Que faites-vous si votre passion pour l’éducation est remise en question lors d’un entretien ?

Funny that someone asked this question, but truth is stranger than fiction. This has happened to me once. My job application was rejected as I did not display enough 'passion' from my cover note. Some people might write cover letters as if they are saving the world, but my sincere advice is to keep things realistic. You cannot ace every job interview, but you can be honest each time. It is not cool to exaggerate your achievements but at the same time, highlight your accomplishments in a way that will make you stand out as a suitable candidate. It might help to philosophize things a little and say how and why you think education can bring about a change. And go on to demonstrate how you are working on it to become a changemaker.

I’d politely thank them, and announce that “I’m no longer interested in this position”! If my passion is questioned in an interview; that’s a serious indicator for me that this employer is a “trouble employer”: questioning is their mantra. I value myself, my experience, and my passion a lot to endure such demeaning behaviour! ❤️

Keep calm. Rely on the power of human emotions and connections. Share your lived experiences that stemmed the passion for education, your vision to meaningfully contribute to the field with utmost honesty backing it up with data wherever possible.

My passion for education stems from the fact that my father was not able to complete his education due to issues with his family, but even more so, due to one bigoted man who was in charge of the GED program at a community college. This man saw the calloused hands of my father, his work clothes, and refused to help my father fill out the paperwork to take his GED. He said something to the effect that, "don't even waste your time signing up for the test, since you can't even get your bumpkin brain to work to read the application instructions." My father was brilliant at math and completed both Algebra 1 and 2 in his 8th grade (and final) year in school. He used his abilities to be a successful oilfield foreman for over 50 years.

Examples are a great way of showing your passion. Education doesn’t always have to be done in a classroom; we can be educating on so many different fronts - showing examples of that shows true passion.

Providing concrete evidences that speak to the stance will not only serve to convince the individual conducting the interview but also shed light on being a fit for the job.

Using yourself as an example (especially when you're willing to admit to making a mistake or not knowing something) makes you relatable to your students. There are numerous examples from classrooms and meeting room in which someone is afraid to say they don't know something, or to ask a question. I use myself as an example of what not to do by setting up stories and situations people may find themselves in. By being humble enough to show that you're willing to ask for information you don't have or to ask for an explanation of something you don't understand shows your audience that it's okay to speak up when you're confused. When a student or coworker feels empowered to ask the hard questions, I feel inspired.

It's important to highlight how your passion for teaching and learning goes longer than the moment and has led to improvement in your skills and outcomes. A growth mindset is easily discussed when you tie in professional learning, new classroom projects, and always the results of your efforts. Growth looks likes learning -> Practice-> (more learning and practice-> results. It is sometimes worthwhile to highlight something that took time and a few tries to get right. Highlighting your grit, ability to persevere, and process consistency shows an asset that most administrators will be looking for.

This sounds like a pretty confrontational thing for an interviewer to do. And based on what? Maybe job hopping? I don't think I would continue the interview. Maybe it's a tricky way to see how you respond to confrontation or false accusations??? But if the interviewer's concern is genuine, then it's gonna be an uphill battle to convince them and you're not getting the job anyway. That being said, do reflect on why this happened in the interview. Did you say something that sounded "uncommited" or unprofessional?

An example of adaptability in my experience teaching visual art in college was the fact that my classes were a mix group of art majors and students taking painting as an elective. I didn’t change the requirements of the curriculum, however, I adapted my grading to keep the elective students motivated and engaged.

I don’t think there is one way to answer this effectively, and often, I find instructors struggle with meeting the needs of 100% of their class. However, the one area of struggle and success I most often grapple with is providing effective and direct instruction to neurodivergent learners and mainstream learners. What I have found most successful is picking two days out of the week where my lessons are 100% targeted towards my neurodivergent learners. These lessons tend to be more hands on “exciting” and require movement. The learning experience caters to most learners because of the engagement piece and the buy-in is instant.

AI is all the talk right now, especially among those who teach subjects where cheating with AI is very easy. This has inspired me to come up with curriculum and assignments that aren't "hackable" by AI systems. We now do a lot of talking and writing in class about topics that truly matter, because they are personal to each individual - our likes and dislikes, our cultural influences, the way we see the world. Students are open and free with their opinions when they have a safe space to voice them, so by having more conversations wherein students are "writing" (as they speak), I've seen students then feel more confident about their skills and, in turn, confident enough to rely on their own writing skills without using others' work.

Firstly see the question as an opportunity to connect and share more experience. The use of personal examples can be helpful, how has education and/or the lack of impacted you personally as well as the “why” behind why you do what you do or have chosen to do it. Stories and testimonies are what make us human and are one of the greatest ways to connect. You might also share testimonials of the difference you have seen education make in other people’s lives. If your passion is authentic and you have true experiences you shouldn’t be threatened by the question. If the interviewer is a good interviewer they shouldn’t be looking to cause shame with the question and if they are I would suggest carefully considering it as a place of work

My life revolves around shaping the minds and personalities of my students and players I coach. I like to make sure my kids regardless of our area we are involved, know that i want to know how they are going and what they are doing outside of this setting. But put into perspective that you can think of something in the area we are by looking at things elsewhere in life and how it all wraps into one. For examples in math we look at percentages and decimals and stats and i’ll talk about baseball or even jobs where your going to get a tip if you do a good job, or the tax on a video game your not paying $100 in taxes so what did you do wrong with the formula? Things like that gain my kids interest because it’s reality and they understand it.

A personal example happened when I was a senior in high school. Because of my Dad’s opportunity to study and teach abroad, my family moved to Zurich Switzerland. I attended the International School where I took some classes. One of those classes was an art class that forever changed my life to study more art and to minor in art in college. As I was teaching art I had an opportunity to get my MA in art and eventually teach at the university level. My educational experience enabled me to become a visual artist.

If you are applying for a position where you run a program, thinking through where the program might go next is a great way to set yourself apart. My first role in teaching was leading band programs that ran from grades 6 to 12. I always looked at what programs had done, what their enrollment looked like, and their facilities. Administrators where impressed to learn my evaluation of the programs, and then short-term and long-term goals that could bring the programs to new levels of achievement. When a panel is excited for a program's future with you, they will imagine you in the role. This desire is powerful.

Be yourself! What you bring to a job, to a classroom, to the world in a genuine and authentic way is always better than changing yourself to fit into a mold of which you are unsure of the shape.

Don't take it personally, but give personal examples. I have demonstrated many times and in many ways that education is my passion." Then give a couple of different examples: "One year my new class as a whole needed remediation in ... I made it a priority and put ti.e and effort into ..." "To make stronger connections with families I created opportunities for... by..." "My students were so excited about X topic from this show or movie or book so I used it to bring interest in x curriculum by..."

Address the questioing of your passion with an authentically passionate, but respectful reply. There is no need to dim your passion for education because anyone questions your purpose.

When you've known from age 8 that you were called to be a teacher, have multiple degrees, and study independently about how learning happens and to develop the most effective teaching strategies based on theory, research, and years of experience, it is hard for anyone to question or even ignore a true teacher's passion for education!

I’d say take a deep breath. A question doesn’t necessarily mean you are being doubted. If it’s a reasonable line of questioning, answer from the heart and the head. Stay cool and just show your passion via examples. Now if the interview veers into disrespectful territory, perhaps you’ve been granted a gift. Do you want to work for an employer who is blatantly disrespectful? Especially in education, major red flag. It’s doubtful you want them as an employer, take this as a sign. But keep a cool head!