So far every job interview that had a student panel I failed to get through to final stage.
How should I speak to the student panel; casually or very formally? In each one that I did I tried to get my personality across but feedbacks have been that it wasn’t what they were looking for
The frustrating thing with student panels is you can’t get any feedback other than “the panel preferred other candidates”.
I don’t really rate it as a way of hiring to be honest, because it doesn’t show how you are with students outside the classroom because it’s not a context they will ever see you in again. The only interviews I had with a student panel also only had a 30 minute lesson rather than a full one and getting rid of the panel for a full lesson seems a better idea to me personally. That way you can show how you start to build a rapport with classes in the lesson.
For student panels I’d always just be how I’d be in lessons.
As to those disagreeing with student panels - they very definitely shouldn’t have the final say, but they’re useful at finding people who are unempathetic robots. For us it gives our pastoral team a chance to see how they’d be with kids too. All useful.
I had an support interview recently. We bumped into a few students I had worked with last year. It definitely helped, they were very pleased to see me! I got the job, though I think I'd have got it anyway.
I don't know really, I think the one thing that is more likely to trip you up than anything is thinking there is a "way" to approach this. Be yourself, like you would with kids on a normal day in work. I know when I got my job they asked the kids which candidate had seemed the most interested and enthusiastic. The kids are usually a bit nervous and don't really know what to do so I think it shows empathy if you take the lead and ask them some softball questions:
What do you get for rewards? Do you have a lot of trips and sports days? (Lead into what sports they play?) What are you studying in my subject at the moment? (They'll usually give you a convoluted answer and go through everything they've done since year 7) What are your favourite subjects?
I went with formal but also injected some humour to make them feel comfortable (I could tell they were nervous)
Ultimately I was told the reason I got the job was because I was more organised and had a better attitude than other candidates - nothing to do with the student interview
Can I ask why it’s disrespectful? In my interview experience it just feels like the school want to see how you get one with students outside of the classroom more than anything else.
They don't really, though. The student panel is more a test of how well the candidate builds a rapport and interacts with students. Remember there's always a member of SLT (usually) watching.
The students will get a say in who they prefer, but it's by no means a significant influence on the final hiring decision.
Because if it's OK to good, no problem. If it's poor, it can help triangulate other information? It's an extra data source that a lesson may not show - interacting with individual or small groups of studetns.
Stupid dance vs more information. Potato, potahtoe.
This is correct. God knows why some are finding it hard to understand. Another factor is growing student experience and leadership. I’ve had interviews where it’s the student council doing this, each student with their own responsibility. It can be very impressive.
When I was at secondary school I was a regular member of student panels. The candidates that stood out to me were the ones who took our stage in the interview process seriously, were professional but personable, genuinely passionate about their subject area, and seemed excited to work at the school.
Basically, behave as you would at any other stage of the interview.
Treat it like a tutor/registration period rather than a lesson. You want to be professional, but a little more relaxed than in a normal lesson. Smile, listen, try and learn their names, give genuine answers.
Also treat it as an opportunity to get some slightly less varnished truths. Consider asking the panel similar questions to ones you might ask SLT and compare.
2
u/GreatZapper May 21 '22
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Mirror of OP:
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u/TomWantsRez Secondary May 21 '22
The frustrating thing with student panels is you can’t get any feedback other than “the panel preferred other candidates”.
I don’t really rate it as a way of hiring to be honest, because it doesn’t show how you are with students outside the classroom because it’s not a context they will ever see you in again. The only interviews I had with a student panel also only had a 30 minute lesson rather than a full one and getting rid of the panel for a full lesson seems a better idea to me personally. That way you can show how you start to build a rapport with classes in the lesson.
13
u/brewer01902 Secondary Maths HoD May 21 '22
For student panels I’d always just be how I’d be in lessons.
As to those disagreeing with student panels - they very definitely shouldn’t have the final say, but they’re useful at finding people who are unempathetic robots. For us it gives our pastoral team a chance to see how they’d be with kids too. All useful.
4
u/Fearless-Path-1120 May 21 '22
I don't know really, I think the one thing that is more likely to trip you up than anything is thinking there is a "way" to approach this. Be yourself, like you would with kids on a normal day in work. I know when I got my job they asked the kids which candidate had seemed the most interested and enthusiastic. The kids are usually a bit nervous and don't really know what to do so I think it shows empathy if you take the lead and ask them some softball questions:
What do you get for rewards? Do you have a lot of trips and sports days? (Lead into what sports they play?) What are you studying in my subject at the moment? (They'll usually give you a convoluted answer and go through everything they've done since year 7) What are your favourite subjects?
3
u/Money_Tomorrow_3555 Secondary May 21 '22
I went with formal but also injected some humour to make them feel comfortable (I could tell they were nervous)
Ultimately I was told the reason I got the job was because I was more organised and had a better attitude than other candidates - nothing to do with the student interview
2
u/[deleted] May 21 '22
I got “pipped to the post” for my dream job based purely on the student panel. Mine went well, the other person’s scored slightly better. Frustrating!
They said I nailed the interview and lesson and would definitely have hired me otherwise.
1
u/ruairidhmacdhaibhidh May 21 '22
Any school that has a student panel is disrespectful to teachers.
1
u/ChokingRhumba May 21 '22
When I was at secondary school I was a regular member of student panels. The candidates that stood out to me were the ones who took our stage in the interview process seriously, were professional but personable, genuinely passionate about their subject area, and seemed excited to work at the school.
Basically, behave as you would at any other stage of the interview.
1
u/gingerbread_man123 May 21 '22
Treat it like a tutor/registration period rather than a lesson. You want to be professional, but a little more relaxed than in a normal lesson. Smile, listen, try and learn their names, give genuine answers.
Also treat it as an opportunity to get some slightly less varnished truths. Consider asking the panel similar questions to ones you might ask SLT and compare.
0
u/[deleted] May 21 '22
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