How many interviews does it take to finally land a job?

[Watercress99]

I went to another interview today, I really did my best got a lot of positive feedback on the lesson I did and my teaching skill I was also told I was a great candidate.

They didn’t offer me the role because one candidate answered one question a little better. The feedback I got was that I did everything exactly as I should and there’s nothing they could fault. Just one question tipped it over the edge and if they had two jobs the second would be mine. There are a few more jobs in the local area going which I will apply for.

What do you think jr takes to truly crack the process. I took on board as much feedback as I could no matter if it made me doubt myself or whatever. I’m getting more deflated the more I try though

Choosing someone to join a team is an art, not a science. Sometimes it can be as simple as 2 decent candidates but you think one would gel more with the existing team.

Sometimes schools give vague feedback like "ooh it was so close but you were just pipped to the post" because they can't quite explain why another candidate was considered a better fit, or they could explain but not without it sounding personal.

I'm in the same boat, had 3 interviews and got that kind of feedback. It's nice to know I did well but it doesn't really give me anything to work with. I think we just have to keep plodding away at it until we get one, be in the right place at the right time. A friend just got her job on her 6th interview. I'm just going to keep going

MissPrimaryCrafts
I know some people who didn't get jobs until the last fortnight of term in their training year. It tends to happen more in areas that don't have shortages, for example some areas have more primary teachers than there are jobs, somd have too many PE/Art/Drama teachers for the jobs and almost everywhere has a shortage of English, Maths, Science and MFL teachers.

Are the interviews in groups now or are you on your own due to covid? In the past, you could ‘eye up’ the competition and generally had a god idea by the end of the day who might get the job - and why. Is that possible at the moment or do you not meet them?

@AttaGirrrrl basically you walk into a room. Introduce yourself to the head and then you tour the school teach your mini lesson then they interview or shortlist first then interview. That’s been my experience.

I had nah idea that it would be between me and another person. But in some ways I felt after the tour I wouldn’t fit in there. And the drive wasn’t the easiest. I’ve had a chat with some teacher friends and I won’t lose hope! Just have to keep going till the right thing comes

Two of our strongest trainees didn't get jobs until September - both got them from supply.

One trainee got hers on her 9th interview, in the last week of the summer term, having come second every previous time. She was desperate and really frustrated because no-one could / would tell her what she could have improved, just that she was pipped at the post on the day.

However, four others got the first jobs they were interviewed for - two of those were the first applications they had put in.

There is little rhyme or reason to it. It is so tough, psyching yourself up each time and feeling you've failed, when actually you genuinely did do well, and just on the day there was someone who fitted better.

You only have to come first once! Your job is out there. It is just a matter of time, and luck to a certain extent too. Try to stay positive - it's their loss.

Oh, and two trainees got their jobs through phonecalls weeks after an interview where they had come second, to say another vacancy had now come up and were they interested?

Indeed, onwards and upwards. Good luck.