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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Job offer withdrawn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How lovely to receive the letter on a Saturday lunchtime to say my offer of employment has been withdrawn because I didn’t meet the requirements in their test.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:
Original poster
MassiveMug · 16/12/2018 08:37

never they actually called me on Tuesday asking me to complete the online training etc, so no letter was sent regarding this.

Seemed like it was very much a case of lack of communication within the setting at my expense Angry

OP posts:
Littlebird88 · 16/12/2018 08:41

just awful. although sounds like a lucky escape if this is the way they treat people and operate.

wibblywobblyfish · 16/12/2018 08:48

Maybe the low test mark combined with a weak or scant reference changed their mind?

ControversyisSubjective · 16/12/2018 08:56

OP
Just wanted to come on here and say, ignore all the snarky comments saying you shouldn't be applying for a TA job if you can't pass the basic tests. It's not always a case of not being capable. Your brain sometimes becomes lazy after not using these skills for many years. That doesn't mean you haven't got the ability. It just means this is a learning curve and you should use it to polish your skills. I received a lot of grief on my thread when making typos and auto correct mistakes. I'm teaching training in university. As posters were stating I shouldn't be doing teaching because I can't spell and my grammar was poor, I received a distinction grade on my Sociology. Which made me smile no end.
So please don't let the posters telling you to re-think your profession dishearten you. The whole point in becoming a teacher is to teach people they are capable of achieving most things with help and support.
I would be upset to recieve this letter two weeks later too. But instead of letting this poor water on your flame. Use it to research and excel.
BBC bitesize is a brilliant website to help with that.
Feel free to message me if you have questions or need help.

Flowers For you!

JustDanceAddict · 16/12/2018 08:58

I work in a school and I’d say there’s stuff going on behind the scenes with this one.

Bestseller · 16/12/2018 09:00

I reckon they wanted you anyway and had hoped to appoint you anyway but haven't been able to get unanimous support for that, Trust or GB overruled

Neverunderfed · 16/12/2018 09:30

Teaching assistants shouldn't teach, they are not qualified enough, or paid enough. But there is a lot that goes on in schools now that I don't agree with...the use of 'learning supervisors' to crowd control in place of a qualified cover teacher to deliver actual lessons for example.

Polarbearflavour · 16/12/2018 10:00

Maybe if schools want TAs with more qualifications they should be paying them more than £8-£9 an hour. Just a thought!

Mag1cMarket · 16/12/2018 10:07

Did you receive a letter offering you the job ? Because surely you have not got the job until you receive letter and a contract. My last job, I was offered verbally, but it took a couple of weeks later to receive the letter and contract.

TheBigFatMermaid · 16/12/2018 10:11

I see you state you have not worked for 11 years, just as well you did not have a job to hand your notice in to, isn't it? They really need to be reminded that this could have happened. Then move on. Maybe try an access type course, that will give you up to date maths and English qualifications.

Youmadorwhat · 16/12/2018 10:16

I’m with @Twitterqueen!! If you want to be a TA (SEN or not) you need to have a certain standard of maths and English. You can’t just wake up one day after 11 years and decide to be a TA. Honestly, yeah the two week wait sucks but such is life,they have no obligation to you if you have not signed a contract.

radiometer · 16/12/2018 10:25

This is a blessing in disguise. Sounds like the school management are in chaos, if they can't get these basic ducks in a row.
Sorry, it is gutting though.

M0RVEN · 16/12/2018 10:30

I agree that you were probably the second choice candidate and they were keeping you “ on hold “ until everything was definite with the first choice .

Or funding has been withdrawn.

They obviously thought you could do the job or they would have told you No right away.

I’d do as PP suggested. Brush up on you skills and apply for more jobs like this. You were obviously close .

diddl · 16/12/2018 10:52

I think I must have misunderstood this.

You took a test & didn't get the required number of marks but were still offered the job?

How can that happen?

Did you query it?

Sweepington · 16/12/2018 10:59

@Youmad she wasn’t waiting, she was told she had the job. Maybe you should work on your reading comprehension.

Youmadorwhat · 16/12/2018 11:04

@Sweepington yes actually she did use the term ‘wait’ I’m not going to bother writing out her comment but it’s back on the first page! One comment at 21.38 and then immediately after a correction of the actual word ‘wait’. So...no I don’t need to work on my comprehension. 😋

Original poster
MassiveMug · 16/12/2018 11:10

juat as well you did not have a job to hand your notice in to I did have another job offer at the same time which I turned down for this Angry

Yes I did have the job confirmed in writing which I signed and confirmed.

you can’t just wake up one day after 11 years and decide to be a TA why not? You complete your training whilst on the job, that’s how most TA’s are qualified and they obviously thought I was capable as they wouldn’t have offered me it in the first place Hmm

contraversy thanks for your kind words and well done you Flowers

The worrying thing is that I’m no longer with my DH so I’m moving to my own place in March and I’m worrying about how I’m going to feed my DC now if another job offer doesn’t come up.

OP posts:
Twickerhun · 16/12/2018 11:17

Is there anyone you can call to chat about what happened?

Original poster
MassiveMug · 16/12/2018 11:19

I guess I could call HR but would there be any point?

OP posts:
Puzzledandpissedoff · 16/12/2018 11:20

It's not always a case of not being capable. Your brain sometimes becomes lazy after not using these skills for many years

I agree with this and have already said the school could perhaps have handled it better, but what's wrong with brushing up necessary skills before applying for such a job?

It's also true that TA pay is pretty poor, but it's not as if they were asking for some abstruse, high level qualifications here - just a fairly basic level of literacy and numeracy

ControversyisSubjective · 16/12/2018 11:22

I agree with this and have already said the school could perhaps have handled it better, but what's wrong with brushing up necessary skills before applying for such a job?*

Absolutely nothing, you are right. I'm sure OP can take this as lesson learnt.

Riotingbananas · 16/12/2018 11:31

I'm curious as to whether your job offer was conditional ie subject to pre-employment checks (which would include the test)? That's the kind of letter we send out. That then makes it clear to the applicant that nothing is certain until the checks have been completed and a firm offer has been sent to them. Was your offer letter worded like that?

A word of warning, never turn down a job or hand in your notice until you have that firm offer in writing and you know everything is satisfactory.

It would be foolish of the school to get you to undertake training in the knowledge that you hadn't passed the test which makes me think there's been a cock up on their part and they hadnt realised.

Lots of luck with your job applications in the future Flowers

Original poster
MassiveMug · 16/12/2018 11:31

Hmm, I’d kind of forgotten how to times mixed fractions Hmm

OP posts:
RebelWitchFace · 16/12/2018 11:31

@MassiveMug can you ring the other job and see if it's still available? I don't blame you for being pissed off at the length of time they took and the reason,since they knew your scores on the spot.

TSSDNCOP · 16/12/2018 11:33

Yes you could call HR. I will bet money something’s thrown up in your background checks, that’s why the letter will have almost certainly said the offer is subject to references and background checks.