How to dress for teaching interviews

You only get one chance to make a first impression. This really is the case when it comes to that interview for your dream teaching job. Often, you are meeting your school leader for the first time and this is your chance to make him/her believe that you are the right person for the job. There may be very many other candidates vying for the exact same position, and you owe it to yourself, and the people who are taking the time to interview you, to be as comfortable and prepared as you can be. You have put the work into getting that call for the interview, now make sure that you present yourself in the best possible light on the day. Here are my suggestions to make you stand out, in a good way!

Dressing Professionally

It can be difficult to choose what to wear to an interview. Your outfit should be comfortable but should also reflect your professionalism and poise. How formal should my outfit be? Should I dress as I would for a regular day in front of a class? It is a good idea to choose an outfit that is appropriate but just that bit smarter than you would wear to teach a class. For men and women both, a suit is a very professional look, and pairing this with some nice, comfortable shoes will make you look the part.

Accessories

Scuffed shoes, gaudy jewellery, unkempt hair, or heels that are uncomfortably high or tight, will leave you feeling conscious of yourself and will distract from the authentic self that you are trying to project. This discomfort will be obvious to your interviewer but it may come across as nerves or a lack of preparedness for the interview. Make-up should be minimal, and perfume and aftershave should be a light spritz only, as you don’t want the interview room to be filled with the scent. What may be a wonderful smelling perfume to you, might have the very opposite effect on your interviewers. In all things interview-related, when it comes to appearance and scent; less is most definitely more.

Dress for the Occasion

You should also do some research to find out if there is an expectation that teachers in the school you hope to work in, dress to a certain code. It is also good to dress for what the weather might present on the day of your interview. There is no point wearing a lovely summery outfit, no coat and leaving your umbrella at home if rain and gale-force winds are expected. Imagine how you would look by the time you walked from the car to the school?!

You have worked so hard to get your SAF and CV right. To be selected to attend the interview stage means that you are an eligible candidate, on paper. Be sure to make the most of the opportunity the interview presents, to make the right impression on your potential future employer.

Also, check out Fiona Doyle, Stylist’s advice on Interview Attire:  https://www.fionadoyle.ie/