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I've got my first interview in a few years on Tuesday.

For those unfamiliar with teaching, it is quite an odd process compared to other jobs. If you want to move jobs, there is basically a 2 month window where you can get sorted and in reality this is more like a few weeks around the start of May. The vast majority of positions close in the first two weeks of May, and interview the week after. This is because the notice period is one term: if I want a new school for September my notice needs to be in by the end of May. 

If you don't get it, then you stay in your job for another academic year and almost certainly don't think about moving until next April. In a situation where most people at your school know you've interviewed, this can be quite uncomfortable if you end up not moving.

Then the process itself is very gruelling. After a lengthy application process involving a 2 page personal statement tailored to each school, they always watch you teach a random lesson to a random class, and then you go through an interview like any other. In this instance I also have a presentation to do. I will be spending all weekend and Monday prepping for it and that doesn't feel like enough time.

I went through the process a few years ago for John Lennon's old school and didn't get it. That was the first time I'd ever gone through it and not got it, and I genuinely think that's why I haven't applied again until now. 

I'll suck it up and do it, and come Tuesday I can breathe again. You never know I might even get it! 

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22 minutes ago, Maximus Decimus said:

I've got my first interview in a few years on Tuesday.

For those unfamiliar with teaching, it is quite an odd process compared to other jobs. If you want to move jobs, there is basically a 2 month window where you can get sorted and in reality this is more like a few weeks around the start of May. The vast majority of positions close in the first two weeks of May, and interview the week after. This is because the notice period is one term: if I want a new school for September my notice needs to be in by the end of May. 

If you don't get it, then you stay in your job for another academic year and almost certainly don't think about moving until next April. In a situation where most people at your school know you've interviewed, this can be quite uncomfortable if you end up not moving.

Then the process itself is very gruelling. After a lengthy application process involving a 2 page personal statement tailored to each school, they always watch you teach a random lesson to a random class, and then you go through an interview like any other. In this instance I also have a presentation to do. I will be spending all weekend and Monday prepping for it and that doesn't feel like enough time.

I went through the process a few years ago for John Lennon's old school and didn't get it. That was the first time I'd ever gone through it and not got it, and I genuinely think that's why I haven't applied again until now. 

I'll suck it up and do it, and come Tuesday I can breathe again. You never know I might even get it! 

Good luck!

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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11 hours ago, Maximus Decimus said:

I've got my first interview in a few years on Tuesday.

For those unfamiliar with teaching, it is quite an odd process compared to other jobs. If you want to move jobs, there is basically a 2 month window where you can get sorted and in reality this is more like a few weeks around the start of May. The vast majority of positions close in the first two weeks of May, and interview the week after. This is because the notice period is one term: if I want a new school for September my notice needs to be in by the end of May. 

If you don't get it, then you stay in your job for another academic year and almost certainly don't think about moving until next April. In a situation where most people at your school know you've interviewed, this can be quite uncomfortable if you end up not moving.

Then the process itself is very gruelling. After a lengthy application process involving a 2 page personal statement tailored to each school, they always watch you teach a random lesson to a random class, and then you go through an interview like any other. In this instance I also have a presentation to do. I will be spending all weekend and Monday prepping for it and that doesn't feel like enough time.

I went through the process a few years ago for John Lennon's old school and didn't get it. That was the first time I'd ever gone through it and not got it, and I genuinely think that's why I haven't applied again until now. 

I'll suck it up and do it, and come Tuesday I can breathe again. You never know I might even get it! 

Good luck. I've been on the other side as a governor/observer a couple of times. And my son was on a panel for the Deputy Head at his special school a couple of weeks ago. It really does look demanding on the participants.

Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life. (Terry Pratchett)

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12 hours ago, Maximus Decimus said:

I've got my first interview in a few years on Tuesday.

For those unfamiliar with teaching, it is quite an odd process compared to other jobs. If you want to move jobs, there is basically a 2 month window where you can get sorted and in reality this is more like a few weeks around the start of May. The vast majority of positions close in the first two weeks of May, and interview the week after. This is because the notice period is one term: if I want a new school for September my notice needs to be in by the end of May. 

If you don't get it, then you stay in your job for another academic year and almost certainly don't think about moving until next April. In a situation where most people at your school know you've interviewed, this can be quite uncomfortable if you end up not moving.

Then the process itself is very gruelling. After a lengthy application process involving a 2 page personal statement tailored to each school, they always watch you teach a random lesson to a random class, and then you go through an interview like any other. In this instance I also have a presentation to do. I will be spending all weekend and Monday prepping for it and that doesn't feel like enough time.

I went through the process a few years ago for John Lennon's old school and didn't get it. That was the first time I'd ever gone through it and not got it, and I genuinely think that's why I haven't applied again until now. 

I'll suck it up and do it, and come Tuesday I can breathe again. You never know I might even get it! 

Good luck, MD.

I don't envy you.

Rethymno Rugby League Appreciation Society

Founder (and, so far, only) member.

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4 hours ago, gingerjon said:

Good luck. I've been on the other side as a governor/observer a couple of times. And my son was on a panel for the Deputy Head at his special school a couple of weeks ago. It really does look demanding on the participants.

Bring on Tuesday night!

I only interviewed once when I was living in Ireland and it consisted of 5/6 questions in front of a panel. I came away from that experience feeling like they didn't have a clue what sort of a teacher I was.

At least with a lesson you can show what you're all about. 

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25 minutes ago, Johnoco said:

I have a different problem, I keep getting offered jobs. 
 

I really like where I work at the moment but some, er kind mate, I know has offered me a job at their place! It’s less money in the short term but potentially more in the long run. And much closer to home. What to do!!!

Why move for less money without a guarantee, signed into a contract, of an increase? and if you like where you are that counts for a lot.......... I think you've possibly answered your own question chap

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10 hours ago, Johnoco said:

I have a different problem, I keep getting offered jobs. 
 

I really like where I work at the moment but some, er kind mate, I know has offered me a job at their place! It’s less money in the short term but potentially more in the long run. And much closer to home. What to do!!!

Have you worked in savings from it being closer to home - ie less travel costs & more time to yourself - can you equate that back to the drop in money?  

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11 hours ago, Johnoco said:

I have a different problem, I keep getting offered jobs. 
 

I really like where I work at the moment but some, er kind mate, I know has offered me a job at their place! It’s less money in the short term but potentially more in the long run. And much closer to home. What to do!!!

How much do you like where you are now and how much better will life be at the new place - even with less money?

Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life. (Terry Pratchett)

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26 minutes ago, Johnoco said:

It wouldn’t be a massive issue as it doesn’t cost me that much anyway but I could walk to this other job. And it’s not 12 hour shifts.....

Its a tough one, your work-life balance may be better without 12 hour shifts - its how much you value that, and is it worth the drop.

Back in the day I used to work a shift pattern over 24 hours 7 days a week, the night shifts helped pay for my trip to the World Cup in 2008, but I wouldn't want to do that anymore

 

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1 hour ago, Johnoco said:

This would be the gamble, I like my place but my mate assures me it’s good at his place too. I’ll probably stay put but it’s annoying to have to make such decisions lol

It wouldn’t be a massive issue as it doesn’t cost me that much anyway but I could walk to this other job. And it’s not 12 hour shifts.....

Presumably 12 hour shifts mean a lot of time away from work or overtime opportunities? Is that worth bearing in mind?

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6 minutes ago, Johnoco said:

is wear and tear on my aging joints! I might think I'm still young but my knees and back disagree!!

I feel your pain. I had a meeting last night with some ex-rugby playing friends, we spent more time discussing our pains and ailments than we did the planning session.

As an aside our plans were agreed to be:

Next year for the Army Navy game:

We are either putting prices up, keeping them the same or reducing them
We will aim to have the same people as last time apart from the ones we don't have
We may have some different people as well.
We will have the same size bus unless we don't
We will meet at the Rugby Club or somewhere else.
Seperately to the Army Navy game we may go on the lash in Salisbury or Bath or Cardiff or London

Meeting adjourned at 10.05pm

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Finances, when I worked in the NHS, I was on a Band 6 Level, earning around £32k, right now I would like a job earning just enough to satisfy Letting Agents at £18.5k.

When I left the NHS, I had had enough of the job, the managers, the doctors, the bullying, the stupid 12 hour weekend shifts, so when I was threatened one final time, that was it, I walked away from my hearing, slapped my manager, and after 30 years of Theatre work, stepped away. I had some good times, and awful, nightmare jobs. But whatever the money, I wanted to be happy, thats the main thing, 

If you're not happy in the job, the money means nothing.

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Well I didn't get it. Disappointed because I honestly thought I'd nailed it. I've had interviews where I thought I'd blown it, but never when it has gone so well. 

Interestingly, during a walk around the day before, the head mentioned that another teacher at the school had just announced that he an interview on the Thursday. If he is successful, because the job is at the same level as the one I applied for, he would be in a position to offer one candidate the job without needing to advertise. 

At the time I said I'd be interested, but now I'm not sure I could do it. Maybe it's just male pride, but the idea of walking into a job knowing I was second pick, when first pick is across the staffroom getting a coffee doesn't sit right. Logically, I know a selection process is about a best fit rather than a competition, but it's a hard thing to get over. 

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1 hour ago, Maximus Decimus said:

 

At the time I said I'd be interested, but now I'm not sure I could do it. Maybe it's just male pride, but the idea of walking into a job knowing I was second pick, when first pick is across the staffroom getting a coffee doesn't sit right. Logically, I know a selection process is about a best fit rather than a competition, but it's a hard thing to get over. 

I wouldn't let your initial pride keep you back. Logically every time anyone applies for a job they are already the 2nd choice because the 1st choice person was already doing the job, but has now moved on.The chat you had with the boss tells me that they must have you in high regard, otherwise it will be advertised outside again. 

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After graduating from Hudds Uni three years ago my daughter has finally got a job in the discipline she studied.

She’s worked as a barmaid/waitress in the intervening period but has now been offered a job in Cleckheaton, massively proud of her resilience and continued optimism over that period 

"Freedom without socialism is privilege and injustice, socialism without freedom is slavery and brutality" - Mikhail Bakunin

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On 19/05/2021 at 21:39, Maximus Decimus said:

At the time I said I'd be interested, but now I'm not sure I could do it. Maybe it's just male pride, but the idea of walking into a job knowing I was second pick, when first pick is across the staffroom getting a coffee doesn't sit right. Logically, I know a selection process is about a best fit rather than a competition, but it's a hard thing to get over. 

I've been involved in one particular interviewing process where there was a hair's breadth between the top 2 candidates. The degree to which you were second pick may be minimal! Also, once you've started, you'll be judged on the quality of your work, and the interview process won't count for anything.

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1 hour ago, CrushersForever said:

I've been involved in one particular interviewing process where there was a hair's breadth between the top 2 candidates. The degree to which you were second pick may be minimal! Also, once you've started, you'll be judged on the quality of your work, and the interview process won't count for anything.

Spot on. Despite the process being rigorous, they are still making some assumptions about the preferred candidate. Knock them over when you get the chance to show them who should have been no.1, MD.

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On 19/05/2021 at 22:39, Maximus Decimus said:

Well I didn't get it. Disappointed because I honestly thought I'd nailed it. I've had interviews where I thought I'd blown it, but never when it has gone so well. 

Interestingly, during a walk around the day before, the head mentioned that another teacher at the school had just announced that he an interview on the Thursday. If he is successful, because the job is at the same level as the one I applied for, he would be in a position to offer one candidate the job without needing to advertise. 

At the time I said I'd be interested, but now I'm not sure I could do it. Maybe it's just male pride, but the idea of walking into a job knowing I was second pick, when first pick is across the staffroom getting a coffee doesn't sit right. Logically, I know a selection process is about a best fit rather than a competition, but it's a hard thing to get over. 

Many are excelling in careers that they were not first choice for. Many are happily married to people that they were not sure about going out on a date with.

Frankly, job interviews are often very close and they are rarely personal. I have been really impressed at interviewees, but not considered them the right fit and favoured someone who did not actually impress me as much.

I get what you are saying, but vanity will rarely help you, even though we all suffer from it.

"You clearly have never met Bob8 then, he's like a veritable Bryan Ferry of RL." - Johnoco 19 Jul 2014

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On 19/05/2021 at 21:39, Maximus Decimus said:

Well I didn't get it. Disappointed because I honestly thought I'd nailed it. I've had interviews where I thought I'd blown it, but never when it has gone so well. 

Interestingly, during a walk around the day before, the head mentioned that another teacher at the school had just announced that he an interview on the Thursday. If he is successful, because the job is at the same level as the one I applied for, he would be in a position to offer one candidate the job without needing to advertise. 

At the time I said I'd be interested, but now I'm not sure I could do it. Maybe it's just male pride, but the idea of walking into a job knowing I was second pick, when first pick is across the staffroom getting a coffee doesn't sit right. Logically, I know a selection process is about a best fit rather than a competition, but it's a hard thing to get over. 

You have already had some good advice from others, MD.  Here is my six penn'orth.

As the big local government reorganisation of April, 1974, approached, as a young, trainee, town planner, I looked to move from County Hall, Northallerton, to a district council, as they were getting planning powers for the first time.  It was a good time for people like me; demand outstripped supply.

I went for an interview in Skipton with the embryonic Craven District Council.  Three of us had been invited, all to attend concurrently for an initial short briefing.  The first thing the chief planner had to say, somewhat sheepishly, was that there had been an error in the salary advertised; t wasn't quite as much in reality.  One candidate got up and left.  The other two of us were interviewed.  Then the other candidate was called back in and (I subsequently learned) was offered the job.  But they wouldn't agree to his starting salary request, so I was called in and offered the job at the bottom of the scale.  Being a desperate cheapskate, I snapped their hands off!

So, there I was, third choice of three.  

I had 14 great years there and, as my skills and experience blossomed, I was asked to take on more roles, so I realised that the powers-that-be liked me.  The most interesting new one was public transport; I was already a bus and train fan.  Now, in the early to mid 1980s, I had the chance to offer by councillors advice on the deregulation of bus services, which was happening nationally, and, more locally, the then threat to close the Settle & Carlisle railway.

It was in those 14 years that I met and married Mrs WWD and we are still together, I am pleased to say.

So being other than first choice isn't always bad, MD!

Incidentally, by way of an RL-related aside, during my time at Craven, I had a junior planning assistant to support my work.  The post was typically used by newly qualified planners, fresh out of polytechnic or university, as a first stepping stone in their career.  On one occasion when the post was vacant, three lads, all having just finished the same course at Leeds Poly, applied and were interviewed.  The panel of three interviewers, me included, liked them all, so who to appoint?  We all had a different first choice!  So, I was allowed to have the final say as I would share a room and line manage the successful candidate.  I plumped for Steve Szostak, father of Alex of Sheffield, Workington and Scotland fame.  If Steve hadn't got the job, I don't suppose he would have met, courted and married Joanne, Alex's mum, who also worked for Craven Council.  As I recall, Joanne's maiden name was MacWhirter, which gives a clue to Alex's eligibility for Scotland.

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4 minutes ago, Johnoco said:

Good on her.
This experience will stand her in good stead in the future, in more ways than just work. If we can crack on with other paths when our chosen one is blocked or doesn’t even appear, it will give you the resilience to deal with things that get thrown your way.  
Of my 2 lads the eldest sulked and wouldn’t take any old job until he got one that suited his degree. It paid off for him as he has a well paid job in London.
 

Whereas my other lad just gets on with it and works wherever is necessary. 

We told her to stick at it and something would come along and to stay positive which she has done.

The owners at the pub love her to bits and knew she’d be moving on eventually 

"Freedom without socialism is privilege and injustice, socialism without freedom is slavery and brutality" - Mikhail Bakunin

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Unbelievable!!! They’ve just withdrawn the job offer because the say they can’t afford to take her on.

She’s already handed in her notice, I’m struggling really hard not to drive over there. Poor lass is in pieces 

"Freedom without socialism is privilege and injustice, socialism without freedom is slavery and brutality" - Mikhail Bakunin

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2 hours ago, Phil said:

Unbelievable!!! They’ve just withdrawn the job offer because the say they can’t afford to take her on.

She’s already handed in her notice, I’m struggling really hard not to drive over there. Poor lass is in pieces 

That's disgraceful.

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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4 hours ago, Johnoco said:

Of my 2 lads the eldest sulked and wouldn’t take any old job until he got one that suited his degree.

When I was unemployed, I applied for anything and everything that would get me a living wage. When I finally got an offer, though, it was for something that was so far up my street, it was practically licking the windows.

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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