After the interview
Story posted: Mar 23, 2005, 15:57Email this article
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In the case of an individual school, you will normally be asked to stay with the other candidates while the panel deliberates. The successful candidate is usually asked back in, and is offered the job. It is important to be clear about your starting salary. Schools now have discretion available over the starting salary of a new teacher and you may wish to try and negotiate.
Agencies will take you on if they are satisfied with your ability, and if your paperwork is complete. They will normally do this subject to confirmation of references and qualifications, so it is helpful to warn referees that they will be contacted by the agency. A good agency might have a number of potential jobs in mind for you, and may discuss them with you after or during the interview. They should be able to advise you on the qualities of the school - good and bad - and they should be objective in their assessment. Watch out for agencies that give their interviewing staff commission for jobs that they fill. They tend to be less objective about their schools.
In the case of a pool system, you will normally be offered a contract with the authority by letter, which you'll need to accept or reject. The problem is that you will not usually be offered a particular school until later on and you will need to visit and meet the Headteacher and possibly a governor. It is likely that the Headteacher will consider several successful pool applicants, so this meeting is in some essences an interview - be prepared to answer a few questions and to ask about the school.
Therefore, you may not:
Be placed in the first school you visit.
Want to accept the post in the first school you are offered. The LEA will generally understand sound reasoning for this, but is likely to become doubtful about your commitment if you turn down more than one or at the most two school posts.
If you've been unsuccessful - it maybe useful to review your interview so that you draw clear learning from the experience. You may be offered a de-briefing by the interview panel - this can be very helpful for future interviews. Remember that all feedback is subjective, so test out each bit against your own view of yourself rather than swallow it all whole. You need to preserve your self-esteem as well as learning a few pointers for next time.
Generally, if you are getting interviews offered to you, it is just a matter of time until you are offered a job. Your application form is obviously working - make sure you keep your self-esteem high.
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