of formal interview – which used to be ‘standard’ for teachers – is becoming less common. You may find yourself being the only candidate or one of two. You may be sent away at the end of the interview and asked to wait for a phone call. Nevertheless, attending the interview with the expectation that it will be a full, formal interview should ensure you are fully prepared.

Here are some tips on how to have a successful interview:

• In the weeks leading up to the interview, try to get hold of some local papers. This should help you get a feel for the catchment area and alert you to any issues in or around the school.
• Whatever your personal preference, dress smartly. This will communicate your professionalism.
• Observe how the pupils go into the school. This should give you an idea of the likely tone of the school with regard to behaviour.
• Arrive at the school itself slightly early. How you are treated – even down to the receptionist or the administrative workers – will be a good indicator as to how they value their staff.
• However formal the day, you are being judged from the moment you arrive. Be polite and friendly to everyone. Some schools may canvass feedback from people you have interacted with during the day as part of the selection process.
• You may be invited to have lunch with members of the department you have applied to work with or other staff. Try not to let your guard down. Be positive and friendly, keeping any reservations about the school to yourself. These staff may well be reporting back on you to the interview panel.
• Ask questions, but also show you are listening and assimilating information, as this will demonstrate real interest.
• Mention external literature about the school – for example, Ofsted reports or articles you have read in the local paper. This will demonstrate your interest in the school.
• If, during the course of the day, you feel the job is not for you, don’t be afraid to withdraw. Ultimately an interview day is both for you to interview the school, as well as them interviewing you. They will appreciate your honesty and the fact you haven’t wasted their time.
• Try to relate your answers to the interviewer and the particular school. Focus on your achievements most relevant to the position.
• Have your facts ready. Make sure you can give practical examples to support your answers.
• Be positive - in particular, avoid negative comments about past employers or your training.
• Listen and adapt - be sensitive to the style of the interviewer and tailor your responses accordingly.

Informal interview visits
If possible you should try and have an informal visit to the school before the recruitment process starts. This can help to waylay any doubts you may have about the school and the area.

Most of us would be loath to make a big purchase, such as a house or a car, without extensive research, so why not apply this ‘look before you buy’ approach to your career? After all, it is where you are going to be spending a large proportion of the working week.

What’s more, making an informal visit to the school before you even submit your application form should earn you ‘brownie points’ from any prospective employer, as this demonstrates real enthusiasm and commitment. Most schools will be delighted to accommodate your visit. If they aren’t, you need to ask yourself if they have something to hide.

An informal interview visit can give you a feel for the atmosphere and ethos of a school. You can have a good look around and meet staff and students, without the stress of an impending interview hanging over you. And if it isn’t for you, you won’t feel as if you’ve wasted your time filling out application forms for a job you don’t really want.

What to look out for:
Take a tour of the school: Is the building well maintained? Is children’s work displayed around the school? Is it up-to-date? If not, it could be a sign that the school is not investing time and money in its staff and students.

Talk to the students: ask to be shown around the school by some students. They will soon tell you what they like and dislike about the school.

Spend some time in the staff room: is the staff room comfortable? Is there a space for staff to work? Is the ICT provision adequate? Try to pop in over break or lunchtime and listen to what the staff is saying to one another. Do they look and sound happy in their work environment? If not, you may want to think again.

Speak to a school leader: spend some time with the headteacher or one of the leadership team and ask any questions you might have. What is the provision for professional development? How will you be supported as a new member of staff? Ask them about the school’s weaknesses. If they are happy to share their weaknesses and talk about how they are tackling them, it is likely to be a well-managed school. Any attempt to hide or withhold information should be treated with suspicion.

Body language and interviews
Body language is a vital and revealing part of the way in which we communicate. What we say may be giving one message, while what we do with our hands and eyes may be giving a very different message, betraying our inner thoughts and true feelings.

When it comes to attending interviews, those interviewing you will be listening to the words you use as well as watching the way you move, your hand gestures, facial expressions and eye movements. They will literally be reading you like a book, whether they are fully aware of body language themselves or not.

This can be a very daunting thought, but don’t let it overwhelm you. With just a few top tips you will be able to convey, through your words and actions, that you are the perfect candidate for the job!

Consider these tips:

• When greeting, or being greeted by, your interviewers, use a firm (but not crushing) grip for handshakes and make eye contact. Don’t forget to smile too!
• Keep your posture in check when you walk. A straight back and relaxed, well-positioned shoulders (no slouching or rounding) will convey confidence.
• When you are invited to sit, avoid crossing your arms or legs as both of these postures can be interpreted as defensive or self-protective.
• Maintain eye contact with each member of the interview panel at some point of the proceedings. Don’t stare though, or repeatedly fix your gaze on one person in particular.
• Leaning forward and nodding in agreement or at key points of discussions can also help to convey your interest.
• Feel free to gesture with your hands to add non-verbal meaning to what you are saying, but don’t do anything too extravagant or elaborate.
• If you are prone to fidgeting with your hands, be aware of how you might control them, for example by holding them in a ‘steeple’. This will also have the effect of calming any interview nerves you may be feeling.
• Aim to avoid tweaking your clothes, fiddling with accessories, playing with your hair or slouching. All of these can convey that you are ill at ease in the school or college and therefore unlikely to thrive as a teacher or lecturer there.