Top Online Interview Tips

“With confidence, you have won before you started.” – Marcus Garvey

TEACHME TEFL

And now it is interview day!

You have done the hard work, you have completed your course and now you are ready for your first interview.

Interviews can be challenging. However, you have one advantage, most interviews for online and overseas schools are completed online!

With an online interview, you don’t have the added stress of finding the interview location instead you are in your own environment and you can even have some notes ready.

Follow these top tips and you will complete your online interview with ease!

Remember that this company wants to hire you since they have taken the time to interview you.

Wow them with your skills and the job is yours!

ONE

Get dressed

This may sound strange but just as you would dress to impress for an in-person interview, you need to do the same for an online interview.

Also, since you will be interviewing for a position online or overseas, it is important to respect the local customs for dress.

For women, try to wear nothing too revealing, sleeves are a must and also ensure that make up is minimal and accessories do not distract from your image.

For men, it would be best to wear a collared shirt and make sure you have ironed it. Ensure your hair is neatly combed and you are cleanly shaved or if you have facial hair, freshly trimmed.

If the interview is for teaching children, wear bright cheerful colours.

If the interview is to teach adults, dress in business attire, including a blazer or jacket to present a professional image.

TWO

Prepare well

Do your research.

Google the company, read reviews of others’ experiences, you may even find some sample interview questions.

Prepare your answers.

Most companies will ask similar questions, prepare your answers so you are ready to respond with ease.

Some common questions include:

Please tell us a little about yourself.

Why do you want to work for this company?

What will you bring to this company?

Please describe your teaching experiences and educational background.

Have a post it note or small flashcard for each question.

Start with a title and add three main points for each. Place these around your computer so you can simply glance at these during the interview.

Prepare your questions

Ensure you have questions ready to ask your interviewer.

This shows that you have prepared and ready to start.

Some basic questions could include:

How soon can I expect to hear back?

What training is provided for employees?

What have you enjoyed about working for this company?

THREE

Use the STAR Method

When answering questions, provide your interviewer with all the information they require. The best way to do this is to use the STAR method.

S- Situation

T- Task

A- Action

R- Result

For each question follow this formula and to showcase your experience and capabilities.

For example, if you have minimal teaching experience and are asked – Have you worked with children? You could use the STAR response method to provide a detailed answer that shows your ability to work with children, rather than your experience.

FOUR

Be Enthusiastic

Remember that you are interviewing to teach!

The interviewer is not only looking at your skills and experience but also how you present on screen.

Smile, smile, smile! From the moment your interviewer appears on your screen, keep on a warm enthusiastic smile. If there is time that you are waiting while the interviewer is taking notes, keep smiling and looking attentively at the screen prepared for the next question.

Look at the camera, not at the screen. When you are answering a question, try to look directly into the camera. This will appear to the interviewer that you are looking directly at them.

Keep your tone enthusiastic and positive. You want the interviewer to remember you, try to be the most happy and enthusiastic person they have spoken to that day.

FIVE
Follow up

Interviews are generally scheduled in blocks. This means after your interview is over, the interviewer will move on to interview another candidate.

Make sure you are remembered. You can do this easily by sending an email straight after your interview.

Start by thanking the interviewer for their time and for the opportunity to interview. Mention some points that you enjoyed or learnt during the interview. Emphasise why you are the best person for this position and ask if they have more questions or would like additional information from you.

After your follow up, wait the specified time to hear back. If you have not heard back in the specified time period contact the company. If you have a contact number, call the company, as a phone call results in an immediate answer. If you are unable to call, send a follow up email to both the interviewer and also the recruitment team who scheduled the interview.

Top Online Interview Tips