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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:
Nymphadora · 28/04/2010 19:56

Laurie I meant if he doesn't get it Monday night then they will be scrabbling around for cover on Tuesday am.

itsatiggerday · 28/04/2010 19:59

Hmm, happens in medicine too, even when interviews are consecutive days, you have to accept or decline first one offered on the spot without knowing whether the second will be an option. Haven't found a way round it other than a few people I know who are v self confident and declined the first on the assumption they'd be offered the second! Usually rightly to be fair but it takes guts.

islandofsodor · 28/04/2010 20:04

It is standard practice in the teaching profession to the extent that teachers who have accepted a job then declined it a day or two later because they were awaiting the outcome of another interview, have been blacklisted by the county.

I think it is grossly unfair but it is the way things work.

Sometimes they call the sucessful candidate back into the interview room onthe day and offer it there and then.

MrsGokWantsatidyhouse · 28/04/2010 20:23

DH would like to point out that while it is standard practice nationwide it is NOT standard practice to ALWAYS appoint. YOU have to accept/reject the job, they DO NOT have to appoint if none of the candidates match up. It is apparently normal (certainly for good or improving schools) to reject all candidates (although not that regular as obviously they'd want to weed out poor candidates before then).

bigstripeytiger · 28/04/2010 20:29

Im not a teacher, but it is standard practice in my industry too. It is seen as being poor form to attend an interview for a post that you would not intend to accept, you are expected to have found out enough information about the post beforehand to know if you would accept it or not.

Original poster
LaurieFairyCake · 28/04/2010 20:32

DH would accept either (it's the same job)but he has a preference for the second as it's closer to home.

he can't avoid being called all Monday night and Tuesdau morning though - that would be right fishy

OP posts:
Original poster
LaurieFairyCake · 28/04/2010 20:33

Too true they don't always appoint - dh has failed to recruit 3 teachers this year (they were a bit rubbish)

OP posts:
mysteryfairy · 28/04/2010 20:36

Just to add another perspective when I was a school governor and involved in appointments the whole process of advertising, shortlisting and interviewing was massively time consuming and draining, particularly for senior roles, and obviously all done voluntarily on your own time.

I was once on an interview panel that appointed a head who accepted and then withdrew overnight. To make matters worse it was because she realised the advertised maximum salary was less than she currently earned, as she could have gathered from the job advert before she applied. (She was already a head in a bigger school but wanting a job closer to home.)

Our LEA did not allow her to attend another interview for a post for which she'd be shortlisted the following day and none of the interview panel could muster much sympathy for her at all.

msrisotto · 28/04/2010 20:37

Do they already know he has the other interview on tuesday?

Clayhead · 28/04/2010 20:38

I have had friends who this has happened to who are hospital doctors.

Original poster
LaurieFairyCake · 28/04/2010 20:39

Yes, he has both interviews planned (and the cover arranged for both)

OP posts:
msrisotto · 28/04/2010 20:41

Would the tuesday people rearrange to interview him before his current school? If he explains the situation?

Nymphadora · 28/04/2010 20:43

I wish they would be tighter on this in my area. Last 3 lots of interviews involved a 2 week wait for the candidate to not accept and only on the third lot of interviews did the second place one accept. Took 8 months to appoint then 3 to do checks etc before they got someone in post!

Original poster
LaurieFairyCake · 28/04/2010 20:46

Unfortunately not msrisotto as they are Monday and Tuesday next week so bringing it forward to Friday doesn't give his current school enough notice.

OP posts:
msrisotto · 28/04/2010 20:51

Oh balls.

Would his current school rearrange the interview? If he's going to pull out anyway but doesn't get the other job they might interview him if he's an attractive candidate?

It sounds like he's going to have to decide whether or not to go to the first interview at all.

Hassled · 28/04/2010 20:51

I do a fair bit of interviewing teachers (am a Chair of Govs) and one of the questions I always ask is "If we offered you the job today, would you accept it?". It is hard on the interviewees, but we're usually working to pretty tight deadlines (there's the half-term's notice issue) and are aware of the knock-on effect on the other schools.

We have a vacancy at the moment - we basically have to advertise, shortlist, interview and appoint before the May half-term so whoever we get can give enough notice in their current job. And then that school will be scrapping around to get a replacement for September.

MayorNaze · 28/04/2010 20:52

do the interviews not run over 2 days? not being funny at all, just dh does same job and all interviews round here are 2 days?

it sucks, i agree

Original poster
LaurieFairyCake · 28/04/2010 20:58

Hilariously yes. Both jobs are one day but they will also be a second round of interviews on the second day if he gets through for the first job.

So he could go to his school on Monday and they could put him through to Tuesday (when he's supposed to be at the other school).

OP posts:
bloss · 28/04/2010 20:58

Message withdrawn

bigstripeytiger · 28/04/2010 21:02

Is there any point in him going to the first interview - if he wants the other school more then he is going to go to that interview, and so isnt going to be able to attend the second day of the first schools interview anyway, and so wont get the job, so would it make sense to pull out now, and just go to the second interview?

MayorNaze · 28/04/2010 21:06

it is rubbish

dh has been in similar situations - though actually he has been really psyched for interview and then withdrawn as he hasn't liked the school/panel/vibes etc - though i appreciate that is much more tricky if y our dh's current work place has the first interview

Original poster
LaurieFairyCake · 28/04/2010 21:09

He's likely to get the first interview though as it's his actual school and they think he's amazing. He's applied for it as it's easier than the one he's currently doing.

The second one is much more of an unknown quantity as he doesn't know anyone there and he doesn't know the school ethos. It's much more of a wild card. He wants it the most as we could get rid of our second car and save 3-5k a year and 12 hours commuting a week (plus he would be at dd's school so we would save on her having to go to a childminder).

I can just see us sitting here next week with neither job because of a combination of events

OP posts:
MayorNaze · 28/04/2010 21:11

does he know anyone who works at 2nd school? certainly round here the higher up you get it all gets a bit incestuous and you bump into the same faces or at least get to know people by rep...

lou031205 · 28/04/2010 21:12

My BIL lost one of his first potential teaching jobs merely because he hesitated when he was asked if he would accept the post if offered. The feedback was that they had been keen on him, but his hesitancy made them know that he wasn't committed to that post.

flowerybeanbag · 29/04/2010 10:01

I remember my Dad being in this exact situation - two interviews booked in the same week, he would have preferred the second one. Mind you, that was over 20 years ago, I would have assumed employment practices in public sector education would have progressed slightly since then....

How very archaic and fairly idiotic from a 'get the best candidate rather than cut off your nose to spite your face just to make a point' perspective.

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