Portfolio for Interviews

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Home : 2001 : August : 23

Portfolio for Interviews
By G.M.

Hi Sue,

I want to reassure you that putting together a portfolio is the way to go to prepare for interviews. I found there are two basic reasons to do so:

1) It mentally prepares you for the interview.
Writing
(actually typing) out things such
as your classroom management plan and
philosophy of teaching helps you to solidify
all this info in your head. PLUS, you can
refer to it at the interview, which I find
helps me tremendously because I have something
to do with my hands. Moreover, I used the
info like a cheat sheet; I could glance at

to remind myself of things I would normally
forget at interviews.

At my interview, I gave each interviewer
his/her own copy. When I referred to it
during the interview, I found that they would
often look at the document I was referring
to, instead of ME. That helped me a lot!
Their eyes weren't always on me.

2. The other benefit of this type of portfolio
is that the interviewers can refer when they
go to make their final selection.

The principal that hired me last year, was
not part of panel that interviewed me. He
received my portfolio from one of principals
who was though. When I walked in for my
one-on-one interview, he was thumbing through
it. He really didn't ask me any questions
other than if I wanted the position. I think
he could get a good sense of who I was by
the contents of my portfolio. And too, the
principal who interviewed must have put in a
good word for me.

Geez, I hope this makes sense. I feel as though I'm just rambling. I fear to reread this!!!!!
In short (yes, I am ready to wrap it up) are you still with me? eyes glazed over? Wake up!
This is the important part: In short, portfolios are well worth the effort. I can't emphasize it enough.

One more thing, I used very inexpensive folders, the kind with brads and come in various solid colors. More than anything, it's a little time-consuming, but not expensive.

Okay, I hope I got my point across.

Best of Luck to You! G.M.