First job interview in 18 years - help!

[Tanfastic]

As the title says....but only because I've been in my present job for all that time! I decided it's time for a change.

I've got an interview for a governor administrator for the local academy school's in my area. Requires travelling to local school governor meetings and taking minutes etc.

I'm amazed I've got an interview to be honest as I don't have some of the essential qualifications (GCSES) - (although I do have tons of admin experience and I'm currently practice manager for a firm of solicitors).

The interview is two hours which consists of a "series of assessments and interview". So I'm currently shitting a brick but sooooo want this job.

Anybody any idea of what the assessments will consist of?

Or any tips on what I might get asked?

In my current job I'm the one who normally recruits and interviews but I always keep it fairly informal and never ask any tricky questions to be honest but I assume this will be a totally different kettle of fish!

Scared!

Just bumping this for the early birds.

If they've shortlisted you they must think your work experience is far more relevant than exam results.

I'm a governor at a local authority primary and our clerk works for the council's governor services team. It's probably slightly different for an academy chain as governing bodies have a differnt composition.

I don't know how they will do it, but they might want to assess your minute/note taking ability and problem solving, and ability to deal with systems. Our clerk sometimes chases up both the headteacher and other staff governors and parent governors to check our info and get copies of minutes from sub-committee meetings. Governor services have intrduced a portal where each school has its section and you might put up minutes and other info there for governors.

You could also look up the websites of the schools where you would be working - that will include details of the governing bodies and how they are made up.

Thank you so much for your reply, that is helpful. I did spend a long time on my application so that's maybe why I've got an interview. Unless they didn't have many applicants because it did say some unsociable hours may be required etc.

I have looked at their website, their mission and some of their policies but there are about 8 academies they govern so I'm hoping they won't ask me a random question about one of their Ofsted reports or something. I'm now spending the next week rehearsing replies to questions I think they might ask me. Oh gawd 😩🙈

I can't see why they would ask you such a random question - what would any answer tell them? Unsocial hours - yes, governing body meetings are quite often in evenings though they vary. Good luck!

Congrats for getting the interview. I wouldn't worry abut the Ofsted reports - just read them to get an overview of the schools. Concentrate on the Governance aspect.

• Look at the MAT (Multi Academy trust) website to get an overview of Governance structure and find out what committees you are expected to clerk.
• Go through the job description and person specification and try and fit questions to what is essential and desired. (they will probably ask questions about your organisational skills; how would you work independently; how you would prepare papers for meetings, how you would build up a relationship with the Chair etc.)
• Other questions may be "What do you think the Governors role is?", "What do you think is the key role of a clerk?" etc.
• Try and find out what support you will get, Training etc. Will you get access to the National Governors association website or the Key (another Governor website) as they are both excellent resources for clerks and Governors.

Best of luck and I hope that helps.

Sorry for any typos trying to type quickly as dong bedtime!!

Thanks so much that is really helpful! I will report back on Thursday 😊

Just thought I'd update.

Interview was yesterday. It was as hideous as I was expecting 😂. If I hadn't spent a week preparing for it I'd have been totally screwed.

Anyway I thought I did okay. I fluffed a couple of the ten hideous questions but I managed to answer most of them okay. Had two tests as well, a literacy test and a task where I had to write a letter.

I didn't get the job. However I didn't get a good feeling about it once I heard more about it and the money wasn't as good as I'm on now so I think it's just as well.

Anyway I have a second interview for another post next week so fingers' crossed!

Thank you mumsnetters for your lovely help anyway 😬

Is that for a similar job? Good luck. And some really relevant advice from Cheguevarahamster (love the name) there.

No a different job but even though o got a second interview which lasted two hours and I got s great vibe from I haven't heard either way. Was told they'd let me know before this weekend. Nothing.

I assume that means unsuccessful 😞