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Original poster

Misleading information for a job interview

23 replies

KookyPoster · 27/05/2025 17:15

I work in a primary school as an after school club assistant. They were advertising for an after school club leader internally. I applied along with one other person. I was told by HR it would be a short interview and a 10 minute presentation on how I would run the club.

When I saw I would need to do a presentation my anxiety kicked in really badly. I’ve never had to do a presentation before and was unsure what I was required to do so emailed HR and explained I had never done a presentation before and wandered what they were wanting and was it a PowerPoint they wanted. I never heard back and in the end I backed out from the interview as my anxiety got the better of me. I explained about my anxiety and how previously I have been made to feel like I wasn’t good enough by my boss and was worried that if I didn’t get the position I might find it difficult to return to my role.

They gave the position to the other person who didn’t interview and has no experience. They also told me after they gave the other person the position that it was just an informal chat, nothing formal. Had I known it was an informal chat I would of gone ahead with the interview. Is there anything I can do about this? I feel I was mislead about the interview. Any advice please and thanks.

OP posts:
LateForMyOwnFuneral · 27/05/2025 17:24

Well, no - all you can do is learn from it.
It was not very good of HR not to reassure you but internal appointments are always a bit tricky - you cannot prove anything but maybe they had the other person in mind, which would have been a complete waste of your time.
Who is your boss and who did your criticism of said boss go to? Trust nae fecker.
It could have been awkward working under the person you would have gone up against - I have done it, they had more of a problem than I did.
In terms of presentation, I'd have read PowerPoint for that - with how you were going to run the provision, what changes you'd make, how you'd budget it, how it was inclusive, how it fit with the School Improvement Plan etc
It may end up a poisoned chalice and you'd be glad you swerved it.
Was it your boss's job or a new job? How many assistants or volunteers did you have?
Who got the job eventually and can you work with them?

Phunkychicken · 27/05/2025 17:27

I suspect the informal chat was because there was only the one candidate after you’d pulled out, if you’d stayed in it you’d have both had to go through the presentation and interview.

LateForMyOwnFuneral · 27/05/2025 17:30

Sorry you did not go for it. What was meant for you won't pass you by.
A wise woman once said to me Bet on yourself.
If you were anxious doing the interview, for a future occasion I'd collar an LSA or teacher and ask for a bit of help. I know I would have been happy to help a colleague wanting to move up/progress.
I honestly would put it out your mind now, chin up, work with the appointee to make it the best after-school club you can and see if other opportunities come up in other schools soon.

LateForMyOwnFuneral · 27/05/2025 17:31

Phunkychicken · 27/05/2025 17:27

I suspect the informal chat was because there was only the one candidate after you’d pulled out, if you’d stayed in it you’d have both had to go through the presentation and interview.

This

Squarepuffin · 27/05/2025 17:34

Is it possible they thought encouraging you to apply would be a waste of everyone's time? I don't think someone that anxious about a presentation would be a good candidate for a post where you're going to have to lead people and deal with parents.

LateForMyOwnFuneral · 27/05/2025 17:36

And don't be too hard on yourself.
I went for a job and really wanted to back out (and I have done presentations but this one threw me). I put myself through it but it was godawful and I cringe looking back on it.
Sometimes we feel obliged to go for things when it is the wrong job or wrong timing. They always say better to do the thing than regret it but it could have gone the other way and been excruciating for you or time-consuming. Yes, it's all experience but sometimes the time is just not right.

LateForMyOwnFuneral · 27/05/2025 17:42

Squarepuffin · 27/05/2025 17:34

Is it possible they thought encouraging you to apply would be a waste of everyone's time? I don't think someone that anxious about a presentation would be a good candidate for a post where you're going to have to lead people and deal with parents.

Possibly. Often with internal appointments there can be an unseen tap on the shoulder.
I once went for one and was pretty much told I'd smashed the interview...but they gave it the person, who was very nervous but in role already.
I also went for one externally with an internal candidate - complete waste of my time.
There is little to be done now going back over it. Some things are not meant to be. Next time, go on the Staffroom here and we'll give you pointers and boost your confidence. Flowers

TartanMammy · 27/05/2025 17:45

If you are anxious about a ten minute presentation, to the extent you pulled out of the interview, how would you cope with the demands of the job? It's a simple, standard interview activity.

Viviennemary · 27/05/2025 17:48

No I don't think you were misled but it's annoying. You withdrew your application and they gave the job to the other person as she was the only candidate.

Original poster
KookyPoster · 27/05/2025 18:03

Bit of a back story. Whilst working in my current role I applied for a SEN TA (special educational needs TA) which I have 5 yrs experience. I didn’t get it as the other person had more experience. I was there second choice should the other person not want it but they did. Randomly they took on a SEN TA without an interview or advertising it and had no experience. Conviently her mum is a teacher at the school.

Another SEN TA position became available.
I applied but was told I would go from a permanent contract to temporary contract.I was told I would need to interview as there were lots of people interested. I didn’t interview as didn’t want to lose my permanent hours. The next day they gave the position to someone with no experience, who didn’t interview as they said no one else was interested. Conviently her mum is HR. During this time I had been covering as an SEN TA for months due to staff illness. I bought this up with HR and the head who accused me of lying.

In my current role as after school club assistant the previous leader left. HR said they weren’t going to hire another lead, myself and one of the other assistants were to do it between us. 2 days later the head gave the lead position to the other assistant, no interview. When approached I was told again I was lying. Another assistant(there are 3 of us) was present when the other assistant was given the job as lead, proof I wasn’t lying.

I feel the head has a problem with me as I have complained to her and HR about the current lead who is leaving. She is 30 mins late daily, leaves 30 mins early often causing safeguarding issues. I’m constantly covering her job and they don’t like it because I have complained (she’s one of her favourites).
The current lead who is leaving is very pally with another member of staff and told HR she is interested in working in the after school club and conveniently she has now started covering when needed instead of the usual lady. She is the one who got the new lead position. It smells a bit off to me. I just feel if they had been honest about it being an informal interview I would have felt differently. I thought I could trust my current lead but it would appear not. She is extremely friendly with the head,( she’s 22 the head is 50. Goes to the heads house for meals and the head bought her a massage) think she has been telling her some of our conversations.

I told the head and HR that they have made me feel like I’m not good enough which caused my anxiety at the thought of a presentation and failing. I’m not sure if I can work with the new lead as she is a bit of a bitch and likes a power trip.

I just wish they had told me it was informal in the many emails sent and conversations I had with HR. HR told me after I should have interviewed I stood a good chance of getting it had I interviewed. Shame I wasn’t told this before.

OP posts:
RobinHeartella · 27/05/2025 18:07

Who is your boss and who did your criticism of said boss go to? Trust nae fecker.

100%.

If you think processes are unfair at your school (which might be true), you find another school to work at. There's no point complaining, you just make yourself look like a troublemaker

RobinHeartella · 27/05/2025 18:09

I just wish they had told me it was informal in the many emails sent and conversations I had with HR.

You wouldn't have got the job anyway after all that.

I've learnt the hard way, the main thing SLT want from you is not to create extra work for them.

BobbyBiscuits · 27/05/2025 18:13

If you pulled out of the process then they didn't need to do the full interview/presentation with the other person. As essentially they were the only candidate claiming they wanted the job.

I'd say it's just a live and learn situation. It's not unreasonable to ask someone to do a short presentation about their plans on how to run a group.

I'd imagine the expectation for a group leader is someone fairly confident in public speaking amongst their peers.

Maybe you could brush up on those skills and then if an external job comes up you'll feel more ready and capable to apply and present something.

Maddy70 · 27/05/2025 18:15

You withdrew from the interview, they gave it to someone else

Original poster
KookyPoster · 27/05/2025 18:20

TartanMammy · 27/05/2025 17:45

If you are anxious about a ten minute presentation, to the extent you pulled out of the interview, how would you cope with the demands of the job? It's a simple, standard interview activity.

I have been an ASC assistant for 3 years and love my job. Over the last year I have done way more than my job description. I have been covering for the current lead as she is 30 mins late daily and frequently leaves 30 mins early of absent meaning I am covering her duties. I am more than capable of doing the lead role as the head and HR well know and have stated. I am not normally anxious but the thought of having to stand up and do a presentation knowing that previously I have felt not good enough really knocked my confidence. After so many knock backs my confidence is low and my anxiety was high.

OP posts:
Lovenpic · 27/05/2025 18:21

You weren’t mislead. As there was only one candidate, they didn’t need to do the full process.

Mareleine · 27/05/2025 18:26

With all the backstory it sounds like they don't like you and nothing you do will persuade them to move your career forward. I'd find somewhere else to work and be more careful about complaining next time. In my experience, schools pretend they want to know but really they're like the NHS in that they take the opinion that the person complaining/whistleblowing is the problem.

whatsappdoc · 27/05/2025 19:03

Agree with the above. I would leave as no matter what you do I don't think they see you in another role. You are useful to them where you are, stepping up when needed but tbh I don't think they like you. I have been you (in a support role) and I resigned and went to a better school, kept my head down and didn't complain, just got on with the job. Some people are favourites, some of us are not!
Regarding the temporary/permanent contract, I have never seen 1 to 1 positions advertised as permanent as you are employed only as long as the child is on the roll.

whatwouldlilacerullodo · 27/05/2025 19:13

I told the head and HR that they have made me feel like I’m not good enough which caused my anxiety at the thought of a presentation and failing. * >> I don't think this is adequate to share in a work context, unless the person is your close personal friend.

Everyone in this thread is doing the "you're right, hun" thing, but you sound like a difficult person to work with.

Original poster
KookyPoster · 27/05/2025 19:22

whatwouldlilacerullodo · 27/05/2025 19:13

I told the head and HR that they have made me feel like I’m not good enough which caused my anxiety at the thought of a presentation and failing. * >> I don't think this is adequate to share in a work context, unless the person is your close personal friend.

Everyone in this thread is doing the "you're right, hun" thing, but you sound like a difficult person to work with.

I am not a difficult person to work with, you don’t know me. I get on well with everyone I work with. I go above and beyond in my role and do what is asked of me but sometimes enough is enough when I have highlighted problems which are affecting not only me but the other assistant I work with who has also been and complained.

OP posts:
whatwouldlilacerullodo · 27/05/2025 19:31

KookyPoster · 27/05/2025 19:22

I am not a difficult person to work with, you don’t know me. I get on well with everyone I work with. I go above and beyond in my role and do what is asked of me but sometimes enough is enough when I have highlighted problems which are affecting not only me but the other assistant I work with who has also been and complained.

Show quote history

Ok, then.

CanelliniBeans · 28/05/2025 01:27

You might be perceived as difficult. Either way it seems they are not going to promote you. I’d cut my losses and look elsewhere as there’s a clear message from SLT that you are not going to get anywhere at this school.

Legend1 · 28/05/2025 01:44

This happened to me, i just walked away without looking back. I went to someone else for a job.

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