Interview Tips for Preschool Jobs
In addition to the usual nervousness you might feel before an interview, you hear children screaming and laughing loudly as you sit in a child care center's staff break room to interview for a job as a preschool teacher. This environment can cause you to feel even more nervous and unsure of yourself. However, you know you have the qualifications and skills required for the job because you were called in for an interview. Take confidence in that in addition to preparing yourself before the interview for the specific situations you will face in a preschool interview.
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Arrival
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When you get to the interview, remember that child care centers are not like general office buildings, which have a public restroom you can use to pull yourself together before you meet the interviewer. If the center has a receptionist, which not all centers do, you can ask her where the staff restroom is if you need to use it. You may meet another teacher on the way there, so smile and be pleasant. Also, walk quietly when you enter the center as it may be naptime. Naptime is usually around noon to 2:30 or 3:00 p.m. Wear quiet flats if you can instead of high heels to the interview to cut down on the noise from your shoes.
Where to Go
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You may have to ring the school's doorbell and be buzzed in due to security measures. Go directly to the center's office when you get to the preschool or child care center. You may talk to the director immediately, or the school may have a receptionist who will notify the director of your arrival. If you have to wait, take a seat and smile.
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Tour
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You may be taken on a tour of the school during the interview. If you are, interact with the children, and be polite to the teachers. These may be your class' children and your co-workers in the near future. It will help to start off on the right foot with all of them.
Questions
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Preschool interviews are likely to include questions about how you would deal with a particular discipline situation or about child care licensing rules. You may also be asked a question like, "A three-year-old has misbehaved all day. He has been in time-out several times. What do you say to the parents when they pick him up?" Be diplomatic, but truthful in your answer to the parents. Instead of saying the child would not listen all day, you might reply, "I would tell the parents that the child had a difficult time listening on a number of occasions during the day to make them aware of their child's mood and behavior. I would also draw attention to the way he shared his toys with another classmate during center time as well to positively round out the information." These types of questions are meant to see how you think on your feet and whether your answer is logical and discusses the best course of action, given the circumstances.
Other Questions
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You may also be asked about why you want to work with children and about your experience working with them. You should be able to answer honestly that you enjoy working with children and helping them to learn. You might also be asked how you would encourage parent involvement in the classroom or how you think your strengths and weaknesses will affect a preschool classroom. You could also be asked what you believe the role of a primary caregiver is. Prepare your answers before the interview so that you can provide concise and confident answers.
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