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Original poster

Just because this is 'standard practise' doesn't make it fair! Help me think of Machiavellian ways round this

54 replies

LaurieFairyCake · 28/04/2010 17:45

DH is a teacher, he is going for Deputy Heads interviews next week. One Monday at his current workplace, one Tuesday at another.

He is resigned to the fact that on Monday if he gets offered the job they will expect him to take it immediately and not go to the interview the next day. And if he doesn't they will immediately offer it to the next person on the list.

Meaning that he can't go to both and weigh up his own options

In no other job does this happen as far as I know.

I've said to turn his mobile off (if he can escape out the door at the end of the working day before they 'catch' him) and I'll say he's out at a meeting if they call in the evening.

Anyone else think of anything good?

OP posts:

APassionateWoman · 28/04/2010 17:47

It seems so unfair! Maybe he should just accept Mondays job if offered and then if he gets (and prefers) Tuesdays offering he can call Mondays lot and say he has had a change of heart. I would.

Original poster

LaurieFairyCake · 28/04/2010 17:48

Oooh they'd go nuts! It's very frowned upon - and they wouldn't let him go to the interview the next day anyway.

OP posts:

Rockbird · 28/04/2010 17:53

That does sound daft. i interviewed someone at the end of March and offered them the job at the end of March. After lots of humming and arsing about, she came back after a fortnight and said she was having a interview for something else yesterday so she would let us know after that (i.e. today).

Personnel agreed to this bollocks. I desperately need a member of staff in that post and I think she'll get the other job so I've wasted two months only to have to do it all again. I'm bloody furious about it. I know your DH is only waiting a day so of course that's stupid but I get where they're coming from a little.

hatwoman · 28/04/2010 17:53

Are you sure it's standard practice? I wouldn't expect to accept a job offer on the spot. I think it's entirely reasonable to ask for 24 hours to "think about it". or, alternatively, it's reasonable to say that you have some questions about the details of the job that you'd like to discuss before making a decision. and ideally you'd like to discuss them tomorrow. I really don;t think they can retract the offer if he responded like this. I have no experience of teaching though - maybe they're a bit more tyrannical...

scurryfunge · 28/04/2010 17:54

Which job would he prefer? He must know quite a bit about his own school. I suppose it's a question of what offers greater opportunity. Does the second school know he has another interview first? If he is a preferred candidate they might offer an earlier interview....though it's short notice.

squeaver · 28/04/2010 17:54

If he was off sick on Monday, would they have to postpone the Monday interview? Could it be postponed until Wednesday if he was still "ill" on Tuesday?

Then he could still be ill on the Tuesday and go to the 2nd i/view.

Does that make sense?

Original poster

LaurieFairyCake · 28/04/2010 17:58

He wants the other job (not the one in his school) but it's too short notice for his current school to rearrange his classes so he can have the interview at the other school first (they are all-day things).

He was really hoping that they would be the other way round time wise!

In the job he's in now he had to accept it on the spot even though he'd been for two interviews on the same day. The head said to him for this job - "I called you first, you have while I'm on the phone to you to accept it."

I've worked in 5 industries and it doesn't happen anywhere else that I know.

OP posts:

Original poster

LaurieFairyCake · 28/04/2010 18:02

He would never call in sick - he still has 3 members of his team stranded due to the volcano.

OP posts:

scurryfunge · 28/04/2010 18:07

If he is likely to succeed in the second school and he feels he is likely to be offered that job, I would place emphasis on that job only and withdraw from his own school interview if he really doesn't want to give an answer on the day and it's not his preferred job anyway.It's a massive risk but it seems unreasonable to force a decision there and then.

bloss · 28/04/2010 18:21

Message withdrawn

squeaver · 28/04/2010 18:48

Bizarre. Completely bizarre.

HerBeatitude · 28/04/2010 18:54

I am very surprised that this is standard practice. What do the teaching unions have to say about htis?

You mean you're not even allowed to say "I'd like to discuss this with my husband/ wife?"

squeaver · 28/04/2010 19:01

Could you have some kind of family emergency on Monday evening that means he can't answer the phone or, if he does, "just can't think about it at the moment, I'm sure you'll understand..."

You see that could also continue into the Tuesday.

(But you may not want to tempt fate...)

hatwoman · 28/04/2010 19:23

sounds like a bully to me.

fanjolina · 28/04/2010 19:25

this is normal for all teaching jobs as far as I know. You are only expected to turn up for interview if you are prepared to take the job, if offered, on the day.
It is certainly the way it woks in Hampshire for all teaching positions (NQT upwards).

HerBeatitude · 28/04/2010 19:26

Why is this standard practice?

Don't teachers mind?

Doesn't it occur to them to get their unions to do somethng about it?

It seems the most appallingly unreasonable employment practice.

Nymphadora · 28/04/2010 19:31

Surely they won't call until Monday night if he gets the job and if he hasn't then he will be attending the interview on Tuesday. Would they really wait until Tues am to arrange cover for Tuesday? So cover should already be in place.

hotbot · 28/04/2010 19:34

yup, standard practice here for teacher dh too they have always let him know at the end of the interview day face to face. tis pants......

JustAnotherManicMummy · 28/04/2010 19:35

I think he should proceed with both interviews and if he gets the "you take it now or I offer it to someone else" call his bluff.

"If you think I'm the best candidate for the job you can wait 48 hours for me to think about this and discuss it with my wife."

If they want him they'll wait. And if they don't you don't want them anyway.

Original poster

LaurieFairyCake · 28/04/2010 19:40

Nymphadora - no, cover would be arranged, that's not the problem - if he accepted the job he would not be allowed to go to the other interview the next day.

Justa - they are not bluffing - it isn't about whether they want him or not, it's just standard practise and utterly stupid.

Glad to see it's standard practise in other counties

OP posts:

earlyriser · 28/04/2010 19:41

I've been to interviews for teacher posts where the first question is 'if you are offered this job today will you accept it?'. I mean what are you going to say?!

Ivykaty44 · 28/04/2010 19:43

It isn't the only job/carer it happens in

i know of one other that if you apply you are expected to take the job if offered you don't turn down if offered at interview...

alwaysdancing · 28/04/2010 19:45

It's definitely standard practice for teaching jobs - at the end of the interview, they ask if you're still a "firm candidate", then they usually ring their preferred candidate later and offer them the job. You are expected to accept or decline it there and then, although many schools would, I imagine, be sympathetic if the person needed a bit of time to think about it for some reason. Clearly not all of them though!

After several years as a teacher and having had 3 teaching jobs, I (and all the teachers I've ever asked) still have no idea why it's acceptable practice!

I'd be very tempted to sneak out and go down the "family emergency/uncontactable" route for the evening.

HerBeatitude · 28/04/2010 19:45

God, are schools really not prepared to wait for the best candidate?

That doesn't fill me with faith in the education system...

EggyAllenPoe · 28/04/2010 19:52

don't answer the phone?

could he avoid being called for long enough to take the other interview?

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