Three Techniques to Impress Your Interviewer

Hello, future interview superstars! Let's dive into three beneficial techniques to help you ace those interview questions with confidence and finesse.

1. The PAWS Technique

First impressions count, and often, the first question is: "Tell us a little about yourself." It's surprisingly tricky, isn't it? Here's where the 'PAWS' technique comes in handy.

'P' stands for Profile. Start with a captivating sentence about your interest in teaching or a quick intro about yourself.

'A' is for Academic. Mention your qualifications and any activities relevant to the job you're vying for.

'W' stands for Work. Here's your chance to showcase your past experiences, achievements, and even voluntary work. Make it impressive!

Finally, 'S' is for Strengths. Use descriptive vocabulary to convey your strengths, like "I consider myself to be curious and creative with a keen focus on teaching," then zip it up. No rambling!

2. Storytelling

Our second technique is all about spinning a yarn. Why stories? Because they provide concrete evidence of your skills and experience. Remember, stories beat conditional sentences any day! I often hear interviewees say things like I WOULD or I FEEL THAT... 

Focus your stories on actual things that happened in the past. Every word you use should give evidence and sound convincing. 

3. The STAR Technique

The third technique is the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, and Result) method. This is where you share actual experiences.

Let's say you're asked if you're a good team player.

This is your 'Situation'. Affirm to them by saying Yes - I am a great team player (if you are). Then give the context by saying something like "In my time working in learning support, I collaborated closely with the 5th and 6th class teachers".

For the 'Task' and the  'Action' - use verbs like "I communicated, I created, I elaborated, I responded," along with 5 short sentences that outline how you played a part in that team. 

For the 'Result' - share the outcome. Keep your result concise - 17 words or less is perfect. An example could be, "As a result of working well in that team, I noticed that the students received excellent education, communication improved, and the children achieved well,".

Then zip it up.

Having a range of techniques and approaches for interviews is helpful as you prepare for leadership roles - because it will build your competence and confidence. 

Remember, every interview is a chance to showcase your abilities. With these techniques in your toolkit, you'll be well-prepared to impress your interviewers and land your dream job. Good luck!

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