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Desired Teacher Candidate Characteristics

School administrators seek teacher candidates who possess specific traits or skills that are characteristic of an effective teacher. A list of these traits is noted below. When given an opportunity to present yourself and your qualifications (in writing or in person) to hiring officials, make certain you demonstrate as many of the below characteristics as possible.

Attempt to convey:

That you have a genuine personality. Be sincere and humble at all times.
That you have good communication skills (written and oral). Thoughts poorly organized or presented in a manner unclear will quickly take you out of the running.
That you are a good listener and understand what is being communicated to you.
That you have a cooperative attitude. Principals are seeking individuals who are flexible and easy to work with.
That you have a positive outlook on teaching, learning, and students.
That you are reliable and dependable. Because of the role models teachers set for students, it is crucial that you excel in this area.
That you understand what it takes to be an effective teacher. Have some ideas about how students learn and how you, as a teacher, would be able to facilitate the learning process.
That you can manage students in and out of the classroom. You will not be offered a job unless the principal is convinced that students will respect you and that you are a "take charge" type of teacher.
That you are ambitious. Administrators seek teachers who are initiators of activities and events. Get across the point that you can "make things happen."
That you have leadership skills (be careful though not to be abrasive).
That you have a basic understanding of commonly accepted principles of educational psychology. Be able to use such terms as "reinforcement," "mastery," "learning objectives," and "learning outcomes" when you talk about the learning process.
That you know your subject matter well and can make it stimulating and interesting. You will not be quizzed on content, but if you are able to impress the principal, in a subtle way, with your subject knowledge, this would be a definite plus.
That you are versatile. If you are a junior or senior high school teacher candidate, you will want to demonstrate, if possible, your ability to teach in more than one subject area. A willingness to coach and/or sponsor co-curricular activities is especially important at the secondary (6-12) level. If you are an elementary teacher candidate, you will want to stress your ability to teach at a variety of grade levels.
That you are a person with high personal standards and professional expectations (however, do not appear too rigid). Remember, good teachers are also compassionate.
That you can modify your instructional techniques to accommodate a wide variety of learners with different abilities and learning styles.
That you can relate teaching activities to stated objectives.
That you are an organized person and teacher. This is especially important with record keeping tasks and follow-up activities.
That you have good taste in dress. Good grooming is impressive and remembered.
That you have a good sense of humor. It is often said that a smile or a laugh is the shortest distance between two people.
That you are interested in growing as a professional. Convince your interviewer that you are open to new ideas, techniques, and approaches that can increase your overall effectiveness as a teacher.

Windsor, R., & Rowland, W., (2005). Employment strategies for prospective teachers: a guide (8th ed.). Lisle, Illinois: The Advantage Press.