English Teacher 

How did you get your current job?
By applying with my local school district.

What was the application process?
Submitted application and copy of my teaching certificate to the district office.

Did you have to interview for your current job? If yes, what did the interview process entail?
The principal interviewed me. I interviewed twice. The first job was given to someone else, but when another job came up that my principal thought I would be good for, she called and offered it to me. We had a phone interview the second time. She was the only one I interviewed with but it’s not uncommon to be interviewed by a committee.

If you can remember, what questions were you asked during the interview?
I was asked a lot of situational questions, such as what would you do to motivate a student if he seemed uninterested in your class, what kinds of strategies would you use to help a struggling reader.

Do you feel your employer properly prepared you for your job? Explain.
My employer gave me the tools I needed to do the job that I already knew how to do.

Was there training for your current position? If yes, what did it entail?
Yes, I completed a teacher education program in college. Teachers also have to keep up with training throughout their career by attending inservice sessions, seeking endorsements or attending college classes.

Do you feel your educational background prepared you for your job? Explain.
My education prepared me as far as the subject matter goes, but it didn’t prepare me for the realities of the classroom.

If applicable, do you feel your internship experience helped you prepare for your job?
I had a 16 week long student teaching experience that helped me see the realities of my job and let me practice with the guidance of a mentor teacher.

If someone wanted to go about getting a job similar to yours, what would you recommend for him or her to do?
Go to college and get a Bachelor’s degree (some states require a master’s degree) in a teaching program. Then seek a job with the district/state you want to work in. Each state has a Department of Education that can give you more information about how to seek a teaching degree. There are lots of scholarships and grants for people interested in teaching.

What skills do you think a person should have if they want to pursue a position like yours?
They need to be responsible, love working with kids of the grade level they want to teach, have great organizational skills and be creative.

Do you feel that you need a certain level of education or training to be successful in your job?
You must have at least a Bachelor’s degree (Master’s in some states) to get a job in teaching.

What advice would you give to someone who was about to start work in your position/ line of work?
Try substitute teaching or observe classrooms while you’re deciding about going into teaching. You may find that you enjoy a different age level than you thought, or that you enjoy other subjects than you originally thought.