Welcome to this week's #caschat!
We're going to be discussing recruitment of Computer Science Teachers.
Please introduce yourself by telling us about your worst interview experience đ¨
#caschat am Director of IT & Computer Science in a 3-18 day/boarding independent school. ALso worked in secondary comprehens.ive after training there as part of my PGCE. Previously worked in business in IT projects / consultancy and previously was an Army Officer
Evening #caschat Kelvin teaching in the West Midlands. I've not had many interviews. One that sticks in my mind was having to calm an AS child down so I could look at the computer to fix it, this was when I was a technician.
#caschat out of all that my worst interview was for a leading retailer for IT project manager. I got asked mid 4 hr interview to draw graph of expected sales of bagged salad vstemperature!
I admitted to being a typical bloke and having never bought salad had no idea!
Hmmm come to think of it I was headhunted to interview for a VERY prestigious school and within 2 minutes I absolutely detested the incumbent and the feeling was mutual! Don't think he liked me drawing his network on an A4 page and explaining all the problems and bloat! #caschat
A1. Definitely check out the department page/social media. Check current staff on CAS/LinkedIn/Twitter. Get a feel for where they are on the long road to teaching Computing 'properly' #caschat
A2: scored against person specification. Used as a checklist of criteria. For computing vacancies, we mostly interview every candidate that applies. #caschat
A2: I've now been to two schools where it is not uncommon to give teachers an exam paper to sit. If you're expected to teach A-Level then expect them to give you some A-Level Q's #caschat
Most interviews they/you know within the first 2 minutes whether your face fits. After that everything you say or do should be aimed at turning the interview to your advantage #caschat
A2: I've not been involved in this in school. The charity I am a trustee of we use the person specification and additional notes to sore against the job spec. #caschat
#teachingvacancyuk
Computing and ICT
SouthEast
https://t.co/rJmFFohgLk
By: Monday 19th March 2018
For: September 2018
Comprehensive 11-18 school just outside Oxford looking for a full-time Computing and ICT Teacher to join our fantastic team.
A2: Having recruited quite a few: It's a combination of lesson obs, written task (e.g. exam paper), curriculum task if HOD and interview based on their responses against the school's values, their aspirations, lesson reflection + safer recruitment questions #caschat
I like this approach :)
Most CS vacancies list related degree as an essential requirement. My degree is Psychology & Criminology, but I still make one hell of a CS teacher...
#caschat
A1: Update your @LinkedIn profile, recruiters will find you via keywords and location and you will find you probably get job offers sent directly to you quite often #caschat
In reply to
@clcsimon, @GirlGeekUpNorth, @tes, @GuardianEdu, @LinkedIn
A3: by being honest and open about their experiences, areas for development and their ambition (for progression or just excellent outcomes for their students). I want to see passion for Computing AND teaching #caschat
A3 individuality and personality (in a good / sensible way!) Go a long way towards standing out
QWC/SPAG isn't pet peeve. If you can't spell your own address correctly you don't even make it to the door #caschat
Donât be put of by lack of ârelatedâ degree. Many Computer Science teachers donât have one. When I started uni the www had just emerged! #caschat
A1: Update your @LinkedIn profile, recruiters will find you via keywords and location and you will find you probably get job offers sent directly to you quite often #caschat
In reply to
@clcsimon, @GirlGeekUpNorth, @tes, @GuardianEdu, @LinkedIn
Hi, sorry Iâm late! I think one that springs to mind is being too short to reach the top of the interactive board in the lesson and going to pieces! #caschat
A1: Update your @LinkedIn profile, recruiters will find you via keywords and location and you will find you probably get job offers sent directly to you quite often #caschat
In reply to
@clcsimon, @GirlGeekUpNorth, @tes, @GuardianEdu, @LinkedIn
A3 fit your experiences to the schools criteria headings, so it is easy for the school to read and say - âyes this is the person we wantâ it will also help the candidate to decide if it is the right school for them!#caschat
A3: I also always think the candidates who have contacted me/us before the deadline, for an informal chat or visit, always stand out more too. It doesn't have to be onerous but you then look out for the application #caschat
You'd be surprised how many candidates do not research the school's values etc. Most schools are looking for alignment AND subj expertise, personality etc. Personality comes across in the lesson obs and interview but it's rarely an explicit scoring point. #caschat A2
I'm not so sure I agree. If I had a good NQT/RQT applying for a teaching post, I'd rather they were self aware of their own capabilities before thinking too much about the school's successes. We had a trainee once challenge our SDP in interview - didn't go down well. #caschat
In reply to
@MrHeadComputing, @clcsimon, @GirlGeekUpNorth
Ignorance of the subject largely. Too traditional and narrow-minded so it shows they don't "get" that CS is like no other secondary school subject #caschat
A4 I love this question! It is engaging, interesting, fun, varied, absorbing. Very little teacher talk, lots of pupils on task with teacher circulating supporting, questioning and stretching #caschat
A4. Depends on the context. I find that often the school will prescribe what should be taught during the interview lesson bu, where possible, I recommend going unplugged - shows of your teaching skills more plus you won't be plagued by tech issues! #caschat
A3: a lesson that shows progress from start to end for pupils, supported by a willingness to build relationships. If it goes wrong, reflective answer in the interview can save the day #caschat
Agreed. Candidate demonstrates that they have great subject knowledge and a feel for the class soon after entering the room. Mistakes can be forgiven but arrogance cannot #caschat
A4 try and keep all the plates spinning but calmly! I look for 1:1 interactions with pupils, how you talk to them as individuals. Top tip: always take more tasks than you would normally get through! #caschat
But what is 'progress' when you only have 25 minutes in a 3 part lesson with a new class and no background info? Pet peeve of mine. in real life our dept looks at a much longer period #caschat
I know. Some will never get it sadly. Some are complete opposite. Only way to win is with ever increasing numbers opting for it, winning stuff and good grades #caschat
Also just a generic thing that all HR dept do as for other subjects it is a true requirement. But our subject is (relatively) new in comparison #caschat
In all honesty, some of the best teachers we have hired have had shocking lessons. Interview lessons are tough. But they have reflected well, articulated their reflections well at interview and shown they are keen to develop. That's the key. #caschat
A5 Research the school in depth, understand the ethos, think up some interesting questions that show youâve done your homework. Check policies if public esp safeguarding #caschat
A4 Have something which every student can do. show they have learnt something i.e. Exit ticket /formative assessment. Extension for the top . Subj knowledge and use of vocabulary. An honest lesson evaluation and most of all positive interactions #caschat
I would always suggest psyching yourself up, be passionate about teaching and your subject, the best teachers passion rubs off on students and that is what I look for #caschat
A5: sleep! Interview days are exhausting. Clear the decks for the evening before/of so that you can relax before getting back on with your day job #caschat
Don't take the interview and yourself too seriously. If you are a passionate teacher and have fun teaching then focus on that and if you don't get the job learn from it, don't tie yourself up in knots #caschat
Iâve had interviewees put A level experience on their application and it turns out theyâve taught it for a couple of weeks #caschat NEVER stretch the truth!
A6. Be honest. If they know your wage already (on most forms) then always aim to increase by 10% on current wage where possible. Be up front, they expect it #caschat
A6 take time to think what you need BEFORE you get the call. Remember the person youâre talking to (prob the Head) is a professional and itâs not their first rodeo #caschat
A6. Agreed. You should also consider resettlement, timetable allocation, management responsibility (espesh IT Support if you end up running that too!) and CPD. Most INSET is useless for CS teachers when it comes to subject knowledge. Much rather have protected time #caschat
Have to go now but as a long term primary school governor from CS industry I found the answers very interesting. Interviewing for a computing lead in primary might throw up some challenges for the other side of the table. #caschat
