What to Expect from an Opus Teach Interview

An interview isn’t always a standard part of a supply agency registration, so you may be wondering what to expect. Below, we share the reasons why we interview all of our teachers and support staff and some of the things that you can do to make sure that your interview is a success.

At Opus Teach we are committed to recruiting high quality supply teachers and support staff who are able to add value in the classroom.

To ensure we maintain this standard, we have a thorough interview process which each of our teachers go through as part of their application, alongside comprehensive compliance checks.

Our process may sound thorough, but there is nothing to fear! We just want to ensure that you’re the right fit for Opus Teach and schools in Suffolk. In addition to this, it is an opportunity to get to know each other better and understand what sort of placements will work for you, including salary expectations.

The interview stage is also a way for you to ensure that Opus Teach is the right agency for you. We care about our teachers and aim to build longstanding working relationships with them. Therefore it is important that you feel that you want to be a part of our team.

The interview

Our interview process differs from a standard registration by acting in a similar way to a job interview. It is an opportunity for you to present yourself in a professional capacity.

Similarly to a job interview, candidates are expected to arrive on time, dressed appropriately and having prepared sufficiently.

Each interview is conducted by an educational professional, alongside a member of our team; usually the account manager. Our educational professionals include head teachers and consultants, who all have a strong background in education. This allows us to properly and, most importantly, fairly asses you.

Much like an interview for a permanent job, the questions asked cover a range of topics such as the experience you currently have, your abilities to handle certain situations and your knowledge on behavioural policies and safeguarding amongst many more.

The interview will also clarify our expectations of you in the role. For example, as we pay our teachers in line with main teacher pay scales, we would expect you to carry out tasks associated with this, such as planning and marking if required.

However, this time is also a chance for you to share what your expectations of us as an agency are. It is just as important for you to have all of your questions and concerns answered, and for us to ensure that you are placed in the right school for you.

How to be prepared

Rather than approaching the interview as a test it should be thought of as a way to show off your knowledge and skills.

We pride ourselves on providing high quality, skilled teachers to schools in Suffolk and so we are thrilled when we meet teachers and support staff who go above and beyond and are passionate about their job.
You can prepare successfully by reading through the job specification and doing some extra research, making sure that you are up to date with current policies and teaching news.

To help you know what we are looking out for, have a think about how you demonstrate the qualities we’re looking for in Opus teachers, which are:

Opus teachers:

• Are dedicated
• Are passionate about teaching and learning
• Maintain awareness of current policies and practices regarding teaching, learning and safeguarding
• Do more than just cover classes- they care about helping students and schools achieve learning goals
• Maintain positive relationships with staff and students in the schools
• Seek excellence and are constantly looking to develop their skills

If you feel you have all the above qualities and wish to be a supply teacher with Opus Teach, click here and register now, we would love to have you on board.

If you have any questions about the process, the interview itself, or any other queries, we will be more than happy to answer any you may have. Please ring 03301 242801 or alternatively, email [email protected].