People who love reading, writing and literature and who are eager to share this love with others might select teaching English as their career. To obtain employment as an English teacher, you must demonstrate to the hiring manager that you are the ideal candidate for the job, displaying not only your education-related knowledge, but also your passion for the subject and ability to work with children. To accomplish this task, you must prepare carefully for your job interview.

Prepare a portfolio. Using a leather or other professional-looking binder, craft your portfolio, which should include your credentials, test scores and references. Also include examples of highly effective lessons as well as photos of your students engaged in learning-rich activities.

Practice answering common interview questions. Although you never know for sure what curveballs willl be thrown at you on interview day, you can prepare for the likely battery of questions you will face. Use a list of common interview queries, and prepare potential answers to each (see Resources).

Learn about the school. Gather information on the school and the programs it offers; this indicates your interest and also could help you find a gap that you could fill. For example, if the school lacks a writing program, you could offer to start one.

Reflect upon basic instructional theories. Review some of your college texts, particularly those that pertain to the topic of literacy instruction. Be prepared to speak fluently in education-related terminology so you don't appear ill-prepared to take the reins of an English class.

Select the perfect outfit. Dress professionally and modestly, because this is what hiring managers look for when selecting a teaching candidate.

Plan your interview day schedule. Carefully consider how much time it will take you to get to the interview site and allow for traffic delays to ensure that you are not late for your interview.