Interview tips for teaching jobs: 5 ways to make a great first impression

Job interviews are often daunting, and nerves can impact how you come across. But no matter how polished your CV, personalised your cover letter, or even what experience you have – your interview is your best chance to make a good impression. 

First impressions are key to impressing a panel at interview – here are five interview tips for teaching jobs, so you can make yours count: 

1. Don’t forget the basics 

You might wonder whether something as simple as a handshake or how you present yourself holds any real importance. 

However, a University of Illinois study found that a confident handshake can amplify the positive impact of a social interaction and diminish the effects of any negative impressions you may have made.  

Similarly, a study published in the journal ‘Psychological Science’ claims that body posture is often the primary representation of power – and that it can affect not only how you are perceived, but can also increase your confidence. 

So when you go to a job interview, the way you introduce and hold yourself can go further than you might think. 

2. Personality matters 

Evidence suggests that when we appear to be happy, others receive us more positively – and we’re more likely to be remembered. 

Similarly, your experience and skills might have got you the interview – but your personality can help you get the job. 

Whether you align with a school’s culture and how they see you fitting in can be a deciding factor when multiple candidates have similar experience. 

So while experience is important, your personality is key to making a good impression on interviewers and sticking in their mind as a great candidate. 

However, it’s essential to maintain professionalism with interviewers – so while being warm and friendly can help you make a good impression, make sure to keep it work appropriate. 

3. Know the school 

When you’re talking to an interviewer, they will likely be able to gauge from your answers how much you actually know about the school. 

If you’ve done your research beforehand – and you’re able to explain why you’d be a great fit for that school specifically – you’re much more likely to make a great impression at interview. 

Knowledge about a school will come through in your answers and gives you the chance to talk about how your own values align with that of the school. 

4. Give context to your achievements

When the time does come to let the interviewer know about your experience and achievements, give them a bit of background information. 

Research carried out by a senior lecturer in marketing at Cass Business School found that giving a backstory to your achievements creates a more favourable first impression. 

The study argues that too many of us make the mistake of focusing on our successes rather than the effort that it took to get there.  

A job interview is naturally an opportunity for potential employers to assess our capabilities – but it is also an opportunity to connect with the interview panel – and while emphasising our triumphs may increase their perception of your competence, it does little to create feelings of warmth and relatability.  

The study says: “A success story isn’t complete without the hard work and explanation of why we were successful. Did the success come easy thanks to one’s talents or was it attained through hard work?”

The STAR method is a common way structure interview responses: 

• Situation: provide brief context 

• Task: explain what was required 

• Action: share what you did and why 

• Result: explain the outcome 

Using this method ensures you provide context when giving examples of past successes, helping interviewers see the hard work you put in. 

5. Foster your inquisitive nature 

During a job interview, we all want to present the best of ourselves to whoever is sitting across the table. 

Many of us might feel that it’s important to let the interviewer know about all our greatest achievements and strengths.  

But trying too hard to self-promote can make a bad first impression. Francesca Gino, a Harvard professor of business administration, says "people spend most of their time talking about their own viewpoints and tend to self-promote when meeting people for the first time”. 

Gino conducted a study that concludes: 

“High question-askers – those who probe for information from others – are perceived as more responsive and are better liked. Responsiveness reflects three components: understanding, validation and care for the partner.” 

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Originally published in 2019 and updated in 2026