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Original poster

To be so upset and embarrassed

113 replies

WhoisRebecca · 05/03/2025 09:50

I went for a head of department interview yesterday and was cut after my lesson, data task and student panel interview. I had been asked to prepare a ten minute presentation but I didn’t even get to deliver it, as I didn’t progress to the formal interview.

I’m a good teacher and it’s my own school, but I just didn’t feel the lesson went well as the kids were very passive and it’s really difficult in a on off lesson to know what strategies work with a class you don’t usually teach. I also packed too much in so it didn’t work well. Even though they’ve seen me teach many many times - it does go on that one interview lesson.

I haven’t had any feedback yet and I’m off today as my throat feels like razor blades- so people will probably think that I’m off because of the humiliation. There were 4 of us at interview stage and I think I’m the only one who was sent home early. I wasn’t at my best but I just keep questioning myself and feeling like a complete and utter fool.

I have worked really hard at this school and I just don’t feel valued - which I appreciate is silly of me.

OP posts:
THisbackwithavengeance · 05/03/2025 19:54

I also sympathise.

I went for an interview (in house) for a job I'd done before and totally ploughed it. I'd had good recommendations as Id worked with this team before and the interviewers were looking at each other with "WTF" expressions.

It's horrible isn't it. Sorry OP.

Original poster
WhoisRebecca · 05/03/2025 19:56

Thank you. It is horrid. Feels humiliating but I know I just need to get it into perspective. Doesn’t help that I’m still feeling ill.

OP posts:
DarkMagicStars · 05/03/2025 20:03

It sounds like that candidate was always going to get it. They probably planned to cut one out and it just happened to be you.

Hankunamatata · 05/03/2025 20:08

Total sympathy. I went for in-house interview and messed it up rightly. They bow I can do the more senior job but they have to give it to the person who gave best interview. Went back in, head held high

Learn from the experience, you have already listed what you could have changed/improved

neilyoungismyhero · 05/03/2025 20:12

Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue ' commiserations OP.

Cucy · 05/03/2025 20:15

I’m sorry you feel so down about this.

I feel it was unfair that they didn’t let you finish.

FWIW I worked in a couple of jobs where multiple people went for head of department of similar more than once and still didn’t get it.
The only ones I know who have got those jobs were when they applied externally.

My old school constantly hired new people instead of promoting within and every time it made the internal applicants feel like crap.
They now have hardly any original staff and the new ones have either left or just aren’t that good.

Don’t take it personally OP.
It may have been as simple as not wanting to advertise for your role.
By you not getting it, your role continues to be filled and one of the other candidates can fill the new role.

Original poster
WhoisRebecca · 05/03/2025 20:20

The head worked with the successful candidate at a previous school and she is very very experienced and actually taking a demotion. So there’s no way I was ever going to get it - just feels rubbish as I don’t feel I did well on the day.

OP posts:
BobbyBiscuits · 05/03/2025 20:23

You're not well. The interview is in the past now. Nobody will think badly if you didn't get it.

Percypigsyumyum · 05/03/2025 20:25

Fellow secondary teacher here - teaching interviews are absolutely gruelling at any level with all the different aspects so can absolutely relate to your being off your game due to illness.
I went for a year head position in house a few years ago, didn’t get it and felt similar humiliation - I was the most experienced teacher there, the person who got it just did better on the day. I found it really tough to go in the next day, but within a couple of days had got my groove back and didn’t feel so raw.
if you like the look of this other job, go for it! You have already reflected on how your lesson went wrong - use this to ensure your next one is better! Nothing ventured, nothing gained and all that…
xx
p.s what subject are you? I’m English xx

Percypigsyumyum · 05/03/2025 20:26

Also, can totally see typos and missing capital letters on my post! Please don’t judge my teaching abilities, I’m going to blame it on my phone!

Original poster
WhoisRebecca · 05/03/2025 20:27

English too.

I am still poorly and really want to go in tomorrow but still not feeling great.

OP posts:
TicklishMintDuck · 05/03/2025 20:35

I’ve been there. Interviewed twice at a school I was doing supply at. I’d done loads of work for them while the HoD was off for 6 weeks and I was the only teacher in. I did a great interview, great feedback - they appointed an NQT and I’m UPS. Something will come up.

twoshedsjackson · 05/03/2025 20:37

I know it's scant consolation, but the fact that you made the shortlist means that you were in the running; any one of the candidates met the criteria, and they had to pick one, and differentiating can turn on a whisker.
Ironically, my last school hired someone who proved spectacularly clueless, yet the head told me (the old sweat coming up for retirement, so no stake in the matter) that he was "head and shoulders above" the rest of the applicants. In the independent sector, it was possible to "nominally" appoint staff for just one year initially, and usually at the end of the year, confirming their continuing in post was purely a formality, but in this case, it was discreetly agreed that things were not working out.
I suspect, like other PP's, that they already had one candidate in mind. I had previously been in that situation, to my annoyance as I had come back from a seaside break (different half-terms) for the interview, and it was obvious to all us shor listers that we were there to tick the boxes.
I hope you don't feel taken for granted, but......how about gingering up management by asking for an afternoon off to look at another school where an interesting post has been advertised? Just an evil thought to cheer you until you feel better!

Sugargliderwombat · 05/03/2025 20:48

I've been in a like for like situation, including someone more experienced coming in. My confidence was low for so long and I have made the mistake of letting it hold me back. It was 5 years ago and I've not moved on or gone for another job. I wish I had used the CV I had then to just apply for jobs straight away. Even if you don't leave it would be a confidence boost to get offered something else and no loss if you don't get it :).

Ohapal · 05/03/2025 20:50

WhoisRebecca · 05/03/2025 20:20

The head worked with the successful candidate at a previous school and she is very very experienced and actually taking a demotion. So there’s no way I was ever going to get it - just feels rubbish as I don’t feel I did well on the day.

It was a done deal. The other candidates were there to tick a box.

It was very unprofessional of them to ask you to prepare a presentation and then not even let you deliver it.

You are giving this a lot of thought because it's personal to you. Whoever cut you from the process probably has not given it any further thought. There is nothing to be embarrassed about. Brazen it out with a breezy smile.

Golden407 · 05/03/2025 20:51

WhoisRebecca · 05/03/2025 10:18

Thank you. I’m just annoyed with myself because I know I could have done much better.

You know what the issues were and you know you can overcome them. Put it behind you and look to your future

Sugarbeaches · 05/03/2025 20:54

Ahh I’ve been there and I’ve seen others in similar positions. In my case, I applied for a HoD role and a colleague got it over me and it does sting. I just think you need to keep reminding yourself that if you saw this happen in another department, you may mention it in passing once or twice but it will all be forgotten after a week. It feels like a bigger deal than it actually is. Lots of love and chin up!

MumonabikeE5 · 05/03/2025 20:58

I’m not a teacher.

but I’d write a review of your lesson, inc the info in your post here, and keep it with the lesson plan etc so that when you apply for similar in future and you are prepping again you can reflect on the things you learnt from this one.
so you can do better next time.

im sure the people interviewing you didn’t walk into every job they’ve had, and they’ve done less impressive interviews along the way etc,
so just go back to work, do what you do, and try not to think about what they are thinking anymore

Crazybaby123 · 05/03/2025 20:58

Only one of the fpur would get the job. You werent feeling great, now unwell.
Try and look objectively at what you can do better and work on those things. You said engaging a class you don't know was a tough gig for you, work on this as you know it will come up again. Im not a teacher but have to go through appraisals every year. Its tough looking inward but if you can do it you will get there for sure.
How others perceive you vs how you think you come across can be very different. Try amd get some feedback ask for honest feedback and support without being emotional, so when you are better will be good. See if you can find a mentor in your school who can give you honest critisism.
Lots of people fail and then go on to do great things. If you arent failing you arent learning.

VirginiaCreepers · 05/03/2025 21:00

Totally understand how you feel - same thing happened to me (in education - non teaching job), I was kicked out part way through the assessment process. I did learn lessons and ended up with a much better/perfect job in the end (after making a fortune contracting for a few years).

Chalk it up to experience. Don't let it put you off applying for other things (but if you need a break to regroup, take it).

unicornpower · 05/03/2025 21:10

Not a teacher but I interviewed for a promotion via teams once when I had Covid, it was so awful and I was so embarrassed but my mind was literally like cotton wool, I wasn’t even making sense at some stages. Try not to beat yourself up about it, it sounds like it was a done deal already. The governor sounds so unprofessional too, that’s not really on to be saying that!

NotEnoughRoom · 05/03/2025 21:10

I’m sorry you’re not feeling well, on top of your disappointment.

ive been on interview panels where we unfortunately had to make a decision not to put the internal candidate through to the afternoon. It isn’t any easy decision, but it does sound as though they haven’t dealt with it very well either.

However, it would be worth asking for feedback before you get too despondent over your teaching - and decide not to go for other roles.

If it was one of the other tasks, there may be some simple things that you can develop on for a future interview? Just an example, in the panel I was on, it was actually the data task that was weaker, and as it was a HOD role, the data analysis was considered more important.

hope you feel better soon, and get your confidence back.

ThePoliteLion · 05/03/2025 21:11

OP, you sound highly competent and impressive. Please continue to believe that you are an excellent teacher. Everyone has off days. All will work out for the best in the end. I’ve had the occasional professional setback myself, but I give myself reminders of pieces of work that went well etc.

VimesandhisCardboardBoots · 05/03/2025 21:11

You didn't get the job. That's it. They interviewed, 5 people, and found someone they preferred. That doesn't mean they think you're useless, or can't do your current job, or that they hate you. They just picked someone else over you.

This interview wasn't a judgement on you. They just found someone else.

whycantibeselfishforonce · 05/03/2025 21:13

Ah OP I feel the same as some of the pps saying you should try to not link this experience and you not getting the job to you feeling like you're not being valued in your role.
Teaching interviews can be brutal! I know this from experience myself. There are many jobs that I went for as a teacher and didn't get, it's so awful. Sometimes, there is absolutely nothing wrong with what you have done, it's just that someone else was a better fit; had the right specialism, had worked at the school before, had a good connection with the panel etc.

It will have battered your confidence but you will have learnt loads from this process and you'll be better prepared next time.

I actually volunteered for some training with Governor services - as they offer training to Governors for recruiting HTs and DHTs - so you kind of go through the whole application process and formal interview stage and it is great experience. Might be worth looking to see if there is anything like this you can do when you are ready. Don't give up!