You finally landed an interview for a teaching job. Now comes the preparation work. In areas where the teaching market is competitive, one small mistake in the interview could result in the position going to another candidate. Coordinating all aspects of your interviewing technique enables you to put your best foot forward and increase your chances of landing a teaching job offer.

Dress
First impressions hold true in a teaching interview just as they do in other aspects of life. Choose professional attire when attending a teaching job interview. For men, this includes a suit. Women may opt for a two-piece pantsuit or a professional dress. Conservative is the best choice in a school setting, as administrators aren't likely to hire a teacher who wears revealing clothing. Ensure that the outfit is clean and pressed before the big day.

Practice
Most teaching interviewers ask similar questions of all potential candidates. They always cover the basic classroom topics, such as classroom management, environment, style of teaching and inclusion of students with varying needs. Interviewers frequently ask questions about your strengths, weaknesses, professional goals and recent education-related reading or research. They may also ask what you expect of peers or your principal, why you want to work for the district and what you have to offer the school.

Create an outline for each of the common questions, as well as actual examples from your teaching experience. This outline helps you practice so your answer has a logical flow. It also helps avoid rambling because you will be prepared with your major points. Avoid too much rehearsal of the answers as you won't sound natural in the interview.

Research
Take time to research the school district before attending the interview. The interviewer will appreciate the effort you make to learn about her school. This also allows you to tailor your answers to the school district. Visit the school's website to gain a basic understanding of the district's size, mission, goals and teaching methods. Research the demographics of the student body and how it may impact learning or your approach to teaching. Look at your outlines for the common teaching questions and find ways to tweak them to incorporate the specific district's philosophy toward education.

Portfolio
A teaching portfolio enables you to provide concrete examples to the interviewer. It also adds interest to the process instead of simply reciting answers you have practiced. Many teaching programs require students to create a professional portfolio as an undergraduate. If you don't already have a portfolio, gather several examples of your teaching experience that demonstrate competency in different areas. Examples include a classroom management system you created, lesson plans with a particular teaching method or pictures from a teaching experience. Make tabs in the portfolio to identify the different sections so you can easily locate specific examples. Practice using the portfolio with the common interview questions so you can flip to the desired page effortlessly. Fumbling with your portfolio to find a specific example detracts from the interview and makes you look disorganized. In that situation, a teaching portfolio may actually hurt you rather than help in the interview.