Didn't get a job at 38

[CathysGhost]

Just been told I failed to get a main scale teacher job
I'm 15 years in and the other two candidates were nqt. I'm not overly disappointed as I have a tlr job at the moment and I wanted to go the interview as it was in a better school. My feedback was that another lesson was better than mine and I'm gutted.
Actual teaching had always been my strength and now I've lost all confidence. 15 years experience and beaten by an nqt and I feel shit. Isn't that bitch of me?
How can I get a grip?

It's always disappointing when you don't get the job, but even harder to take when you think having experience would be an advantage.
Did you ask what they thought needed improving about your lesson?

Thanks for replying.
They said the other lesson was more engaging. I think I'd lost it when the hod said she wanted to 'mould a team into what she wanted' ergo they'd pick nqts.
Good for the girl that got it cos its a nice school. Can't belive I feel so shit about it though!

NQT's are also a lot cheaper! They might have thought you wanted to retain your current salary!

Don't take it to personally (easier said than done).

Sounds like they wanted someone without experience so they wouldn't be 'questioned' too much!

(In my school 9/10 they ALWAYS take nqts for this reason) it's because the head is an idiot....

I wondered about that. I'll just have to keep ploughing on where I am.
My plan is to pay off all my debts (car etc) and duck out of teaching in about 5 years.
Thanks for the words of enocuragament both x

It will be about cost and wanting someone who’s more malleable to their teaching ethos.

I also wondered whether it was about cost, as well as being easier to tell an NQT exactly what to do.

Anyway, I hope you find something soon.

Of course it's cost. NQT's are cheap, will do as they are told, and won't question anything in staff meetings. My old school, once academised, pushed out all older, expensive staff, or we left. It is now entirely nqt and rqt under SLT.
There are schools which value experience, but financial pressure is making them fewer and further between.

School governor here, and I know the head fills most vacancies with NQTs because, if we hire a more expensive experienced teacher, we can't pay the gas bill. (I'm only slightly exaggerating!)
It's utterly shit, and it makes us all feel a bit sick, especially knowing what this means for people who've been in the profession for a while. But this is where we're at with budgets.

I saw a meme yesterday about the local elections which said "if your polling station is in a school and you vote Tory, why don't you just do a massive shit in the stationery cupboard on your way out."

They might have thought you wanted to retain your current salary!

Why shouldn’t she?! Anyone else going for a job outside of teaching would expect to!

It will be 100% because NQTs are cheap, OP-I doubt it’s anything to you with your lesson!!

This happened to me a while ago.. interview and lesson went amazingly well and I thought I had it in the bag.. they said the NQT appeared to 'want it more'. I was so fed up too. It's the time and effort you put into the application/interview too. Have a nice glass of wine and a takeaway and forget about them. It's their loss x

Thanks all
You've made me feel less shit! Ha! Love the stationery cupboard quote. True true!
I'm going to sit and watch telly with my feet up and squeeze my kids. Xx

I have recruited and NQT over experience before because their lesson was genuinely better. The experienced teacher was also cagey about their move from TLR back to classroom and it was enough to raise too many questions. I suspect it was years since their previous interviews.

That said, sounds like they wanted cheap. It's not the right place for you then.

Save your talents for somewhere that will appreciate them.

I'm just gonna chalk this one up to experience and plough on!

Don't feel miserable about it.

If you're going to go for other interviews have a think about how your desire to "get out" in next 5 years might subconsciously play out.

I’m 43 and about to apply for a job in a nicer school. This fills me with fear! I just want to work somewhere niiiiccccceeeee!!

We had an nqt appointed over an experienced teacher. Apparently both lessons were good, but with the nqt being cheap there was not chance for the experienced teacher even though her lesson was slightly better. Luckily another vacancy came up shortly after so both were appointed.

This is one of the things putting me off returning to teaching.

I suspect it was years since their previous interviews

?

Does that make you a crap teacher?

No but when your interview lesson is lacklustre then it does raise questions. It's supposed to be an example of your teaching at the top of it's game, isn't it?

What else can you go on: you have a lesson and an interview. Both have to be you at your shiny best.

Our head recently appointed an NQT. Her lesson was great, experienced teacher was good (but not 11k better.)
On the plus side for me, my temp contract will be made permanent as they can now 'afford' me for another year. (I'm on mps4!)

One thing that is really overlooked in experienced teachers versus NQTs is demonstrable staying power.

An experienced teacher has a track record - which should be given weight alongside the lesson and interview.

One thing that is really overlooked in experienced teachers versus NQTs is demonstrable staying power.

This is so important. Resilience and experience managing the workload and pressure is worth a fair few grand I reckon .

I’m 37, 12 years qualified and a HoF and have just lived through a horrific two years in my current job. I started applying seriously to get out this time last year. I’ve been quite picky about which jobs I’ve applied to for logistical/family reasons and have had a fair few disappointments. I got interviews for every job I applied for, and then they went as follows:
1-I definitely just wasn’t a good fit. Taught a lesson and nice kids but did a crap interview, wasn’t surprised when I didn’t get it
2-specialist role at a very prestigious performing arts school. Was a long shot, got pipped at the post by someone with more industry experience. Was disappointed but stoic.
3-lovely local school. Got interview for HoD they appointed internally
4-same lovely local school as second in dept. Taught a fab lesson, great interviews etc etc. They asked if I’d be interested in a HoY role, and discussed admission procedures for my DCs.... all great I thought. And then I didn’t get as it went to an NQT-I was heartbroken. Because they really led me on and made me think I’d got it.
5-naice local indie-v smart and traditional. Didn’t get it, but wasn’t really that fussed as I didn’t think it was very me.
6-was the one I got, they interviewed me before the closing date and have been amazing.

I genuinely never thought I would escape. I got offered my new job on the very last day of last term, which was literally just in time for me to resign (currently in an indie). Am going back into a state school so it’s going to be a shock!

Best of luck and don’t lose heart! Something will turn up

I have had 3 permanent jobs in my fifties. Obviously, I didn’t stick around for the first two, but will stay with the current one until I retire.

I've got over 10 years experience e by now. Went for a job a few years back and didn't even make it through to the interview stage after the lesson. I call it a lucky escape, having had the chance to speak to some of the current staff in the morning. They obviously wanted NQTs, had their current NQTs reapply instead of making them permanent and it just felt all "wrong".

My current school is looking for who "fits" our school and our staff best. We're in the process of looking for someone new. Not fussed about it being an NQT (the joy of being an independent school) but the person needs to meet a certain set of criteria. It's tricky.

Unicorncupcake they interviewed you before anyone else? That’s the dream? They must had absolutely loved your application!