Tell me to pull myself together

[Unicorndiscoball]

Had an interview yesterday for a job at a very prestigious and high achieving school. Had a gruelling day of interviews and activities that took masses of planning. Lovely school, lovely kids, amazing opportunity.

And I didn’t get it.

And I know that out of the four candidates, only one of us did, and I know they were probably more experienced/better fit/whatever but I am feeling really really down about it. I’ve never got a job that I’ve had an interview for before so any rejection previously has always been ‘faceless’ as it’s always been at an ‘on paper’ stage rather than face to face. I was awake till 1am over analysing every single thing I said or did. It only happened yesterday so it’s still very raw. Am feeling really down, and it’s half term and I don’t want to feel like this all week, so please tell me to pull myself together!

Sorry-should read ‘I’ve never NOT got a job that I’ve had an interview for before’

Unicorn, I've been teaching for over twenty years and on only two occasions have I got the job I went for. (On neither occasion did the job work out long-term. Once I was shafted over terms and conditions, and once the head was very unpleasant indeed). In 2008 I made a determined effort to get a full-time job, which resulted in my being rejected by practically every school within a thirty mile radius over the next two years, frequently after very gruelling interview days . I waited it out at my current school, and eventually got what I wanted there (touch wood).

All I can do is sympathise and say I know exactly how you feel.

Sorry, I should have read your post more carefully . I thought you were another bad interviewee, like me! Nonetheless, rejection is never pleasant, and the teaching interview process is uniquely bonkers and stressful. Are surgeons asked to perform a quick op?

I sympathise as it happened to me once, and to add insult to injury the person they appointed was not very good!

Don’t pull yourself together- take a morning to have a quick post mortem over a cuppa and see if there is anything you can learn from, if not, accept they wanted a man/ a woman/ a younger person/older person/ pianist/ whatever, and then do something lovely to spoil yourself- nice walk/ cake/ shopping- something self indulgent; and then Let it Go.

It's horrible isn't it. Although when this has happened I knew it wasn't the school for me either.
Ask for feedback although most don't. You can't always predict what they want and how it may fit into the school. From experience and working at this type of school (although it can be far from perfect), they're expecting proof of extra curricular and how you would develop it, other evidence of creating/taking part in whole school events etc. and a strong academic record. Also the potential to contribute to another subject and/or sport.

There are also some brilliant websites for teacher interviews on teachertv.

Sorry, was it for teacher, HOd etc.?

Thank you everyone I was the youngest candidate by about 5 years and although I have loads of experience, it’s not directly applicable to this particular role/is in smaller schools etc. It was a long shot and I was fairly surprised to get an interview, so I’m not shocked That I didn’t get it, but it still stings a bit! My ego is obviously bigger than I thought

Have just had lunch at pizza express which is helping a bit

I did not get s job that I applied for that I was way more experienced and qualified than the other candidates. I think I was too expensive! In the end one of the people they did appoint left before the year was complete and they offered me the job the following year. I kind of believe that things work out for the best in the end and that mantra keeps me sane when things don’t seem to be going well at all.

Was HoD, but in a MUCH bigger school (4 times the size)

I have seen jobs go to the person who looks likely they will best get on with the ‘quirky’ members of the department. Sometimes it has nothing to do with your skills and abilities as a teacher and nothing you can change.

I got my job on my fifth interview. A couple I didn’t feel went that well. One there was an ‘internal’ candidate who was always going to get the job so I don’t know why I was there at all. And one, I got the feeling the head didn’t like me. I got told my knowledge of safeguarding wasn’t good enough. I felt pretty crap after each one.

The interview for my job now, the lesson went really well (the head actually complimented me on it during the lesson) and my knowledge of safeguarding was deemed very good. I had had a really good vibe from the school as I was going round as well. The head didn’t let me leave before offering me the job. I’m still there and, yeah it’s stressful, but I am happy.

it is crap op - I went for a straight teaching job (which would have meant my losing a TLR) and although I have been teaching for years, have HoD and HoY experience, been specially requested by partner schools to sort out their departments etc I didn't get it and I was floored, but as PP have pointed out, sometimes there just isn't the 'fit' with the school and the candidate, other times its the old 'who know who', the internals, the cost etc.

You never know though what is around the corner - my first teaching job I got the phone call to say sorry...next day the HT called to say that whilst I wasn't offered the post initially (the successful candidate offered an additional subject) she liked me that much that she had talked the governors into creating an additional post. As it turns out the candidate who was offered the initial position never took up the post!

I think you should treat yourself to the largest box of lindor chocolate you can find. Once your blood chocolate levels are adequately raised, then you can treat yourself to something fun. And then, you should donate a tenner to a charity for something important to you, and only then should you think about pulling yourself together.

I feel like the deputy head liked me but the head wasn’t keen. Which is fine, he’s got to do what’s best for the school, but us teachers are generally such people pleasers and perfectionists aren’t we?! We can’t bear feeling like we’ve not done our best.

Ah well, I think my interview was less well prepared than everything else because I had stressed so much about all the other tasks (4 in total ) and therefore I probably wasn’t as polished so didn’t convince the head. I am a firm believer in everything happening for a reason and so will Wallow quietly for one more day and then pull myself together I’ve got a kids birthday party to go to this pm, but then nice things tomorrow with lovely friends so that should cheer me up. Thank you everyone!

This seems to have been an unnecessarily busy interview day.
Had a similar one and it put me off the school completely.

Superpug - fully agree, had one interview (I pulled out!) That had a number of different tasks including having all candidates work together to save an island from sinking

Totally agree with cricket balls. I had really similar experience, was senior leader loads of experience, went for straight teaching in area I had been slt and didn’t get it! My ego bruised for quite a while, I think I thought it was in the bag!!!!!!!!!!! It makes you feel proper shit for a while but the right thing will come along. Well done you for getting an interview, getting through busy and stressful day.. you should be really proud of yourself. Xxxx

Drop them a note, thanking them for the interview and saying what a positive impression you came away with of the school's ethos, pupils and leadership. Let them know very clearly that if they contacted you in the future, the interest would be strong.

In the past I've even been cheeky (when I've heard through the grapevine that the wrong person had been appointed) and said, if for any reason it doesn't work out, please get in touch. I've had great second chances from saying that, because they know they can approach you if the first choice turns them down or is a mismatch for the role. Worth a shot if you really love the school.

I’m going to email the head’s PA on Monday, as she was really nice thanking her for a lovely day, and ask her to pass it on. Definitely a case of ‘grass might be greener’ and current role certainly has plenty to do, am an not unhappy so will focus on that for now.... thanks for perspective everyone!