I've read on here that people said that things turn informal and you're just having a conversation.... how do you do that? I would love for this to happen but don't know how you turn their "interrogation" into a friendly discussion.
I heard that you should give some examples/stories in your answers. I tried that at my last interview (I think it was my best interview yet) but the panel still just smiled and just asked the next question. I've never had anyone on a panel asked me other details to my answers so it's tough to answer. Hopefully someone can provide more information on it.
I don't think there is a way to make it happen. I think it might just depend on who is interviewing you. Some people are just naturally warm and want to make you feel comfortable, while others want to see how you act under pressure. If there is a certain trick I would like to know for the future haha
I think working your own questions into the interview helps. For example, I've been asked what my favorite book is a few times. I always respond and ask if they've read it too. Often this sparks a little discussion about the book.
google STAR approach. it is easy to find and I can't recall it off the top of my head. I had a phone interview and it was like talking to old friends and then the next day the hired someone, but they told me which was cool. But after the interview I realized I didn't get any of those standard questions and was worried. Are you talking about phone or in person. I think phone is easier to engage in conversation. Ask them goals for the school or makes jokettes? But, I am not the best person to respond as I am not hired.
I was wondering this as well. I interview very badly and can never seem to get that "conversation" vibe going. Even during more laid-back settings, it still ends up being just a question and answer type thing. I really think it depends on who the interviewer is. Maybe some people let the questions come more naturally, but all my interviewers have read questions off of a list and have not deviated. I think it's hard to get away from the interrogation mode when the questions are posed like that.
When I was hired several years ago, it was a five panel interview. There was one administrator who was in charge and it was obvious that he was in charge. Each person had a question that they were to ask which began with this person in charge. They went once around the table once and it was back to the person in charge. He started with a question that was NOT on the paper and the conversation started. (I could tell it wasn't on the paper because the others were looking for the question and then just looked at the person in charge.) I could tell that he was the one to make that change and others went with it after that. From now working in the district, that person is definitely the one in charge so it made a lot more sense to me after that in understanding what went on in the interview. I honestly think that the one in charge liked what I was saying and that's why he went with other questions. My guess the same situation may exist in other panel interviews. People are required to stay with the questions on the paper unless a "certain" person takes it to a different place.
When I had a one on one interview, my interview was more of a conversation with the principal. However, when I had my panel interview with 12 people, there was no way that could happen. I tried but the panel was very formal.
My advice to you is look at the interview q's posted here and make a bullet point list, so you know in your head where you are going w/ content. Thinking about answer takes away from interactive conversation time. Practice small talk at grocery store? Get as familiar with the school or county or location so you can improv some relational dialogue. I worry about this too as I have the opposite problem; I think my speaking tone is too jocular and I come off as unprofessional.
Take a photo brochure or some photos to reference when answering questions. Those have always sparked conversations for me.
I had an interview about a week ago and I walked in and sat down and the assistant principal told me from the start that she was looking for a specific fit. A certain personality and we just had a big conversation. She didn't really ask any questions. Maybe a few from the top of her head but at the end of our "conversation" she told me that she will choose her top candidates to come back for the formal interview that next week. I got calked back for the next day and was interviewed and hired by the principal. It was awesome!
This is what happened when I interviewed for the position I have next year. This person is the one who asked most of the follow up questions. That person's questions enabled me to see that I was making a connection with the panel (6 people), the school, and what they were looking for. This is what happened when I interviewed for the job I've had for the past 2 years. That interview had a panel of 12. Honestly, sometimes it is not possible to turn an interview into a conversation in situations like that!
I don't know that's there's really any way to facilitate that happening. That being said though, my best interviews have all "felt" more like a conversation among friends rather than an inquisition. It really all depends on the the personalities of the principal and panel. The job a I just got had an interview like that. It was the P, AP, two members of the 2nd grade team and even the instructional specialists. In between questions or when expounding on questions, we made small talk, joked around, etc. It was pretty relaxed and one of the reasons I instantly felt a connection with them and knew I would love working there. Long story short, it's more of an organic process that just kind of happens and you don't have a whole lot of control over. So much depends, like I said, on the campus culture and your admin and team's interviewing style. That being said, being confident and not taking yourself too seriously definitely helps.
When I interviewed for my new position the principal said she wanted it to be more like a conversation, I felt like parts were conversational but other time were interview like. I think it is harder to have it be conversational with three people. I got the job so I must have done better than I thought.
I would just be careful in that in a more casual conversation you might be tempted to say something that could be misconstrued and it would disqualify you from a position. So be mindful. I think it is great but always remember you are interviewing!!
You know, that is such a GREAT question and I really was wondering that too because I felt like every time I had a more conversational interview I've been offered the job. (that's only 3 times but honestly, all my other interviews have been pretty standard question/answer things and...didn't ever get to the second round with those.) I never felt personally like I was doing anything different in various situations, it was like I would go in to a really relaxed panel, or I would go in to a not relaxed panel. Now I'm starting to feel like, and maybe I'm totally wrong, but the panel makes such a difference...like I feel that the times that it was more conversational was when it was people who were genuinely interested in me and it wasn't just that I was the next person on the list.
Our interviews are really formal. We can only ask the questions on the paper and we're not allowed to ask or talk about anything else, or give any feedback on what the candidate is saying. We even have to make sure that the same panel member asks the same question every time. Even when candidates asked if they answered the whole question, we could only repeat the question to them. At the end they could ask their own questions and we answered them, but we weren't allowed to ask more questions of our own. Those are rules from HR so that the interviews are the same for each candidate and one isn't getting more questions than another. There is no way it could be a "conversation." Just pointing out that it's not always something you can do anyway!
