PART 1: HOW TO CREATE PRELIMINARY VIDEO INTERVIEWS
An online, pre-interview video is a great way to stand out from other dance teachers when applying for dance teaching jobs. It’s something that your average dance teacher would never do, and gives your potential employer the opportunity to connect with you in a more personal way, prior to your actual interview. Highlight your unique qualities, training, experience, and values as a dance teacher, and land the teaching jobs you want!
Here is the order and content for your pre-interview video:
1) Introduce Yourself - Start off with your name, where you’re from, what styles of dance you teach, what age groups, your educational & dance background and training, and a brief overview of your teaching experience. – 2 mins.
2) Share Your Teaching Philosophy – Talk about why you teach, and what your core values and beliefs are as a teacher. – 1 min. 30 secs
3) Explain What You Bring To The Table - Share what the benefits will be for a dance studio, arts organization, or school, when they hire you, and what makes you unique as a dance teacher. This is your chance to really stand out from your competitors, so take full advantage of it. Be concise, and don’t ramble on. Remember, this video should not be longer than 5 mins. – 1 min. 15 secs
4) Have A Professional Closing. Closing out your video with something like, “Thank you for taking the time to watch this video, and for considering me for this position. I look forward to meeting with you in person, and learning more about your organization. Take Care.” - 15 secs
Your video should be no longer than 5 mins., tops!
Record your video on your webcam, iphone, or video camera. Make sure you edit your video to present the highest form of professionalism. Feel free to add a few photos to your video, that you can show while you’re talking. I wouldn’t recommend adding more than 3 photos, since this is only a 5-minute video. If you have photos of you with your dance students, that is perfect!
Here are some additional pointers:
- Be bubbly, energetic, and enthusiastic.
- Speak loudly and clearly (If you have a wireless mic, that’s even better. Please use a microphone if you have one.)
- Smile while you’re speaking (but not to the point where you look crazy).
- Look directly into the camera (as you would look at your potential employer during an in-person interview).
- Present your best self. Get dressed in some nice clothing. Ladies, put on some make-up. Present yourself in the same manner that you would at a job interview, casting, or audition.
- Practice, and do multiple takes. Don’t worry about getting it right the first time. Take your time, and be sure that you’re sharing the best version of your pre-interview video. I wouldn’t recommend writing out a script, because it will seem very unnatural. However, you can write down some bullet points of things you definitely want to mention in your video.
Other than that, speak from the heart. The purpose of this video is for potential employers to get to know the real you. So be genuine, and be yourself.
I also recommend creating a short, 1-minute version of this video, just to introduce yourself, and share why you’re applying for a particular teaching position, and send it to potential employers in a
video e-mail. It’s something unique, new, and different, and will definitely make you stand out from the other dance teacher candidates.
Do you think creating a video such as this one, will help you stand out from other dance teachers/choreographers when applying for jobs?
Did you find this post helpful?
Please leave a comment below, and share this post on Facebook and Twitter.
Related posts:
- How To Secure Summer Dance Teaching Jobs (7 Tips)
- How To Create Awesome Online Videos to Promote Your Dance Studio Through Social Media
- Personal Branding and Marketing for Dance Teachers – Part 1
- Our Back-To-School Promotion Means More Money And Jobs For Dance Teachers
- Online Branding and Marketing Secrets for the Dance Biz Teleseminar
Pingback: For Dance Teachers: How To Use Online Videos To Get Jobs – Part 2 | Kiner Enterprises Inc. Blog - Biz Tips, Tools, and Resources For Dance Teachers & Dance Studio Owners