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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Job offer withdrawn

124 replies

MassiveMug · 15/12/2018 21:11

Not an aibu, just gutted and want to rant.

How lovely to receive the letter on a Saturday lunchtime to say my offer of employment has been withdrawn because I didn’t meet the requirements in their test. Fair enough but I did the test 2 pissing weeks ago and it gives you the results instantly. Since then they have been in touch asking me for xy and z. Just feel both gutted and annoyed!

OP posts:
KeiTeNgeNge · 15/12/2018 22:18

They have practice scripts too so you are comfortable doing them

Clareel · 15/12/2018 22:24

So you knew you had got lower than the required mark but decided this would not matter? Why didn't you ask someone about this before doing anything further?

TwitterQueen1 · 15/12/2018 22:27

At the risk of being trolled and abused, and without meaning to insult you, if you can't pass a basic literacy and maths test you shouldn't be a TA. I genuinely don't understand why you would think it OK to be teaching children if you can't pass the maths and English tests. This is why teachers get degrees.

Yes, they should have told you earlier though.

RebelWitchFace · 15/12/2018 22:29

I completely agree that they should've told you sooner, and definitely not give you an offer if they had the results on the day and they didn't feel they were up to scratch. Really bad form. Hopefully the training you have done will help put you forward in another job.

Original poster
MassiveMug · 15/12/2018 22:30

twitter the job was in a college supporting young adults with sen I’m yheir chosen course so it slightly different to ‘teaching’ children. Not that TA’s teach anyway, they just support!

OP posts:
Original poster
MassiveMug · 15/12/2018 22:31

In their...fat fingers Grin

OP posts:
Neweternal · 15/12/2018 22:34

I remember doing these kinds of tests years ago one for teaching and one for the civil service. Passed both and worked in both. My English is dreadful too, so bad people comment especially on here. I think they must have got harder or I've got more illiterate,

Bowerbird5 · 15/12/2018 22:36

Ah no they don't they teach.

GCSE A-C are usually accepted. Look out for local courses in January. Sometimes they are free.

Cynderella · 15/12/2018 22:37

I think PumpedUp is probably right. Or they have decided they'll save some money and make do without a TA because someone else can do more hours or whatever.

If you are able to pass the tests, then persevere. As other posters have said, it's not a good idea to be in the classroom if you can't pass the tests, but most people can with practice. I'm an English teacher but I've had to teach Maths in the past. Even Y9 Maths was a challenge for me, but I got myself up to GCSE standard with practice. Apart from needing the skills in the classroom, it'll be a confidence booster if you can do it.

RebelWitchFace · 15/12/2018 22:40

Not that TA’s teach anyway, they just support!

Sometimes they do.

Raininspaintoday · 15/12/2018 22:40

Have you got the TA qualifications op?

crazycatgal · 15/12/2018 22:42

TAs do teach sometimes. Even if they don't have to cover ppa they will often teach smaller groups.

IAmRubbishAtDIY · 15/12/2018 22:46

Very bad of them to ask for references under those circumstances too.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 15/12/2018 22:48

Well, out of interest I've just done the English test

As a matter of interest, what was the "required pass mark"?

TwitterQueen1 · 15/12/2018 22:54

So it's Ok that you failed the tests because the class is for SEN young adults and you're not going to teach anyway?

Not being goady but these are not acceptable reasons why you should have got the job.

Would you be OK getting a taxi ride with a driver who's incapable of driving on a motorway?
Or seeing a GP who only knows about legs and feet because s/he didn't finish the training?

SEN adults are as deserving of properly trained and qualified support staff as anyone else.

Original poster
MassiveMug · 15/12/2018 23:02

But to go 2 weeks before telling me I
no longer had the job...that’s my issue. Not the fact I didn’t pass the tests. Just like my op said.

OP posts:
cdtaylornats · 15/12/2018 23:08

I thought most companies in the last 30 years refuse to give out references like that.

The last 3 I worked for made it plain - no references except through HR and they would only give out facts like attendance.,

Echobelly · 15/12/2018 23:12

Ugh, that's annoying. DH had an offer withdrawn at the beginning of this year. Never found out exactly why, but he thinks someone there spoke off-the-record to a former employer where there was a guy who didn't like him and that they badmouthed him basically. In the longer run, we think it was a good thing - he needed a job at the time but had his doubts about the work culture of this place and this kind of proved it wasn't one he'd want a part of - far too gossipy and 'who you know'. As others have said, could be a sign this wouldn't be a good place to work.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 15/12/2018 23:13

But to go 2 weeks before telling me I no longer had the job...that’s my issue

I can't say I blame you; If you knew you'd not got the required marks I'd have thought it would be obvious, but understand that the action they took afterwards may have confused the issue and that clarity would have been better

I'd still be interested to know what the pass mark was though?

aconcertpianist · 15/12/2018 23:17

Lots of people commenting that if the OP hasn't got basic literacy skills she shouldn't be a TA but only the other day, a poster described how she was training to teach in higher education and yet could barely string a sentence together.

Cue lots of posters telling her it didn't matter as her learning difficulties rendered her disabled and cheering her on.

Appalling double standards! For what it's worth OP and I'm no egghead, your English is better than hers by a country mile. Maybe forget about becoming a TA and train as a higher education teacher!

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 15/12/2018 23:24

What a cunty thing to do. Unfortunately though. The employment law sides with them aIlowed to do that.
I don't know your circs but You could have signed off for this. Not only that but its the embarrassment of it as well, I suppose. Excitedly telling people you were offered a job and now its been with drawn.
You've probably dodged a bullet though. I mean would you want to work for a company who's treated you like that.

delboysskinandblister · 16/12/2018 00:09

I have had this a couple of years ago. It's more about the way that they do it isn't it? I was told on 22nd December by John Lewis that my offer had been withdrawn having failed a medical having had a lovely assessment and interview and then only HR told me not even the manager who offered the job on the phone. I could tell by the way HR spoke very nicely to me that it's not the way they would have handled the situation.

I think you have had a lucky escape.

Take this festive period as feet up time and recharge so you'll feel better. Put it all behind you. Focus on what you really want and try elsewhere in the New Year.
It is heartbreaking I know but I really believe you can and deserve better

I wish you every success for the position that you WILL be getting and enjoying. Xmas Wink.

bigchris · 16/12/2018 08:03

They've behaved badly

They shouldn't have let it go on this long

Neverunderfed · 16/12/2018 08:11

They be behaved massively inefficiently. Which doesn't surprise me for an educational setting tbh.

I would contact them on Monday saying you've received the letter, and are confused as you had previously had letters asking you to complete training etc so which route was the correct one? I would assume that their 'system' assumes people will pass, so the previous letters have come out almost automatically if you see what I mean. When you call, ask if you can retake as you have been practicing.

TAs should not be teaching anything bother than small intervention groups with materials provided by qualified teachers. It's a travesty that anything more is routinely expected for such little pay and level of required qualification.

aleC4 · 16/12/2018 08:22

Teaching Assistants definitely do teach! It's a big part of the job these days.

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