Job interview next term- will they wait?

[Laura2121]

Hello all,
I recently made a job application to an independent school for HoD. On their job advert, it specifies that interviews are to take place next week, and that the application deadline is this coming Monday.
However I’m going abroad this weekend, since the end of term at my current school is today (this trip was pre-planned and all booked). End of term at this other school is next Friday, hence other potential candidates would be coming in next week for their interviews.
Earlier this week I had asked this school whether I could possibly be interviewed this week. They had initially said yes it might be possible, but then after receiving my application, which they said the Head was “interested in”, they said it would be easier if I came in for my interview early next term.
The vibes sound positive, however I can’t help but wonder whether they will interview other potential candidates next week as per the dates on their job advert? And if they do, and find a suitable candidate, would they still wait for me as they’ve said they will?
Many thanks for your advice

They might wait for you but there are no guarantees. If they have an outstanding candidate next week who is also interviewing elsewhere they may need to move quickly to secure them.

Could you offer to do the panel interview over Zoom on the published interview dates and then if invited go in after the holidays for the teaching observation and any tasks?

ThanksItHasPockets has made a helpful suggestion above.

Another point to bear in mind (sorry!) is that if any of the candidates are already in independent schools, they may well have to give a full term's notice. This is standard in the sector, and the school may well decide to appoint a good candidate in time for them to give notice, rather than waiting for you.

However, there's nothing you can do to change things; your term dates don't align and you are away. Some years ago I had an indy trying to pressure me to come for an interview at ridiculously short notice when it was completely impossible (school play week etc). I asked to rearrange and never heard from them again, which I think told me everything I needed to know. Sometimes things don't work out for a reason.

Very good point about notice periods. I didn’t realise a full term was the norm in the independent sector.

They may well wait if they are interested in you. A friend of mine applied to a large independent school last year. No issues with Internet dates but, for some reason, the email they sent to her personal email address didn't arrive.

They called her on the day of the interview to see if she was still coming 😲 she apologised profusely and explained the email wasn't in her inbox/junk etc. They tried again with no luck but the admin lady said she would speak to the head.

My friend assumed she had no chance and that they would appoint from those interviewed that day. Head rang, asked her to go the next day and she got the job!

The fact that they have accommodated an alternative date for you is a positive. They could have just said sorry, no.

Best of luck!

It’d be a fair process that they waited for you. They think you’re a credible candidate that they want to shortlist you - just unfortunate timings.
I’d like to say that morally yes they should wait until they’ve interviewed you to make a decision - it’s not like they are rushed to make a decision as they still have over 8 weeks until the May resignation deadline for a September start. The only thing that I can see going against you is that they need to appoint and get someone started asap and that they have a candidate who currently isn’t in a job and therefore doesn’t have a notice period to serve.
Hope it all works out for you.

Hello all,

Thank you so much for your advice and support. It’s very useful. Just to inform that I’m currently employed at another private school and my own notice period here is 1 month (probationary year here).

The email from the school where they’ve invited me to interview next term sounds definitive, rather than a half-hearted pledge depending on whether or not they find a suitable candidate next week. I do hope that no decision is made on this soon.

Thank you again all for your support