I didn't get the job!

[Ithastobepurple]

Says it all really.
Went for interview today and did not get offered the job and there was only one other candidate!
I literally spent hours preparing and making resources and now just feel like a useless idiot. I can not believe how low this has made me feel. Feel as if I have let everybody down and wonder if I can really go through such a gruelling interview process again.

[IHeartKingThistle]

((hugs)) I've been there!

If they didn't think you were right for them, that school wouldn't have been right for you.


Have a

[SavoyCabbage]

There might be a back story.

The last two teachers employed at our school are the secretary's son and the fiancé of the interim heads son.

[SavoyCabbage]

It won't be because you are crap. They wouldn't have asked you for an interview.

[GW297]

I can sympathise! It just means it wasn't the job for you and another one - a much better one - is just around the corner with your name on it! Ask for feedback and take the positives from the experience.

[Ithastobepurple]

Thank you for your kind words.
The ridiculous thing is that I wasn't even sure if the job was right for me - however it would have been better that the position than I currently hold. But being rejected after the amount of hours and effort that I put in has just left me feeling like I must be the most rubbish teacher on the planet. I don't even know if I can go in to work tomorrow. Feel as if I can't go on.

[AntiJamDidi]

Did you get any feedback?

It really sucks, I've been there and it's true what KingThistle said about if you weren't right for them then they wouldn't be right for you.

There could be any number of reasons why they gave it to the other applicant. It could be about cheapness, it could be that they want more experience, it could be that they have had the other applicant in as supply and know their skills.

[Ithastobepurple]

The head was very kind and said that I was a strong candidate but the other candidate had experience that was more relevant to what they were looking for.
I actually thought that they liked me and that I had made a good impression.
It was a part time position and they don't seem to come up very often.
I honestly don't think that I will ever get another job because if I didn't get todays after all the effort I put then there really is no hope.
This isn't the first time - there must be something very unlike able about me.

[petalpower]

You did really well to get an interview. I'm quite sure that you and the other candidate weren't the only ones to apply so well done for being shortlisted. If you were the most rubbish teacher in the world you wouldn't have been offered an interview. Have you had feedback?

[Leedscatgirl]

They might have really ones you
So stones I interview lots of people I love but there is only one job and then it comes down to really small details that make u choose one over another

Good luck for your next one

[Leedscatgirl]

I meant sometimes

[petalpower]

Cross posts.
Try to take the positives from your feedback. I'm sure the right job is out there for you, you obviously just weren't the right person for this job, the other person just had the right experience that they were looking for. It's hard to pick yourself up from these setbacks

[JonSnowKnowsNothing]

Oh please don't beat yourself up. If you weren't a strong candidate they would have given you loads of "hints" for improving your interview. Do you mind sharing what kind of job you're looing for? Primary/Secondary? Subject? Role?

PS - I once interviewed for my own job and didn't get it. Mortifying!

[TheFallenMadonna]

I've had to turn down good candidates before, because as a previous poster has said, there is only one job available.

It's a hard thing to do, but sadly how it is.

I give honest feedback, and if I said you were a strong candidate, then you would have been!

[Ithastobepurple]

Thank you.
Your kind words are helping to put it into perspective.
I know that I need to pick myself up and keep looking.
The interview process is so gruelling for a teachers position that I wonder how people have the resilience t do it again and again.

[ThistledownAndCobweb]

As so many others have said being other side and interviewing and making the decision isn't any easier.
We've had situations where 2 or 3 candidates are superb and any would be perfect for the post but sadly there is only one job on offer and a decision has to be made. So often the final decision comes down to the tiniest thing.

I only say someone is a strong candidate when its 100% true.

[Ithastobepurple]

Jonsnowknowsnothing

I am looking for a part time position where I am supporting students who need extra support in either small groups or 1:1.
I feel that these positions are like hens teeth so to have been unsuccessful in the rare occasion that a job does come up makes me feel like I really blew it because I don't know when or if another position will come up.

Thank you all for reassuring me that the head probably did feel that I was a strong candidate - I thought that it was probably just platitudes.

[GW297]

Take time to lick your wounds and be kind to yourself. You should feel proud that you acquitted yourself. You can't do better than your best. It is a time consuming and emotionally gruelling process; you are right about that. I wish you the best of luck with your future endeavours.

[ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged]

I'm late to this, but in my experience the sorts of iobs you're talking about tend to be offered to people already known to the school rather than advertised in the usual way. It might be worth using all that prep you did to draft a brilliant letter and sending it to any local schools you'd like to work at to introduce yourself and say why you'd btr great at filling such a role.