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

A rose by any other name might smell better

"What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet." Shakespeare

New Jersey social studies teacher Steven Maher in his Infinitude blog entry "Say What?" believes the names companies give their Web 2.0 products work against them. You'll find the entire post a worthwhile read. His opening paragraph goes thus:

My interaction with teachers and administrators over the past couple weeks has reinforced a belief I’ve had for some time, the language associated with educational technology is one of the chief impediments to its application in schools.  We’re suffering because the host of Web 2.0 sites are trying to out-weird each other for attention.  What else explains “Diigo”, “Spurl” and “Moodle”?  No one appreciates these services more than me, but I’m finding it increasingly difficult to talk about them with a straight face.  How can you convince someone that these tools are worthwhile when they have such ridiculous names?  Such drastic deviation from common language automatically sparks suspicion, it should be no wonder that teachers and education leaders are not incorporating them into the schools faster.  I’m as much a educational technology advocate as the professional presenters and consultants, but I have a great deal of sympathy for teachers who intrinsically know that technology must be able to help them somehow, but have a tough time accepting that it has the same value as things like the “Reader’s Guide to Periodical Literature”, “Chicago Manual of Style” or Library of Congress. 

My nomination for stupidly named application is Twitter.  The very sound of it makes it seem inconsequential (fritter twitter my time away) and something that only a “twit” would do. Steven mentions Spurl - a portmanteau of spew and hurl, perhaps?

Would better naming give these tools more gravitas and therefore greater acceptance among educators?

 Nominations for the most ill-named application?

ED in '08 - what's this about?

Does anyone know anything about this event? The notice came in yesterday's email. With Newt Gingrich as a keynote speaker, it kinda makes a person wonder what the politcal agenda is of the "Strong American Schools" people. Of course, I should be following my own advice about listening to people with different views!

The other speakers look really interesting.

Dear Education Blogger,

Strong American Schools is excited to announce the ED in '08 Blogger Summit.

Conference details are as follows:

May 14th - 15th  
Palomar Hotel, Washington DC
Registration Is Free!

An opening reception is scheduled on the evening of Wednesday, May 14th.  Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres will be served before the screening of a new documentary film on education, Two Million Minutes.  A Q&A session with the filmmakers is set to follow.

Then join us for an all-day conference on May 15th.  Nowhere else will you have an opportunity to meet and network with fellow education bloggers, participate in panels, attend workshops, and help tackle tough questions on the state of education in America.

Highlights include a speech from keynote speaker Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the announcement of the winner of the ED in '08 Blog Award.

Space is limited, so be sure to REGISTER NOW!


About Strong American Schools
Strong American Schools, a project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, is a nonpartisan campaign supported by The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation promoting sound education policies for all Americans.  SAS does not support or oppose any candidate for public office and does not take positions on legislation.

Anybody else going to this? Has this event been held before and if so was it any good?