• Preparing for an interview requires thought and perspective.teacher image by PD-Images.com from Fotolia.com
  
  Becoming a teaching assistant does not require any advanced degrees, but it does require convincing an interviewer that you are the right person for the job. As with all interviews, dress well and practice answers to expected questions before the interview. There are, however, several additional techniques to keep in mind while preparing for your interview as a teaching assistant.
  
  

Do Your Research

• Schools don't just want to know that you'd make a good teaching assistant; they want to know that you'd be a good fit for their school. In order to convince them of this, do your research about the school in question. Find out what the responsibilities of a teaching assistant are at that site, the overarching goals of the school or district, and the general content of the class that you would be assisting. You can do this by searching online or talking to teachers or students in the school. Prepare a list of questions that you have based on your research, and decide which ones to ask at the interview to show that you've "done your homework."
  
  

Show Your Passion for Kids

• Because becoming a teaching assistants requires very few credentials, many interviewers may wonder whether you're just looking for an easy job you can do without a full teaching degree. To prove them wrong, show them how passionate you are about working with kids and teaching. Think of some stories of events that have happened to you involving kids, and decide which of those you should discuss at the interview. Make sure to mention any previous experience you have in working with kids, whether as a camp counselor, a youth group director, or a babysitter.
  
  

Be Responsible

• Being responsible is possibly one of the most overlooked interview techniques, but it is essential for prospective teaching assistants. A teaching assistant will need to multitask well, staying responsible for a class full of students while the main teacher is focusing on one or two of them (or is out of the room). Teaching assistants also have to keep track of papers and supplies, as well as attend to any other tasks that the main teacher sets out. At an interview, prove to the interviewer that you can handle all of these responsibilities well. That means getting to the interview with plenty of time to spare, having any necessary paperwork on hand, and giving the interviewer your contact information in a clear format.