so my daughters teacher from last year contacted me to let me know that 3 TA positions were opening up in the building. so i acted on this and went to the regional office of education, updated my TA license information, and applied specifically to the positions at my kids school. i then got 2 calls from other schools in the county and decided to email the building principal of my kids school to let him know i had updated my stuff (he had asked teacher if i knew my TA license had not been registered and was expiring). the next monday he stopped me outside at pickup time to inform me that he was waiting HR to verify my license and background check then he would be calling me to nail down a time for my interview.
before school started i had an interview for the same position at a different school and was later informed that i didn't get the job.. i can not help but feel like i somehow failed the interview... so my question... how do i nail this interview and get one of 3 open jobs?
Thank you for the helpful responses! i am nervous already! i will update after the interview to let you all know how things went.
i don't need to buy something for the interview, i have clothing to wear.. i asked what to wear last time because it had been about 10 years since i had a job and was unsure of what was appropriate according to todays fashion standards.
i have been contacted by 7 seperate schools for applying for the one job at my childs school.. there are numerous openings for licensed TAs and the last interview i had was not one i applied for, they pulled my name while searching for others.. so with all the openings across the region and with jobs i have not applied for contacting me i am left to believe there is more demand for TAs than there are TAs. (but the school i applied for is a high demand one and folks with tenure usually request it, my only hope is that no one wants to change schools or classes so i can get into my kids school!)
Just a suggestion - buy an outfit or organize one good interview outfit to use for every interview. Because I remember last time you were worrying at the last minute about what to wear.
This is great news!
A lot of the time with interviews, they already have someone in mind before they even begin the process. If it was at another school, I suspect they already had a parent who had helped out that they already had a relationship with. Perhaps there is a process/policy whereby they have to consider applications from outside sources - this is true for a lot of jobs.
So it may have had nothing to do with you at all - you may have aced the interview.
It sounds promising to me (from what you've written here) that the principal stopped you personally to talk to you.
I would just be as positive as you can be. I have hired a lot of people and I pick that over experience (although that's the next thing I look at). Experience tells me they can do the job, but a positive attitude - can do - tells me they will learn it if they don't already know, and are going to do so happily. I would much rather work with a positive person who needs to learn a bit than a cranky, negative person who is an expert.
I'm sure you were positive - don't let the first interview experience get you down. Put out of your mind. Think of what the role involves and think of experiences you've had that shows you'll be great in that role. Give examples. Help them picture you in the role. If you've done it already while helping at the school - tell them.
You'll do great! keep us posted! good luck!
Tadpole
As a recruiter, I can tell you the market is TOUGH right now. While the unemployment rate is low, jobs are less scarce and the employers can afford to be REALLY PICKY about who they select.
What I would hazard to guess is that the other positions were given to people who the teachers knew personally or had more certifications or hours than you.
Ensure you have all your ducks in a row.
Nice presentation of yourself. Properly dressed.
Arrive early.
Arrive with at least 3 copies of your resume and any certifications you have.
Look them in the eye.
Ask questions about them, their classrooms and what is expected of you.
Be prepared to answer how you can handle unexpected situations and give examples of how you have handled similar situations.
Thank them for the interview.
Follow up with a written thank you note for their time and what you took away from the interview - how excited you are for the opportunity.
YOU CAN DO IT!
A friend in HR posted this article. Maybe none of it applies to you, maybe some of it does. It's unlikely that all of it does. But I thought you might get some ideas and ask yourself some questions based on this:
6 Reasons why the interview you thought went well; did not.
Published on September 27, 2018
Mandy Bronsil
Over the course of my career in recruitment, I’ve seen many, many good candidates with potential who, to their own great surprise, fail to get the job following an interview.
They leave the room feeling positive: there was good interaction with the people in front of them, the role seemed well-matched to their experience, all lights appear to be green.
Then, they learn that they were the runner-up. What happened? It’s terribly frustrating to hear reasons like “You just weren’t the right fit” or “We chose somebody more qualified”.
In my experience there are a few very subtle messages sent, or mistakes made, that can put you at a severe disadvantage during an interview. You may never become aware of them, as delivering the feedback related to them may be a sensitive and uncomfortable process. Here are some of the recurring ones I have found:
1. You are very nice
Your Behaviour: You are simply a nice person, and you want to get the job. You come across as friendly, agreeable and pleasant. This is one of the biggest and most invisible pitfalls!
What the interviewer feels: Who are you really? In all likelihood your future employer cannot identify what exactly to expect from you, and therefore has trouble visualising you in the company. Furthermore, he/she is also wondering whether you are able to stand your ground when faced with a situation involving conflict.
Solve the issue: Know yourself well, and don’t be too modest or insecure about showing who you are. Clarify what can be expected of you and what will you do when faced with difficult situations. Be specific and have examples to back up your claims. Your nature as a nice person will always be felt regardless, but now your substance will too.
2. You talk too much
Your Behaviour: Some of us are very focused on “convincing” a future employer we are the perfect match for them. Except that we assume we know their criteria, which of course we rarely do.
What the interviewer feels: Bored. They are listening to a monologue and they can’t get a question in to find out what they really want to know. They will probably stop trying after some time and put an end to the interview, leaving you feeling like you got your point across.
Solve the issue: Train yourself (over and over until you get it right) to answer the question well, and then stop. Just stop! If the answer was not complete enough you will be asked to elaborate. Don’t worry about the silences, just let them sit. Sometimes the interviewer is digesting information or trying to formulate a next question. Sometimes you are being tested. Silence is golden!
3. You have no faults
Your Behaviour: You are asked for your weaknesses, and you come up blank.
What the interviewer feels: This person’s faults are so big he/she doesn’t dare mention them or this person thinks they are perfect. Neither is a winning scenario
Solve the issue: Simply be honest. Think about it during your preparation. If you are having trouble here’s a hint: often our biggest strengths turn into our weaknesses – depending on the situation, they tend to get taken to the negative extreme. State your weakness, give examples as to why it is a true weakness and not a hidden strength you are trying to sneak in, and leave it at that. Nobody is perfect, not you, and not the person sitting in front of you.
4. You are not making enough eye contact
Your Behaviour: All goes well enough, but you are not meeting the interviewer’s eyes enough.
What the interviewer feels: It’s really very simple: they do not trust you.
Solve the issue: Practice meeting people’s eyes wherever you are; in the supermarket, having a drink with friends. Identify when it is easy or difficult for you, and fix the issue. Practice makes perfect.
5. You criticize your (ex) employer
Your Behaviour: The reason for you wanting to leave or having left one or several of your previous jobs was a bad employer.
What the interviewer feels: You are unable to take responsibility for your actions and you place the blame on others.
Solve the issue: Isolate facts, understand what your part was and explain things in a neutral way without placing the blame on either your employer or yourself. Simply state facts. The interviewers will understand the situation and will respect you for your attitude towards your previous employers. It’s how they would want to be treated if you were to leave them one day.
6. You come across as “defensive” or “depressed”
Your Behaviour: These days many people have suffered from a burnout or unexpected redundancy due to restructuring, leading to a period of unemployment, among many other modern-day particularities. Interviewing for a place to come back into the workforce is a real challenge as these events leave you feeling deflated, unconfident and in some cases worthless. You try to make light of the issue.
What the interviewer feels: This person has not got a grasp on themselves yet and is not ready to come back to the workforce. They are too fragile, slightly aggressive and they feel uncomfortable.
Solve the issue: Accept your reality for what it is. You have gone through a rough patch and it was hard. Don’t try to hide it, don’t try to make it seem less than it was, just show you are over it and ready for the next step. Build your confidence, speak to a coach if it can help you but, whatever you do, don’t go to the interview planning to minimise the issue or hope it won’t come up. In all likelihood it will, and if you are fine with the situation and comfortable answering questions neutrally, then your interviewer will be too and will soon move on to the next topic.
When interviewing for a new position, it is normal to come across roles that simply are not suited to you. But if you are left feeling like you don’t understand why you were not chosen despite the fact that the role did seem to be a match, hopefully this list can provide some hints.
Since you have the ear of a teacher in the school you are looking to get hired in - and the principal too - I'd ask them for tips about what they are looking for in the interview.
It can't hurt!
so many job postings have to be posted to give the appearance of fairness, but someone is already tapped to take the position. so don't assume you 'failed' the interview.
you don't want to project a defeatist attitude going into it. the archetype you want under your skin as you stride in confidently is the one who is so impressive that even if this slot IS already earmarked for someone else, you're so badass you're going to blow their minds and they're going to give it to you regardless.
listen carefully. don't over-explain yourself or your position. you want to come off as open and forthcoming, but don't blather on and on.
think beforehand about how to answer 'what are your shortcomings' honestly and yet positively. something along the lines of 'sometimes i find myself being too quiet and yet resentful if there's a conflict. i'm working on finding ways of expressing my opinion respectfully when there's a disagreement instead of fuming quietly.' let them know you're aware and also focused on continual improvement.
and in the end, if you don't get it, don't assume that it was you. bureaucracies are everywhere, and they're maddening and rarely fair.
khairete
S.
I really don't think it's you. I would believe that other parents that have TA experience, have the ear of other teachers too. They have to interview people so that they can say they did their due diligence, but they probably had someone in mind already.
