Worst interview EVER!!!

[Libby456]

Hello ladies,

I had an interview for a TA role and it was without a doubt the worst experience I have ever ... experienced!
It lasted 3 and a half hours to start with which was so painful and emotionally exhausting;
another lady applying for the position was with me which was a bit awkward, we were both taken to the class room to interact with the children, then I was taken out, given an observation sheet, had to pick a child to observe for half an hour, write an evaluation and next steps for them, given an SEN report to read through and spent half an hour writing an evaluation and recommendations for it then I was taken round the school to look round and finally I had the face to face interview. By this point I was so worn out emotionally from trying to impress and being professional that I was physically shaking.
I found the interviewers quite blunt and rude, not very welcoming at all. I have had interviews before but this has been by far the worst one ever.

I doubt I will be offered the job because by the end of it I looked a mess... THREE AND A HALF HOURS!!

Does anyone have any stories that will make me feel better?!

Libs x

[evelynj]

That sounds tough but you not know how long it would take beforehand? Good luck anyway.and you probably didn't look a mess :)

[Passmethecrisps]

That sounds incredibly intense for a ta role!

But to put your mind at ease anyone one working with kids for that length of time and doing it well looks like shit.

I had an interview some years ago which was nothing in comparison to yours but basically the two interviewers wrote down every word I said in total silence with their heads bowed. The only time they looked up was to ask curt questions then as soon as I answered they would look down and furiously scribble

[Libby456]

The average time I'm used to for interviews is an hour to an hour and a half. I was given some information about the interview but it just said interview and a chance to interact with the children so the observation and SEN evaluation was a complete surprise.

I think it was the fact that it didn't feel like an interview, it felt like I was being interrogated, their words were, "We're going to contact your referees shortly so they can tell us if you have been telling the truth" - no laugh or implied joke hint, blunt words!

Tbh, I really don't want the job there so will not be disappointed if I don't get it!

[VixxenPlusAllTheOtherReindeers]

I had a 4 hour interview for a learning mentor job in a primary school last year.
It consisted of question time with a group of six children, playground duty, administration task and then interview with head teacher and deputy head.

whilst sitting in the staff room with the other six candidates we were informed by one of the candidates that she had been in the position covering for six months and she basically had been told the permanent job was hers and the interviews were a formality.

I was really annoyed about them wasting alll of our time especially as I lost a days pay.

[fatterface]

Education/Early years job interviews in my LA are always these long affairs - observation with the children, plan an activity, some kind of written task, then a face to face interview. My last interview had about 8 candidates - we all did the observed tasks and then they gathered us together and sent half home and only interviewed the other half!

[iloveithere]

That sounds about normal for an education job.
If you are looking to work in a school, expect more of the same.