Applying for more than one job!

[FloreanFortescue]

I'm taking the plunge and applying for a new job.

I love my current job but it's over an hour away and I have 2 very young children and I can't manage childcare without DH. He does all pickups and drop offs even though he has a demanding full time role.

I'm trying to find a job closer to home.

My question is how...?

I've been shortlisted for interview this week but how do I manage multiple applications? I can't keep this one waiting while I wait to see if I'm shortlisted for another can I? I don't really know how this is done!

I've been at my current school for 7 years since qualifying and got recruited through an agency.

It’s difficult as teaching jobs are usually offered and accepted the same day.

I think if you had another interview already lined up, you might be able to be honest with the school and say, I have another interview, can I possibly let you know on Friday (if they were to offer it to you). This is what I did years ago-they actually asked me in the interview, ‘if we were to offer you the job, would you say yes?’ which was an opener for me to explain my situation! I did get the other job which I preferred and it was closer to home.

If you are offered this one and haven’t even been given an interview for another yet, I think you’d have to just take the plunge and make a decision. You could end up turning it down and not getting an interview for one of the others.

Probably not the answer you're looking for but I was in the same situation 5 years ago. As an NQT I had two interviews lined up 2 days apart and was offered the job at the first interview and felt that I had to accept. I couldn't risk losing that job offer for the sake of the second interview. I always wonder what would have happened if I'd either turned it down (the second job was much closer to home in a nicer school) or asked for a few days to think about it. Could you ask the school you prefer whether they could bring your interview date forward?

I haven't even applied for job 2 yet, I'm just weighing up whether I even bother!! I'm visiting tomorrow so if I decided I preferred the school, the interview wouldn't be for another 2 weeks or so. Job 1 is a funny start (24.2) so there's no time for them to wait for me if I was chosen.

The good thing is, I love my current job so it's not the end of the world if I don't get a job this time around.

Why does it have to be do difficult!! Each application is taking 6-8 hours to tailor and then there's the teaching activity on top. Thankfully I do seem to be getting shortlisted at least. This is the first interview I'm going for.