The job hunting support thread

[Red Cat]

Just been offered a full time job, even though the position I interviewed for was part time!
I have two more job interviews coming up - not sure what the etiquette is about that - what if I get offered those too?

Great news!

I think you accept and then decline if you then get offered one you prefer. That's the kind of thing that would make me feel guilty but that's what you need to do!

What are the jobs?

 

[chilango]

Any specific area of SEN?

I would've thought art teaching experience and your current role would be a really good mix of skills, plus maturity, outdoor stuff, international experience.

Yeah. Thanks. It's writing that down efficiently that I'm struggling with.

 

[Orang Utan]

Great news!

I think you accept and then decline if you then get offered one you prefer. That's the kind of thing that would make me feel guilty but that's what you need to do!

What are the jobs?

They're all public library jobs. The one I interview for this Thursday is a higher grade/pay and I get to read to pre-schoolers and work with the community more. The one I interview for next week is a more traditional library role. The one I've been offered will involve providing other community services and advice as well as library duties.

 

[Red Cat]

Yeah. Thanks. It's writing that down efficiently that I'm struggling with.

I don't know anything about teaching personal statements and its a while since I've done one for anything. So you need a structure - focus on the micro, the everyday teaching, specific SEN skills, and then zoom out to your broader experience, then link creatively to conclude. Or something

I'm not very good at selling myself either but I think my strength is that I can take a structural and macro, interdisciplinary view of things, have the big picture in mind, as well as attend to the details of my job, and that can provide a structure to a statement too. That way you also show your capacity to make links and relationships, which you'd have to do as a SEN teacher too. Find a theme!

Apologies for shit advice, I'm off sick with post 3 day migraine hangover and trying to be useful

 

[Red Cat]

They're all public library jobs. The one I interview for this Thursday is a higher grade/pay and I get to read to pre-schoolers and work with the community more. The one I interview for next week is a more traditional library role. The one I've been offered will involve providing other community services and advice as well as library duties.

Thursday job sounds good

 

[chilango]

I don't know anything about teaching personal statements and its a while since I've done one for anything. So you need a structure - focus on the micro, the everyday teaching, specific SEN skills, and then zoom out to your broader experience, then link creatively to conclude. Or something

I'm not very good at selling myself either but I think my strength is that I can take a structural and macro, interdisciplinary view of things, have the big picture in mind, as well as attend to the details of my job, and that can provide a structure to a statement too. That way you also show your capacity to make links and relationships, which you'd have to do as a SEN teacher too. Find a theme!

Apologies for shit advice, I'm off sick with post 3 day migraine hangover and trying to be useful

This bit is helpful, thanks!

focus on the micro, the everyday teaching, specific SEN skills, and then zoom out to your broader experience

 

[Winot]

They're all public library jobs. The one I interview for this Thursday is a higher grade/pay and I get to read to pre-schoolers and work with the community more. The one I interview for next week is a more traditional library role. The one I've been offered will involve providing other community services and advice as well as library duties.

When's the deadline to accept? Ask them if you can let them know at the end of the week. Then on Thursday let them know you've got an outstanding offer and ask when they can let you know. Decide then what to do.

 

[Orang Utan]

When's the deadline to accept? Ask them if you can let them know at the end of the week. Then on Thursday let them know you've got an outstanding offer and ask when they can let you know. Decide then what to do.

I've already accepted

 

[Puddy_Tat]

Just been offered a full time job, even though the position I interviewed for was part time!

I have two more job interviews coming up - not sure what the etiquette is about that - what if I get offered those too?

When's the deadline to accept? Ask them if you can let them know at the end of the week. Then on Thursday let them know you've got an outstanding offer and ask when they can let you know. Decide then what to do.

not sure this is a great idea unless you're trying to play two potential employers off against each other for a better deal, which isn't going to happen in the public sector where there's a rate for the job. although i suppose it might encourage thursday organisation to make a decision more quickly.

it's a pain in the tail when this sort of thing happens - and it's usually the third choice job that makes the offer first.

declining an offer because you've got something else possible is not a great idea (unless you're already financially comfortable) - people can and do withdraw after accepting a job. i think technically you're bound by a week's notice once you've formally been offered and accepted, but few employers are going to want someone starting while they are working out their notice. but you don't want to piss people about (you never know when your paths are going to cross again)

presume first job is still conditional on references and all that sort of stuff rather than immediate start, so my inclination would be go along with stuff for the first job (you can take things a bit slowly without being silly about it) and go along to the thursday interview - interviews can be less pressured if it's a case of wanting not needing the job...

and likewise with the one next week, unless it is third choice job, in which case it may be simpler to contact them and withdraw before the interview.

 

[Orang Utan]

all three jobs are in the same organisation, if that makes any difference

 

[friendofdorothy]

all three jobs are in the same organisation, if that makes any difference

you can hardly play them off against each other then. Well done in getting a job! congrats x

 

[friendofdorothy]

I'm off ill and feeling very sorry for myself, but got woken up by a text offering me a second interview today. Which cheered me up enormously.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

I'm off ill and feeling very sorry for myself,

but got woken up by a text offering me a second interview today

 

[Orang Utan]

Had an interview yesterday for another position, but bollocksed it up as I didn't know enough - one question was about an initiative from an organisation, and I hadn't even heard of the organisation, let alone the initiative, so I knew I wouldn't be offered the job. They called to say nah today, but gave me good feedback and advised me to get more front-line experience, which is just as well, as that's what the job I was offered last week will involve. So, I'm slightly disappointed, but not disheartened. I think if I had got the job I interviewed for yesterday, I might have floundered a bit in the role.

 

[starfish]

My contract job has been shortened by a month so i have 4 weeks less than planned to get my next job. I could have done without that. 4,7,8. It will be okay. It has to be.

 

[friendofdorothy]

My contract job has been shortened by a month so i have 4 weeks less than planned to get my next job. I could have done without that. 4,7,8. It will be okay. It has to be.

good luck.

 

[Orang Utan]

I'm still waiting (im)patiently for my references and health check to be sorted. Hating this interim period. Just can't relax until I start the job

 

[friendofdorothy]

I have an interview on 19th but it seems so far away.

Got so pissed off at work today, unsupported by colleagues, underpaid, put upon, taken for granted, moan whinge, etc etc... ranted and shouted I expressed myself very strongly to HR for 10 minutes. Told her I was this close to leaving without another job to go to. I'm at the end of my tether.

I used to love my job. Very pissed off now.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

 

[friendofdorothy]

thanks. Got any reassuring kittens?

 

[Puddy_Tat]

 

[friendofdorothy]

thank you! - I definitely need kittens if I'm not to throw things at co workers tomorrow.

 

[RubyToogood]

thank you! - I definitely need kittens if I'm not to throw things at co workers tomorrow.

(((((dot'smate)))))

I've been fairly gloomy myself... Enquired about an advertised job on Friday with an employer I've worked for before and it's not one I can apply for. Had two interviews and been turned down (albeit with great feedback) for both. I'm on about a zillion jobs by email alerts and go through them daily... there are lots of jobs in my field, specially as I'm now looking at full time jobs rather than just trying to find a second part time one to top up, but mostly either the organisation or the role don't fill me with enthusiasm or my skillset is not quite right, or the location is terrible.

 

[friendofdorothy]

(((((dot'smate)))))

I've been fairly gloomy myself... Enquired about an advertised job on Friday with an employer I've worked for before and it's not one I can apply for. Had two interviews and been turned down (albeit with great feedback) for both. I'm on about a zillion jobs by email alerts and go through them daily... there are lots of jobs in my field, specially as I'm now looking at full time jobs rather than just trying to find a second part time one to top up, but mostly either the organisation or the role don't fill me with enthusiasm or my skillset is not quite right, or the location is terrible.

sound like you need kittens too.

 

[chilango]

Well, I've had an interview. First for a year or so. I hate interviews. Not holding my breath on this one. Gave a decent account of myself, but I'm usually a square peg for round hole type candidate. Oh well.

 

[weltweit]

chilango I don't think many of us are outstanding at interviews, but the more you do the better you get at them. Wishing you success!

 

[chilango]

...and I didn’t get it.

Ah well. Not too upset. But that’s likely that for a few months now till the next exit window.

Any sources for interview techniques? My applications are clearly fine, so something else must be letting me down.

 

[Teaboy]

...and I didn’t get it.

Ah well. Not too upset. But that’s likely that for a few months now till the next exit window.

Any sources for interview techniques? My applications are clearly fine, so something else must be letting me down.

Problem is its so dependent on the field you work in or the role you are going for. I work essentially in sales albeit the wider industry and the tips are always the same:

• Do plenty of research on the company and the role itself (as much as you can do)
• Know your CV inside out
• Make sure you have answers ready for gaps in CV and standard interview questions
• Always have a series of probing questions for them. Remember its a two way thing and they need to be reminded that they need to sell themselves to you as well as vice versa. The better the questions you ask the more serious you are about the role / company
• Always close the interview positively. Ask about the interview process. If you like the job actually tell them and let them know

There are also a few other body language tips that are useful generally in face to face meetings. Assuming you are able to stand comfortably never take a seat in reception when you are waiting for the interviewer to come and meet you. When you meet them for the 1st time it is going to be on the same level not them standing over you and looking down. During the interview don't be afraid to pause, take a sip of water, ask for some time to think. A good phrase to use is 'I'm glad you asked me that', that gets the interviewer on your side because they think they're doing a great job. Make sure you answer the question they asked rather than shoe horn in a rehearsed answer to a similar-ish question. Always take notes.

Of course all these things are specific to the sort of work I do but there are probably a few things in their which are transferable. Oh and course, be on time (that means at least 10-15 mins early) and dress appropriately.

ETA: Unfortunately a lot of these things really only work if you are being interviewed by a manager etc. If you are unfortunate enough to be interviewed by the hated HR then its a merely a tick box exercise so it probably just comes down to luck. If I'm interviewed by HR I never ask for a second interview because it says a lot about the company, that's just me though and my industry.

 

[chilango]

My biggest problem is in answering questions when I don't know the answer (or when I know my answer isn't what they want to hear (which happens depressingly regulalry)

 

[Teaboy]

My biggest problem is in answering questions when I don't know the answer (or when I know my answer isn't what they want to hear (which happens depressingly regulalry)

Are these job specific questions such as questions about experience or subject knowledge? Are they just standard interview questions worded in slightly different ways?