The Interview Process

Pamela R. Hudson Bailey

George Mason University

The Interview Process

The interview is a brief glimpse, a snapshot, of an individual’s life and an opportunity to question his or her “fit” with the organization. Questioning by the interviewer(s) and those being interviewed are the basis for obtaining the information. The interviewers need to ask the right questions and, in turn, the interviewee needs to do the same. An interview is a two way street where all parties need to determine if the selected person is a good fit for the position with regard to the school’s vision and all applicable stakeholders by asking the right questions. The stakeholders may include the existing personnel, administration, students, and parents.

Before and During the Interviews

The goal of the interviewing team was to first decide which position would correlate with our overall school vision then to develop a mini job description. We decided to approach the interviews as a team which is very similar to past experiences. Questions were developed, altered and refined in an attempt to obtain responses that would aid in our decision making process and not be personal. The form was created to aid in ranking the interviewees using a Likert scale. The questions were placed on the form with some similarities in questions for each team member. This appeared to look as if we were jumping around since we took turns asking the questions. One thing I think we should have done was hand the interviewer a copy of the job description with a little discussion about our school. We did ask if the interviewer had any questions for us at the end. Our approach in turn made me think about what I would say and do during my own interview.

The Interviewer(s)

Asking and responding to questions are the norm for interviews. As stated above the questions need to be developed based on the job requirements and the vision of the school. Questions should allow the interviewee to expound on his or her qualities along with views on teaching, learning and work ethic. Legal issues are a concern for school divisions so many have forms and a process in place that will guide the interviewing panel. The process may include having questions approved prior to the interview and after the interview acknowledging why or why not an individual is offered the position. Team members for the role play did determine reasons for why we did or did not choose each interviewee. The responsibility for what happens during the interview also lies with those being interviewed.

The Interviewed

The individual being interviewed has the responsibility to research the school system and the position for which they are applying. He or she should be prepared to expound on their personal qualities that relate to the job qualifications. Questions developed and asked by the interviewed person to the interviewing panel is also important so that he or she can ascertain whether the position is what they are also looking for in a future job. Coming to an interview prepared with a list of questions will show the panel that one is serious about the position and how he or she will fit into the school. Our play acting did not allow for us to delve into these ideas due to limited time and resources.

The Interview Role Play

Sitting on an interviewing panel is something I have done with my current position. The difference between my experiences in my position and the role play is that one was not real and the other was an interview that involved a person who wanted the job. School vision, job requirements and the needs of the organization were well known by the interviewing panel for the actual interviews. The questions we asked and the related responses had meaning as the interviewing panel attempted to determine the fit of the interviewer with the existing department or school. As an interviewee I was not familiar with the position of which I was interviewing even though I had conducted my own informal research. It was very difficult to come up with answers about methodologies and lessons that were unfamiliar to my past experiences. Conducting research, asking questions, on something of which one has no idea what to even ask provided false security.

Relating to Future Experiences

The interview process is similar to what we might experience as we search for positions in administration. This is where I believe the practicum will be of the utmost importance so that awareness may be developed as to what is expected and required. As the person being interviewed I will need to research the school to determine its vision and have some knowledge about the culture. Knowledge, or obtaining knowledge, is crucial to both parties, the interviewer and the interviewee.

Closure

A leader in the school will need to consider all stakeholders when selecting a future administrator, teacher or non-certified employee. Being sure that the interviewing panel includes individuals that have a vested interest in the school, department, or program would be important. This might include existing personnel and administrator, students and their families depending on the position. It is the responsibility of the administrator to hire the best person for the position which will require the panel to ask the right questions. Knowledge, and an understanding of the school’s vision and culture, will enable the panel to analyze the obtained responses in the selection process to obtain that person.