Need to "relaunch" myself at work!

[glinda]

I am a reception teacher and SENCO at a lovely school. In about 9 months to a years time a fantastic new job will begin at my school. This is a one off high profile permanent position working in a field that I am passionate about. I NEED to get this job!

I have never been the ambitious type re my career but this is just a dream job. I have arranged for lots of relevant training over the next couple of terms but I don't know how to do the neccessary politicing and networking that I suspect others may be up to.

My head is behind me but agrees that I will need to develop my confidence if I am to be appointed. I tend to get nervous and go blank in interviews or inpections. I know, and my head knows, that I can do the job but I need to impress a few people - Governors and LEA bigwigs mostly - over the next few months incase the nerves get hold at interview.

So ladies I need ideas of how I can:

1. Develop my profile and image at work now
2. Get control of my nerves

Please help!

I wish I could help .. bumping for you. Sounds like the headline of a v interesting article in the Telegraph! I hope you get some good ideas. Am so cynical personally it just sounds like a lot of sucking up is needed but I'm sure that's not true and am just being a tired old bag.

My one suggestion will be to literally phone people up and say "I want to talk to you about this job" ie not be shy about it. It always works in my field (not actually working any more but you know what I mean) -- in fact interviewers ask you who you've spoken to about the job.

Ask them what they will be looking for in the person who gets the job, how big a remit they envisage it having and so on. And ask them who else you can talk to.

I'm sure they will be impressed by your chutzpah and if you have prepared well for each conversation, and come over as serious, mature and ambitious, they will be aware of the dedication which has made you plan this far ahead.

Thanks SMT, "serious, mature and ambitious" is how I would like to come across but I panic and almost stop breathing when I am really nervous.
I am seriously thinking about trying hypnosis. Has anyone found it useful for nerves?

One thing that has worked well for me in the past is to go through the job or people spec in the advert and address, point by point, the criteria (possibly on a spreadsheet, or maybe that's just me ) and exactly how you meet them. Then if you forget, or don't have time to address all these points in the interview, they can go away and look at them. Also helps to prepare you metnally for the interview. Got me a great job two years ago, one which I shouldn't have had a hope of getting!

Glinda I get terribly nervous too and the only thing for me that works is thinking -- "it'll all be the same in a hundred years" pretty useless I know! I have never tried hypnosis. I think practice will help. Find a sympathetic person who knows about this stuff and see if they can give you a couple of really tough interview sessions nearer the time.

and ask them to be honest about where you need to improve!

just as a side order: preparing well for this job will improve your profile at work even if you don't get it, and will make your mark for the next big promotion.

I already have the job spec. Did you actually present the interviewers with your spreadsheet or send it in with your application form? Perhaps I should begin that now and have it as a work in progress through the year? That way I have time to fill in any gaps before the applications go in.

How can I tackle my nerves though? Do you think that desensitization techniques might help? Force myself to give presentations to groups of parents, governors etc? I might work , but it feels very high risk.

SMT, The trouble is that it is very specifically this job that I want. I really want it much too much. My lovely head will arrange for someone to practice with me (She will be on the interview panel so she can't do it herself)

I gave them the spreadsheet at interview, and kept a copy on my lap. It also meant if they asked any horrific questions I could just refer to it.. (ie 'tell me about yourself' or 'what makes you the best candidate?')

bump

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i think you have two separate issues - one showing you can do the job, and one just your general confidence and interview practice. if your head is behind you, then you obviously can do the job (btw you dont say in whose gift the appointment is - hers? do the governors have a say? sorry not a teacher dont know how this works). just concentrate on doing a good job of your basic job and look for opportunities where you can volunteer to do extra things or take on extra responsibilities that would show you are ready for a promotion. make a note of things you ahve done where you have gone the extra mile that you can refer to in interview. if the role demands skills that you dont' currently have or dont currently have a chance to show you have, try to find ways of using these skills in your current job or acquiring them. if the head is on your side, ask her what she thinks the job requires above and beyond yours/what they are looking for/what you can do to improve your candidacy (never hurts to show you're keen) and try to boost your experience in the areas she suggests.
as for your general confidence the best thing you can do is loads of practice interviews. get a friend (ideally one in teaching but if not anyone sensible will do) to stage a mock interview with you so that you can practice all your answers to the questions that might come up. even practice stuff like walking in and out of the room confidently, smiling and shaking hands, what you will say when you leave etc - stupid things but will stop you worrying about them
lastly, you obviously can control your nerves because you're in front of a class all day - what do you do when you're working to show authority/remain calm if there's a flap/etc? you just need to repeat that trick at interview.
oh, and if the answer is your class are all five yearolds so you're not scared of them, just imagine when you sit down fro the interview that you are in front of a panel of fiveyearolds and you wont find them so scary. good luck.