Application and Interview Tips

The SCDSB wants to help you put your best foot forward! Here are some tips on how to make your application stand out and prepare for an interview. 

The application 
  • Ensure your Apply to Education (ATE) Portfolio is up to date and reflective of the requirements listed in the posting. This means reviewing the information you already have on the ATE website: personal information, qualifications, language skills, experience, education, references, resume, cover letter and supporting documents.
  • List your memberships to affiliated organizations in your ATE portfolio. If you’re a teacher, make sure your OCT number is listed under Certificates. OCT will populate your qualifications, allowing us to see what you are qualified to teach.
  • Confirm that your contact information is up to date on ATE and your resume/cover letter. If an old phone number or email is listed, we may have difficulty reaching you.
  • Tailor your resume to the position you’re applying for. Resumes are reviewed for each individual job you apply for, so it’s important to focus on the skills you can bring to that specific job. For example, if you’re applying for the first time to the teacher supply list, draw attention to previous teaching experience, practicums, tutoring and classroom volunteer work. Review the qualifications of the posting and highlight your experiences that reflect the requirements of the role. If there are any preferred qualifications listed, make sure to include any that you hold on your resume. 

The interview 
  • Research the SCDSB and the specific role you are applying for. Being informed and prepared shows initiative. Explore our website and social media channels to get to know the SCDSB.
  • Practice your interview skills! The SCDSB uses behaviour-based interviewing. Learn more about this interview style and how we apply it on our recruitment process page
  • Look online to find interview questions to test yourself – just Google ‘behaviour-based interview. Read the posting you applied to, to determine the required skills for that particular job. Next, reflect on your work history, looking for specific examples that highlight these specific skills. Preparing in advance will help you to feel more confident during your interview. 
  • Use the STAR method to summarize your answers concisely and effectively. STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, Result. Keeping to the STAR method, can help you focus on the initial question and not get off track with your response.
  • Bring notes into the interview to help stay focused. Remember, though, that an interview should be a discussion, not a presentation. You don't want to read prepared answers, as it can cause you to miss responding to all aspects of the questions.
  • Should you require an accommodation, please voluntarily inform the board of the necessary accommodation request. You may be asked to provide documentation to support the request. It is encouraged that you inform the board of your accommodation needs ahead of the interview and selection process. View the Workplace Accommodation HandbookIf you have concerns or require assistance in planning reasonable accommodations, please contact HR Services at [email protected].