Outline your process for recruiting, interviewing, and hiring teachers and other personnel.
Recruiting, interviewing, and hiring teachers and other personnel will likely be a significant part of your role as a Preschool Director. The interviewers would like to know your approach for attracting new talent to your school.
Perhaps you keep open job ads on the school website, or maybe you maintain close relationships with a local college so that you have the tip on new graduates who might be a good fit for your school. Perhaps you attend career fairs at regional college campuses' to attract recent graduates.
When it comes to interviewing and making hiring decisions, mention that your interviews are well structured and that you keep a consistent and fair decision-making process. If you are responsible for making the final the hiring decision, discuss the factors that you look for when making your final selections.
"Hiring the right teachers and staff for a preschool setting is a very dedicated and meticulous process. I take my hiring decisions seriously as they impact our existing team, our school community, and the students in our care. I primarily recruit through existing staff referrals since these types of hires have a much higher stick-rate and tenure. I also have a strong relationship with the director of our local college, offering degrees in early childhood education. When they have an outstanding graduate, the director facilitates an introduction. More often than not, these leads end up being solid. When interviewing, I have a list of non-negotiables for hiring educators and other personnel. First, they must pass a rigorous background check, which includes criminal, drug, and education checks. Each successful candidate must show enthusiasm and support of the school's mission and vision. I look for answers that show actionable results and traits such as empathy, kindness, and self-awareness. Our school environment is diverse, so I also ask a variety of questions surrounding diversity and inclusion, and I ensure that they agree to our D&I plan. I have a robust 90-day onboarding plan to ensure that each new hire sticks and that every person introduced to our school community feels welcome and empowered."
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Anonymous Answer
I go through different job sites and use the screening questions I find there. At the interview, I am very specific about what is needed to fulfill the role.
Rachelle's Feedback
When faced with a 'Tell me about...' question, the interviewer is asking for you to walk them through your process in great detail. Try delivering this answer more engagingly by futher describing your actions and process. I have provided a starter for you, below.
"I actively recruit and interview, hiring approximately (#) people per year. When it is time to hire, I use a variety of job sites and resources (such as...). When I conduct an interview, I ask highly targeted and specific questions, such as...(include your favorite 1-3 interview questions). My hiring rate is successful...(do you have any measurable stats to share related to employee tenure and retention?)."
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