Week 8 Discussion - Interviewing For Your First Admin Job

The panel members shared numerous pieces of important advice for successfully interviewing for an initial position in school administration. The piece of advice that I think is the most import is the power of first impressions. From the second you walk into the interview, those conducting the interview are gathering information about you from your clothing, to your body language, to your verbal responses. Being dressed professionally should go without saying, but it is critical for a positive first impression. I believe this stands out to the interviewers, because not dressing professionally could give them the impression that you are not taking this opportunity seriously. As a school administrator, you represent your school to the students, faculty, parents, and community. Dressing the part is essential. If you do not present yourself professionally in the interview, the team has no reason to believe you will present yourself professionally on the job. It may also lead them to doubt some of your qualifications or leadership skills just from the first impression that they receive.

Another part of giving a strong first impression that was discussed in the video is connecting with each person in the room and treating each of them with the same respect. When meeting the person or people that will be conducting the interview, it is important to bring positive energy and interact with each of them warmly. This includes greeting each person, giving eye contact to each individual, and thanking them for the opportunity to interview. The job of a school administrator involves working with numerous stakeholders every day. The first impression you give by your initial interaction with those conducting the interview will impact their view on how you carry yourself and how they envision you working with their staff, students, parents, district personnel, and community members.

One last aspect of a first impression discussed in the video was demonstrating confidence. As one of the panelists mentioned, it is okay (and expected) for candidates to be nervous, especially in interviewing for the first time for a position in administration. However, despite some nervousness, it is important to demonstrate confidence from the start. I believe demonstrating confidence when making a first impression on the interview team is important, because if you are not confident and do not believe in yourself, how can you expect others to believe in?  Confidence can be demonstrated with your body language, the way you greet the interviewers, and the way you respond to your first questions. It should be noted that there is a careful balance here of avoiding being over-confident, as this can have a negative impact on people’s impression of you.

Ensuring you make a good first impression is just one of the helpful pieces of advice provided by the panel. Before going on interviews, reviewing advice such as the advice provided by the panel in this video can help ensure you are prepared and go into the interview feeling confident.