Hi all! I've been lurking some, but super busy with a leave replacement in 3rd grade...

C

carianna-in-wa

Well-known member
Not to mention this has been the year of college applications (she's selected Linfield College in OR... go Wildcats!) and other all-about-the-teens world we live in.

But even though I haven't been here, that doesn't stop me from popping in with a Food Challenge! Heh.

Monday afternoon I am interviewing for several different teaching positions. Sitting in on this first interview are 4 principals plus 4 teachers. (Isn't that just punch you in the face fun?) One of the principals is married to a teacher friend of mine, and we were chatting last night and she mentioned that I am smack in the middle of their long day of interviewing. They are going from 12-7 on Monday. Ick. I am at 4:30. She suggested that it would make an impression and make me stand out a little if I deliver a snack. (She ran it by her husband and he agreed it wasn't over the top and was a good idea.)

So: I'm thinking nothing sweet - too many people don't like sweets. It has to be made today because I teach all day tomorrow and go right to the interview after school. It can't be hot, for the same above reason. It can't be greasy or messy and eaten with fingers. And not loud either. LOL.

I think skewers. Right now I'm leaning toward caprese skewers... but thought I'd check in to say hi and see if anyone had a genius idea. smileys/smile.gif

 
Carianna, I had never heard, nor ever seen, anyone bring a snack to an interview so I

Goggled it. Everything that I saw said not to bring food to an interview. One professional said that during his interview with a prospective employee, he was called away for a few moments. When he walked back into the room, his interviewee was eating a health bar. She did not get the job. My gut feeling tells me this is not professional.
However, you know your school better than we do and you also must know what is acceptable.
I recall a new employee showing up on her first day at the police department where I worked and she brought in doughnuts for all of us. We all thought that was a nice gesture. I've sat in on many interviews and no one ever came in with a snack. Personally, I would not want to be eating during an interview nor would I like to see the interviewers eating. There are other ways to stand out, by the way you present yourself, how well you know your school and what their goals are for their teachers, and showing that you can be a team player. Just my thoughts from my experiences. Good luck with your interview.

 
I wouldn't bring food to an interview, but if I were PB&J would be a good fit here

I've done PB&J for afternoon breaks and they are a big hit, good protein/boost of energy/easy to eat. Normally, I have the caterer cut them into fun shapes - and of course here it goes along with the school theme.

However, that being said, unless you know these folks I can't see bringing food to an interview for all the reasons mentioned above.

 
Hhhmm; I'm not really a fan of the idea....UNLESS, you can fit it into your story. In other words;

Are you interviewing for a "foods" teacher? They don't call it home ec here. You can provide an example or two of easy things that you would teach, and incorporate fun and nutrition while showcasing your talents and give them a glimpse of how you can see the classroom evolve.

Overall, I am not a fan, and honestly would not want someone eating while they were interviewing me. They are professionals, and while they may be tired, I am sure they will be up for the challenge of multiple interviews.

I would suggest to come up with a quick, memorable "elevator" speech. Start off and end off with 3 important adjectives that describe your style.... (Something that they would write down on your resume)...

If you really want to do food, then make sure you have an adjective to describe it that fits your resume.... As an example, if you make dirt cake (this is an extreme, and only meant to serve as an example), you can say how they fit your style of being creative w/ your class, does not need to be baked, and can use to facilitate a learning on seasons, (ie spring)... I know it is a stretch, but you get the idea!

Good luck on your interviews!!! They would be lucky to have you! I know how passionate you are about teaching.

 
Things must have changed a lot- I would never bring snacks to an interview but

if you must, why not just lovely apple slices with peanut butter to dip in? The perfect afternoon snack.

I must be getting old- snacks at an interview? yow.

 
Hi, Carianna--my age is showing--I'm old school & would also say NO FOOD at any type

interview whether I'm the interviewer or the interviewee, but perhaps things have loosened up in this day & age. If you truly think offering something to eat would be a good idea, I would only hand food out AS I WAS LEAVING MY INTERVIEW. That way the interview team will not be distracted from your file/resume/answers, etc., etc.

PS: Another old school aside has just come into my mind so will share it w/ you...==>I have a girlfriend with a very shy college-grad daughter, and when this girl went to an important job interview some years ago, my friend, i.e., the mother, went with her daughter. I was flabbergasted when informed after the fact, but didn't say a critical word, of course. Amazingly enough, I was the only one of us three who was NOT SURPRISED when the daughter did not get that position although my friend certainly was. Interestingly enough, my friend is my age. I don't know what she was thinking!! I assumed the mom simply wanted to support her daughter, but good grief, that was not the way to do it, IMHO.

 
If you are going to bring a gift for the interview panel, I would do a box of cookies or something

and just say, here's a little something for your next break, I love to bake and thought you would enjoy this. If you are in a school then definitely do not bring anything with peanuts in it, many schools ban peanuts because of the risk to peanut allergic children.

But my first inclination is not to bring food, it's too suggestive of a bribe unless you personally know someone on the panel and they know that you are an amazing cook. You certainly should never eat anything while at an interview.

Hope you have a great interview and land the position!

 
Well, how did it all turn out on Monday afternoon?

I was very opposed to your bringing snacks, this is a business situation, not a social situation, and should be kept at a professional level, but there were others who disagreed with me. Curious to know what you did, and what they did.
Marianne

 
I ended up with no food... not for the professional reasons. It was a scenario where food would

have been fine and welcomed. (In fact they mentioned that another interviewee had brought them all coffees earlier that day.) I knew on a very personal level 5 of the 8, and it would have worked out fine.

I didn't bring food because I simply ran out of time due to the intensive studying I ended up doing. Teacher interviews are unlike any others. 16 eyeballs staring at you and complicated questions. Studying is a good idea, no matter how long you've taught.

Anyway, thanks for all the feedback. I love that I can always pop in for advice. smileys/bigsmile.gif

p.s. Looks REALLY good for a job next year. I've gotten very good feedback. smileys/smile.gif

 
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