PGCE interviews x 3

[LostMyBroomstick]

Hi,

So, I applied for a secondary science (biology) PGCE at the beginning of the week and all 3 of my choices have sent me an invitation to interview. Great, but I am unavailable to attend any as all are on the same day and I'll have just finished a 12 hour nightshift (NHS). I'm a career changer but, obviously, still working FT shifts in the NHS until I get a firm offer.

How easy is it to change interview dates? Does anyone know? I'd rather go for my 1st choice first and space the others out (all 3 require a presentation). Would they accept a list of my available dates? I'm surprised I've been contacted so soon!

[BringOnTheScience]

They will have multiple dates for groups of interviews ... but are likely to have sent out invitations for all. They'll only be able to add you to another date if someone else has cancelled.

Word your email carefully to make it clear that you are fully committed and not just beng awkward. Working nights seems like an excellent reason :-)

Goid luck!

[deary]

I rearranged mine- it wasn't a problem to them at all! But the university were seeing lots of people. Might be different for a smaller number of places on a schools direct course.

[Appuskidu]

Ring them asap to explain-it must happen loads.

[chocoshopoholic]

There is a place on your application form for you to put unavailable dates for interview. We check these before sending an interview invitation. We can sometimes offer an alternative if someone cancels on a different day.

[PotteringAlong]

Or you could just take a days leave. How important is it to you?

[gandalfspants]

It may depend on the subject, but I was at open days for SCITTs, etc. with a range of subject places still open in February. I’d ring them and rearrange.

I applied for my PGCE in April and there were places left at lots of providers (though I’m doing science so a shortage subject).

One SCITT I applied to was still faffing to find me an interview date in May, and we’re most put out when I got bored of waiting and accepted another offer!

I also know my uni was still doing interviews in August (for science).

[LostMyBroomstick]

The application form did ask for unavailable dates but I left it blank as there are so many unavailable dates. I work full time shifts in the NHS and this includes nights so we need to allow recovery time. It would've been better if they'd asked the dates I was available.

I will sort it Monday .

[LostMyBroomstick]

I'm hoping to space them out a bit (one a week/fortnight). If I can organise my first choice as the earliest interview then I'll probably accept that offer and withdraw from the others.

[LostMyBroomstick]

I have applied before, and withdrawn due to money worries and the fear of quitting my career, but I know they interview right up to September for a lot of places. I did keep an eye on which ones had vacancies late on. I'm science so that should help. I wanted to apply ASAP though as I am hoping to do an enhancement course in physics so will need time for that.

[LostMyBroomstick]

Not that easy to take annual leave. Not enough staff so the answer was no. The interview need to fall on my days off (I get days off during the week for working weekends/nights). Not a good idea to go for interview after nights though as I'm usually like a zombie for a few days.

[gandalfspants]

I did the (longest) 12 week enhancement and it started in June. I’m lucky in that the uni I’m with ran one so it was easy to get it organised, but there were people on there doing their PGCE with other providers as well.

The government pays providers £££ to run them so they should be happy to have you.

[poooooooop]

I don’t have much advice sorry, I hope you get it sorted!

Can I ask when your interviews are?

I haven’t even applied yet and your post has made me nervous! Is it best to get in as soon as possible?

[PersianCatLady]

Hi All,

I thought I would just let you know that I started a new PGCE 2018 thread here for everyone's progress updates -
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_staffroom/3124138-pgce-applications-for-september-2018