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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think i am wasting my time even turning up for this interview :(

99 replies

doggiemumma · 12/06/2012 13:07

Bloody hell! I have been selected for an interview - i put in what i thought was a strong application for a job that whilst i have no direct experience my background should be sufficient, and hey, i got an interview!

Turns out there is an internal applicant - it says so on the interview timetable

This is for a temporary job (10 months) for a science technician in the school - I get the feeling this is a box ticking exercise.

Have put two days to one side (today and tomorrow) to prepare and am poring through health and safety stuff etc , just got the email

Im wasting my time aren't i? :(

OP posts:
bumpybecky · 12/06/2012 20:42

The job I'm in now I'm the only tech so if there's any moodiness it's all my own fault! where I was before there were 5 women all part time and was 99% of the time fine. Depends on the atmosphere of the department though, I've been lucky both times.

We have a special off curriculum day for the whole year group this friday and it's all on forensic science. I've done loads for that and have made up (meaning cobbled together from internet stuff!) a practical based on blood typing. I've also produced lots of worksheets, explanations and methods for the testing we're doing (soil analysis, fingerprinting, chromatography etc).

I do test out some things before I send them out and sometimes change the method a bit if it's not working as well as it could. That's quite good fun :)

1M solutions as you say - find the molecular weight (normally written on side of container) and it's that many grams, add most of water, dissolve then make up to 1 litre exactly. If you add 1 litre to the right number of grams you won't always get 1litre back, mostly more, sometimes less (but that's technical chemistry stuff and I do flowers, so can't tell you why!).

Some solutions are a % w/v meaning weight by volume so 5% w/v sucrose is 5g in 100ml water. If it's v/v it's volume by volume so starting thing was a liquid too.

monkeymoma · 12/06/2012 20:43

I work for the NHS, with the points system internal applicants often don't get the job, the points can be stretched a little it seems, although sometimes I get the impression that managers are glad to use the points system as an excuse to NOT hire an internal applicant as the other way round! - hear as much chit chat about how they're gonna do their best NOT to hire so and so , as about how they want to give to to someone internal

I'ld go for it

GetOrfMoiiLand · 12/06/2012 20:46

Issey6cats that sounds absolutely brilliant - what great news after what seems like a tough time you have had.

Doggie - I may be talking about my arse but the fact it is an independent school may well work in your favour, it would look rather good to have Dr Doggiemama listed in their prospectus.

Fingers crossed you get it - don't worry about competency based questions. I am sure you don't come across as blithering as you think.

GetOrfMoiiLand · 12/06/2012 20:46

Issey6cats that sounds absolutely brilliant - what great news after what seems like a tough time you have had.

Doggie - I may be talking about my arse but the fact it is an independent school may well work in your favour, it would look rather good to have Dr Doggiemama listed in their prospectus.

Fingers crossed you get it - don't worry about competency based questions. I am sure you don't come across as blithering as you think.

GetOrfMoiiLand · 12/06/2012 20:48

Issey6cats that sounds absolutely brilliant - what great news after what seems like a tough time you have had.

Doggie - I may be talking about my arse but the fact it is an independent school may well work in your favour, it would look rather good to have Dr Doggiemama listed in their prospectus.

Fingers crossed you get it - don't worry about competency based questions. I am sure you don't come across as blithering as you think.

GetOrfMoiiLand · 12/06/2012 20:48

Issey6cats that sounds absolutely brilliant - what great news after what seems like a tough time you have had.

Doggie - I may be talking about my arse but the fact it is an independent school may well work in your favour, it would look rather good to have Dr Doggiemama listed in their prospectus.

Fingers crossed you get it - don't worry about competency based questions. I am sure you don't come across as blithering as you think.

bumpybecky · 12/06/2012 20:49

what age range does the school cover? my PhD was virtually all pcr based, worked on arabidopsis though. I've not really used any of the more specific stuff.

I think some schools do some molecular biology. My previous school didn't even at A level. Both schools do some microbiology, so agar plates and streaking out snot, that kind of thing. For our forensic science day we'll hopefully be isolating dna from strawberries, not tried that yet but they did it last year. I get to play on thursday :)

A lot of the skills you have you probably don't even think of as skills. Things like knowing acids and alkalis are dangerous, knowing to add acid to water and not vice versa when diluting. Not being scared of all the chemicals with the warning labels too. The previous postholder wasn't a trained scientist and I think was a bit worried about a lot of things being dangerous. Compared to the real nasties in proper grown up labs, this school stuff is (mostly) nothing.

GetOrfMoiiLand · 12/06/2012 20:49

Oh no I am sorry Blush

Original poster
doggiemumma · 12/06/2012 20:50

getorfmoiiland you are REALLY pleased for issey aren't you Grin

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Original poster
doggiemumma · 12/06/2012 20:56

We (I say we, i mean my old biology department - which i am so attached to but the chances of me ever getting a job there are up there with a lottery win as its downsizing so much :( ) offer a forensic science day to local schools. I am hoping to sell myself a bit with the links to the uni as i am certain i would be able to get that sort of thing organised. I think that sort of experiment is just what they need beause its exciting an they can see why its done. I can feel myself getting all excited sat here - trouble is, if i get excited in interviews i just waffle and start waving my hands around - they will think im barking mad.

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Original poster
doggiemumma · 12/06/2012 21:01

Its an independant school so goes from pre-school to 6th form. I think THINK, the role of for the secondary part only, but saying that the timetable shows a tour or the prep school too. They have two labs in the prep school and six in the main Envy

I'm a bit worried about it being a VERY posh private school if im honest, as i am so not posh so wonder if i will fit in, when i sound like barbera windsor and the guy who offered me the interview sounded like prince charles! I hope they don't ask me about my views on private education either Hmm because i don't like lying!

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bumpybecky · 12/06/2012 21:06

ah but you're a Dr ;) and as someone said already on this thread, I can see a private school liking the title for their staff list

that said, would you use the title? are there other PhDs in the department? having a higher level qualification that the head of department might be tricky...

Original poster
doggiemumma · 12/06/2012 21:19

I did use Dr on the application yes, but the only other Dr in the whole school is a Mr! lol I dont knkow bout the other candidates, as it just puts their names and surnames. The internal is a Mr though. I don't tend to use my title and would prefer not to though.

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Original poster
doggiemumma · 12/06/2012 21:19

*The only other Dr in the whole school is the headmaster (fingers ahead of my brain now!)

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bumpybecky · 12/06/2012 21:37

I don't use mine at work (but it is on my driving license!). I did once drop it into conversation when I felt a bit patronised by one of the teachers though. Sometimes they assume technicians are all Mums who wash up rather than people who are actually highly qualified.

Anyway, good luck with your interview :) if you've got the time have a look at the tes website (teacher's forum), there's a science board there and there have been a few threads about technicians interviews there in the past. They might have other interview questions that might be helpful. Don't forget to let us know how you get on :)

WordOfTheDay · 12/06/2012 21:38

Doggie, It's always worthwhile going for an interview. Imagine if they decide that you are qualified for the job and so is Mr Internal and they decide to offer the job to him. If he subsequently moves to another job or takes leave or something, they will undoutbedly contact you to offer you the job/a contract.

BambinoBoo · 12/06/2012 21:44

doggiemumma i feel your pain. I am kind of in the same situation. I have an interview tomorrow where a potential candidate is currently doing the job on temp promotion. They have to interview me first though as I am the substantive grade. Like you OP, I am wondering if they are just going through the motions. I have a trillion competence examples in my head and I still can't think straight. Now have a headache. All this for a potential stitch up. Mind you, from reading the thread, it sounds like not all internal candidates automatically get through so that gives me faith. Good luck doggiemumma ?

Original poster
doggiemumma · 12/06/2012 21:47

Im just praying for non-competency :) What will be will be i guess.

Good luck bambinoboo :) x

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BambinoBoo · 12/06/2012 21:51

I got fab feedback on my application so I am hoping they go easy on me. Let us know how you get on doggie All the best.

BatmanLovesCheese · 12/06/2012 21:51

taking Yep - that was my feedback from the Head - didn't say how amazing I was enough, so I didn't shine compared to the other candidates Grin

Good luck everybody with interviews coming up Wine

GetOrfMoiiLand · 12/06/2012 21:52

You sound incredibly enthusiastic, and that forensic thing sounds great. I would give you the job! I wouldn't worry in the least about sounding like Barbara Windsor.

I really hope I don't post this 4 times...

Original poster
doggiemumma · 12/06/2012 22:32

Thanks :) can i take you all with me

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ButtonBoo · 13/06/2012 21:27

Doggie & Bambino...how'd it go?? Hoping for some good news...

issey6cats · 13/06/2012 21:57

getorf thank you yes having a husband who cheated on me wasnt the most pleasant experience , doogiemomma and bambino want to wish both of you good luck in your interviews hope both of you get the jobs

Original poster
doggiemumma · 13/06/2012 22:16

Button - the interview is tomorrow. After this thread i feel strangely positive about it and i managed to get myelf a new blouse (£2.75 from charity shop) to wear to the interview. The school is in an idyllic setting so even if i don't get the job i will have a a good day beause i get to meandre through a historic city on my own for the afternoon - bliss!

Thanks for all the best-wishes

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