Major Rant, please ignore me!!

[northepaul]

I have been looking for work since I left uni, two years ago. I have lost count of the amount of jobs I have applied for, but the only ones I ever got interviews for, were in schools, which was ideal because of the hours. I also love working with children.
I have been working at one school doing odd hours helping out, partly unpaid, and when I am paid, its only just above min. I have bent over backwards to do things for them, and I am well liked by most of the staff. So when a job came up as a teaching assist, with proper pay and hours, I was heavily encouraged to apply for the position. I was quite confident of getting the job, and having the extra money would make a world of difference to us. Had the interview today, didnt get the job because I dont have enough classroom experience!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am really gutted, I cant believe the amount of things I have done for them and it all counts for nothing! Luckily enough I didnt tell my direct collegues so at least I wont get snide comments! However (I have 3 mini roles/jobs there) its bound to get out....
Am I wasting my time?
Should I just quit and look for something else entirely?

I have really had enough!

[zazen999]

Doesn't that mean that someone else had a little more experience than you rather than you having none whatsoever?

They wouldn't let me go a PGCE because I don't have GCSE English. I have A Level English, and a degree in English but apparently that doesn't matter.

Ask for feedback, and how much experience you would have needed in order to secure the job...find out whether it is hours or range of different topics that is the issue.....and draw up a plan to get that....so that even if you don't get the job there you have it as evidence in your next interview to show how you gained feedback and acted on it.

[FionaH]

See this is one of the many things I love about Zaz. What brilliant, practical, positive advice!
I would just have agreed with you that they are all ********

[Two_Sheds]

I wonder if this is down to the Equal Opportunities nonsense? Basically the school are working to a checklist and aren't allowed to go on 'gut instinct' or anything. If the other person scores higher than you on experience and you're otherwise equal: they get the job

It happened to me at an LEA. I was doing the job as a temp for 9 months when they wanted me to go permanent. They had to advertise, I had to apply and interview ... I didn't get it. The other girl did better than me (ie, ticked more of the boxes) than I did. It was gutting

[Glutton4...]

See this is one of the many things I love about Zaz. What brilliant, practical, positive advice!
I would just have agreed with you that they are all ********

Yup - with ya there, on both counts.



Thea - they are still B@$t@rd$...

[zazen999]

See this is one of the many things I love about Zaz. What brilliant, practical, positive advice!
I would just have agreed with you that they are all ********

Thank you. I'm going through this at the moment - someone I know didn't get a job even though she has done it before but will she ask for formal feedback so that she can work on it and show she is amending her behaviour - no she won't!!!

There's nothing wrong with asking for feedback in order to improve. I did after my first interview here; and was given it over the phone. I took what she said, and put it into my next application and oozed gallons of it at interview and whizz bang, you're in.

The interviewers have to score what the person is saying, so even if Thea HAD all the experience in the world, if bits were missed out in the interview answers, then the interviewers are not allowed to put prior knowledge in and they would have marked down [not saying that's what happened]...and if someone else came along and described it better, or more fully or got better marks in other questions, then Thea might well have been pipped at the post and this is just the one area where a high score hadn't been achieved.

As I have been told on a course when I was on JSA - it's an act. So be an actor and BE the person they want.

[singleseeder]

....... and oozed gallons of it at interview and whizz bang, you're in.

The interviewers have to score what the person is saying, ........... better marks in other questions,........... a high score hadn't been achieved.

As I have been told on a course when I was on JSA - it's an act. So be an actor and BE the person they want.

Does anyone know what the key 'buttons I have to push' for a post as a school office clerk? Any current vocabulary to use? Whilst being quite capable of the admin side, would not having worked in a school before count against me?

Commiserations to the OP, but you did get an interview. I've just sent in an application, but realise that I might not even hear anything.

[Shadylane]

Why don't you join an agency that are specific to education? You can still do your volunteer work but get extra paid experience doing supply. I joined one a few months ago and I've already got me face known at a school. I've been getting regular shifts with them and hopefully it might lead to something more permanent. Even if it doesn't at least it's paid and extra experience

[Newton]

They wouldn't let me go a PGCE because I don't have GCSE English. I have A Level English, and a degree in English but apparently that doesn't matter!

this is unreal.....all that is bad about this country......and northpaul....don't give up

[Florence Fennel]

Sorry to hear about your disappointment Thea and hope something turns up soon. Zaz has given you great advice. These days here our hands are pretty much tied by Human Resources when it comes to interviewing and we do have precise scoring methods, I am sure this must be the case for your interview panel. I give as much detailed feedback to unsuccessful candidates as I can, but only if they ask for it.

[Jardiniere]

I couldnt do a PGCE cos I didnt have O level (GCSE) Maths even tho my degree had loads of educational pyschology in it and also statistics etc etc....so I never became a teacher.
I went to work in Local Government and ended up doing H&S for schools which was interesting.
Agree with loads that have been said about interviews.
with local government applications...just go through the whole person spec and the job description and say something about every aspect even if the experience/knowledge was gained in real life, at school, on a course anywhere.....anyhow ...
and as said earlier at the interview say it all...don't assume that because you've put it on the form that it will get counted at interview....sometimes it will depends on the field.
Keep trying.......

[northepaul]

Thanks for all the advice, particularly Zaz!
Today was awful - everyone (who knew) ignored me, I asked the head if I could pop in for a quick chat after I finished, but then when I went to her office she had gone out!!
Maybe they are trying to tell me something??!!

[FROSTYFRECKLE]

What rotten bad luck. Barstewards!

[zazen999]

Maybe they are trying to tell me something??!!

Yes. That they are unprofessional eejits. If you make a decision then blaady stand by it and have the guts to face people. I hate management like this.

[Glutton4...]

...Thea - they are still B@$t@rd$...

I will correct that;

They are spineless B@$t@rd$!