Doing well in interviews

The best indicator of future performance is past performance.

In yesterday's e-mail:

Hi Doug,

I have an interview for the position of Information and Technology Manager in the _____________ District here in (state named deleted but it is known for its cheese production). Any advice? Its going to be a real marathon...40 minutes of writing, 40 with admin, 40 with staff and 40 with parents.

N________________

Hi N________,

Congratulations! Good luck with the interview. Sounds like a grueling process! Here is my standard advice for librarians that perhaps you can use a bit of: http://www.doug-johnson.com/dougwri/getting-the-job-you-deserve.html

As I think back on a being on the interviewer, rather than interviewee, I think I pretty much look for these things:

1. A track record of past successes. Tell me about some exciting thing that you did in your former positions and I will be thinking that I'd like you to have done these exciting things here.
2. Some passion for the field. Somehow you need to convey that this is not just a job, but that you are genuinely excited about what your would be doing.
3. Lack of weirdness. OK, this is one is tough since I don't think weird people actually know they are weird. But everyone else does. Perhaps describing collaborative projects might be the best way to diffuse most weird vibes.
4. Not being too techie. My sense is that you would be better explaining tech terms in layman's language than trying to baffle anyone with a mastery of TLAs (three letter acronyms).
5. Good questions about the job. I'd be prepared with some good questions for the interviewers (not just what's the salary). Ask about the district's recent tech initiatives. Staff development in tech areas. Resources on which you can draw. What is the support staffing? Is there a technology skills curriculum? The district ought to be selling itself to you too. (And there are jobs you really don't want!)

Don't know if this helps, but good luck and let me know how the interview goes and if you take the job!

I am sure you will be outstanding!

Doug

Comments

[Mary]

If you're asked about what you think about the use of technology in schools, try not to go on for 25 minutes about how Powerpoint changed your life. I seriously was once in an interview where someone did this. It was actually frightening.