Interviewing 101 For Substitute Teachers

We talk to a lot of candidates. One of the most frequent questions is “What should I do when I interview?”

There isn’t one golden answer to ace your substitute teacher interview, but the best advice is to be authentic and keep these best practices in mind.

These best practices are for interviewing with an agency like Scoot Education! But if you apply directly to a school, these tips will help you too.

Before the teacher interview

1) Get to know your agency

Showing an understanding of your interviewer helps you stand out. By doing some preliminary research, you can consider your fit with your agency and come up with any questions to ask in your interview.

If you’re interviewing with Scoot Education, then be prepared to know why you want to start teaching. Our mission is to help create exceptional experiences in education, so we look for educators with the same values. You can learn more about our story and what we do on our website and social media.

2) Practice makes perfect

Once you find your talking points and questions to ask – practice, practice, practice! Grab a friend, family member, or another educator you know to practice interviewing with.

Like with any job interview, you want to be prepared to speak to your teaching experiences in clear and concise ways. Share your examples with someone and ask for feedback.

Interview day

1) Dress appropriately

It’s better to be too formal than to be too casual. A good rule of thumb is to dress to impress. It’s important to show the agency that you take this interview seriously.

Here are a few guidelines for what to wear to your substitute teacher interview:

• Clean, wrinkle-free smart casual clothes
• Avoid jeans or skirts that rise above the knee
• Closed-toe shoes. Heels and flats are also acceptable.

If you’re attending an online interview, make sure to appear clean and professional on camera. Also make sure that your video and audio equipment work.

2) Sell yourself

This is where you can really shine in your interview. Be prepared to discuss how your strengths are assets and how you manage your areas for growth.

Be confident and show the interviewers who you are both inside and outside of the classroom. Have a few specific examples from your teaching to share.

Here are some common substitute interview questions to be prepared for:

• Why do you want to become a substitute teacher?
• What grade levels do you prefer teaching?
• Describe your teaching experience or style.
• What would you do if a teacher didn’t leave the plan for you?
• How would you handle a student who doesn’t follow the rules?
• How do you keep students engaged?

Refer to this cheatsheet to learn what interviewers are looking for.

3) Communicate effectively

You want to ensure that you are providing a positive first impression. Here are some tips to follow during your interview:

• Maintain eye contact
• Don’t forget to smile
• Speak in a relaxed, professional manner
• Clearly articulate your answers and try not to use filler words such as “um” or “like”
• Make sure your body language is casual. Don’t fidget or use too many hand gestures.

4) Ask questions

Once the interviewers are finished asking you their questions, you will have the opportunity to ask questions about the position, process, and/or the agency.

Make sure you have a few questions ready to show your preparedness/interest in the position. As the interview progresses, take notes and add questions to your list. Here are popular questions to ask at a teacher interview:

• What are some characteristics of successful teachers?
• What do educators love about working with you?
• What are the main challenges associated with this position?

Ready to become a substitute educator?

Now that you know how to ace your teacher interview, take these skills whether you’re applying with a school or a staffing company like Scoot Education. We want to support you throughout your application process and beyond.

Subbing with Scoot means access to more opportunities, more school districts, and more excitement! Go for it!