Essential tips to prepare for your job interview in early childhood education

Tuesday, April 26, 2022

You’ve found a job you think you could excel in and the great news is, the organisation has called you in for an interview – this is what you’ve waiting for!

Now all that is left is to conduct a fantastic interview and secure the job. So how you can you go about doing this?

It’s no secret that job interviews can make even the most confident person feel nervous. If you want to have the best chance of success at your next early childhood education job interview, there are a few things you can do to prepare.

Know the details

When you arrive at a job interview, you should go in with a solid understanding of the role you are applying for and the company itself.

Read over the position description thoroughly, considering how you match what they are looking for. Find out what the company’s values are, the approach they take to early childhood education and anything else you can find so you can align yourself with the company.

Plan the day

You’ll feel more confident and at ease if you have a plan for the day of the interview. Have an outfit sorted that makes you feel comfortable and happy. Wear your hair in a way that won’t bother you or distract you. Decide on your greeting and practice it in the mirror with your best smile to send a great first impression to your interviewer.

It’s also useful to get there early so you’re not rushing in and feeling flustered, so plan your transport too.

Bring what you need

It’s always handy to have a copy of your resume on hand along with copies of your certificates and qualifications. A pen and notepad could come in handy too if you want to make notes and to write any questions you have.

Anticipate their questions

Preparing amazing answers for your job interview questions is great in theory, but you’re probably thinking ‘how on earth will I know what the questions will be?’ — good point! Thankfully we have plenty of experience with job interviews within the early childhood education sector.

These are just a few of the questions you should be prepared to answer in your job interview:

• What do you like about the position you have applied for?
• What experience do you have working with children?
• What age do you prefer to work with?
• Can you tell us about a challenge you might face in the workplace and how you would resolve it?
• Tell us about your previous work experience.
• What makes you the best person for this role?
• What are your strengths?
• What are your weaknesses?

Prepare some questions to ask in return

It’s likely that your interview will ask if you have any questions too. Have a few ready to go, as asking questions shows that you’re interested and proactive.

Try asking things like:

• What is a typical day like here?
• What are the hours expected?
• Which room will I work in?

Get behind yourself!

We believe in you, so make sure you go in to your interview believing in yourself! Confidence can go a long way, and with the right preparation this job interview could be the beginning of something amazing.

Good luck!

Download our helpful guide to help with you upcoming job interview

Keep a copy of the tips above by downloading our “10 interview tips” infographic below:

 

For additional information on how to perform your best during your interview, read our article about what NOT to say on you next job interview.

For learners looking for further support with job searching in early childhood education, get in touch with us today to learn more.