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Waiting for the call

24

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,666 ✭✭✭smallgarden


    patriciaf6 wrote: »
    I'm getting more and more disheartened after each interview. Teaching interviews aren't great for the confidence when you don't get offered the job! :(

    In June just say to yourself that you were brilliant but the job was long gone to someone already in the job! I travelled almost two hours for an interview yesterday to be made wait for about 40 mins before interview and to be back in my car ten minutes later. Two of the panel didnt even look up when I was answering the first question


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 967 ✭✭✭highly1111


    So I got another call - mixed results.

    I wasn't offered the fixed term as its going to the teacher currently employed. Shocker. However the principal offered me a maternity due to be advertised in sept. Don't know if I'll take it as its a chunk of a commute away and between that and childcare it may not be financially viable but its good to have options.

    Also if anyone has geography with business, let me know.


  • Registered Users Posts: 34 patriciaf6


    That's harsh! It's tough! I just keep telling myself that practices makes perfect! A recent interview was for a job I really wanted and it suited my experience! P and VP made me so welcome and seemed really interested but I just felt the subject teacher wasn't impressed at all!


    Was it much longer after the interview that you got the call highly1111?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 967 ✭✭✭highly1111


    patriciaf6 wrote: »
    That's harsh! It's tough! I just keep telling myself that practices makes perfect! A recent interview was for a job I really wanted and it suited my experience! P and VP made me so welcome and seemed really interested but I just felt the subject teacher wasn't impressed at all!


    Was it much longer after the interview that you got the call highly1111?

    It was the following morning. She was pretty quick in fairness. She was nice. Honestly, I'd take it as a last resort but the commute isn't ideal. I'd do it for a salary but with hourly pay I'll need to do the numbers. It would need to be at least 20 hours a week.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 967 ✭✭✭highly1111


    Just as an fyi the interview I had last week was on Tuesday and I got the no call that Friday.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 107 ✭✭annejohn91


    highly1111 wrote: »
    Just as an fyi the interview I had last week was on Tuesday and I got the no call that Friday.

    What annoyed me greatly, I did an interview last Friday and received no call or email since. I obviously knew I didn't have the job after 3 days but it would be nice to receive an email because for a few days I was waiting around hoping.

    However good news came yesterday, I received a contract for 12 hours plus resource. I was told it would be more than 20 each week which is good because I am only starting out teaching so i'd take 6 hours tbh.

    I think if you don't hear in 2 days after an interview, then the job is gone


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 967 ✭✭✭highly1111


    annejohn91 wrote: »
    What annoyed me greatly, I did an interview last Friday and received no call or email since. I obviously knew I didn't have the job after 3 days but it would be nice to receive an email because for a few days I was waiting around hoping.

    However good news came yesterday, I received a contract for 12 hours plus resource. I was told it would be more than 20 each week which is good because I am only starting out teaching so i'd take 6 hours tbh.

    I think if you don't hear in 2 days after an interview, then the job is gone

    Huge congrats. I got a PFO email this morning. You know things are bad when you're grateful to just get any email though!


  • Registered Users Posts: 34 patriciaf6


    Thanks for the replies on when you usually hear back! Got a phonecall this morning and I've been offered the job! I'll get a written contract early next week and if I sign it is that it? If a job in my old school came up could I take it? Or once you sign on the dotted line? Extremely grateful to be offered a job but when it's away from home there's always that chance that something closer to home might arise!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,674 ✭✭✭Mardy Bum


    patriciaf6 wrote: »
    Thanks for the replies on when you usually hear back! Got a phonecall this morning and I've been offered the job! I'll get a written contract early next week and if I sign it is that it? If a job in my old school came up could I take it? Or once you sign on the dotted line? Extremely grateful to be offered a job but when it's away from home there's always that chance that something closer to home might arise!

    You have to give notice of a few weeks once it's signed but seeing as its during summer it should be fine.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 984 ✭✭✭ViveLaVie


    gaiscioch wrote: »
    There are "plenty of jobs" for a reason. See Teacher stress levels in England 'soaring', data shows (March 2015)


    The money, however, is dire. I was plagued by agency recruiters (how very Thatcherite to create a lucrative group of private teacher recruitment agencies and pay the actual teachers a pittance) until I removed my name from all of them. They were offering the offensive salary of £22k or £23k, and trying to get me excited about getting a few hundred pounds back if I signed up to their company. No recognition for postgrad degrees or anything, and about 6 or 7 weeks more work each year.

    In sharp contrast, I started on €38,000 here. The English system is a yellow pack system with teachers turned into burnt-out, creatively emaciated pen pushers filling in form after form. Unlike, say, financial whizzkids in "the City", teachers and their work are not valued in that society. A massive 40% of English teachers quit their jobs within the first year (2015). There will always be jobs for Irish people in such a system.
    I decided to take the hit, stay in Ireland and do subbing wherever I could get it rather than become one of the many Irish people who return from the English system with their mind and self-confidence damaged.

    As an old teacher always said to me, in Ireland teachers are drawn from the top 10% of secondary school classes; in England they tend to be drawn from the bottom (or thereabouts) 10%. Pay peanuts, get monkeys, and they'll accept monkey conditions.

    You must have started on the old pay scale because the starting salary here is now nowhere near €38,000


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,463 ✭✭✭History Queen


    I had an interview a week ago with an ETB and have yet to hear back. I assume the job is gone at this stage but I thought I would at least have gotten a "sorry you were unsuccessful " letter... i am used to sending applications and hearing nothing back but I have always been notified of success/failure following an interview usually within 2/3 days of said interview.

    Is it common for it to take this long?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,575 ✭✭✭✭TheDriver


    It can depend if the particular ETB is using CORE


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,463 ✭✭✭History Queen


    TheDriver wrote: »
    It can depend if the particular ETB is using CORE

    Thank you for your reply - sorry now if this is a stupid question but what is CORE/what effect has this on contacting candidates post interview?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,534 ✭✭✭gaiscioch


    ViveLaVie wrote: »
    You must have started on the old pay scale because the starting salary here is now nowhere near €38,000

    That's largely because you now don't get allowances for additional qualifications. Like every other teacher who started before 2011 I started at level 3 on this one (€33,041) but I also received the allowances from this one. Inspired by the Tory culture of the English system, the Irish government decided that post 2012 teachers start at Level 1, €30,702, but have no entitlement to allowances.

    With all these "reforms", it seems to be forgotten by many that the qualifications allowances were merely "suspended" in February 2012: "The suspension will stand until the completion of a review by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform."

    Time to start lobbying to end this "suspension", I suggest.


  • Registered Users Posts: 34 patriciaf6


    When you are offered a position and you receive the phonecall and then the letter in the post,are you then to confirm accepting the position in writing? It doesn't state it on the letter!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,575 ✭✭✭✭TheDriver


    Thank you for your reply - sorry now if this is a stupid question but what is CORE/what effect has this on contacting candidates post interview?
    Basically all notifications are electronically communicated through this HR system so no letter from the school


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,575 ✭✭✭✭TheDriver


    patriciaf6 wrote: »
    When you are offered a position and you receive the phonecall and then the letter in the post,are you then to confirm accepting the position in writing? It doesn't state it on the letter!
    Accept in writing, even if its an email


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 356 ✭✭Bobsammy


    Mightily relieved now, had re-interviewed in school last Thursday for the position I'd been in for the last year and was getting very anxious waiting. Contract arrived in the post this morning so I'm feeling much better. Principal didn't ring me though!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 324 ✭✭nermal15


    I've had two interviews in the past two weeks and neither school contacted me afterwards to notify me that I'd been unsuccessful. It's pretty disheartening.


  • Registered Users Posts: 343 ✭✭Heydeldel


    Also waiting to hear back from an ETB; the interview was almost two weeks ago. I'm guessing I was not successful?

    Thankfully, I have another interview tomorrow, so might have some chance at a job for September...


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 570 ✭✭✭Jane98


    Had an interview in a (non ETB) school 2 weeks ago yesterday and still have not heard anything. A complete lack of respect and common decency.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,575 ✭✭✭✭TheDriver


    On a similar note, been interviewing and the number of applicants who just fail to show without even ringing....


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,438 ✭✭✭Crazyteacher


    TheDriver wrote: »
    On a similar note, been interviewing and the number of applicants who just fail to show without even ringing....

    I hope you take their names and don't interview them again in the future!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,575 ✭✭✭✭TheDriver


    Afraid I cant do that however their names will be remembered......


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,962 ✭✭✭r93kaey5p2izun


    So many bad candidates, so many bad interviewers, the whole system just seems like one huge mess that fails to deliver.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 663 ✭✭✭Alex Meier


    TheDriver wrote: »
    On a similar note, been interviewing and the number of applicants who just fail to show without even ringing....

    Interesting

    Why do you think it is that they are not showing up for interview?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,575 ✭✭✭✭TheDriver


    Alex Meier wrote: »
    Interesting

    Why do you think it is that they are not showing up for interview?

    2 reasons- 1 is they already got a job or 2 they realised job is too far away


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 203 ✭✭Delphinium


    Patriciaf6. Getting a job and immediately thinking of holding it just till another comes along is unfair to the school and nd other cadidates.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 11,812 ✭✭✭✭evolving_doors


    Delphinium wrote: »
    Patriciaf6. Getting a job and immediately thinking of holding it just till another comes along is unfair to the school and nd other cadidates.

    Ya I would have thought of that before but now I think you have to be a bit more selfish. Even if the person is 'holding it' and then subsequently rejects it then the other applicants are still in the panel. A friend of mine (diff. public sector work) was number 15 on a panel and told the job had been taken, thought he hadn't a hope. Month later he got offer the position.

    He still regularly goes for interviews left right and centre now.. just for the experience!

    Stuff happens, I'd say there's many a person gets a last minute offer in September because someone else drops out to take a better offer. No point in being nice to any school. If someone gets the job because of a drop out then all the better.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,575 ✭✭✭✭TheDriver


    Gebgbegb wrote: »
    No point in being nice to any school

    Just when I thought I had heard it all.......


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 11,812 ✭✭✭✭evolving_doors


    TheDriver wrote: »
    Just when I thought I had heard it all.......

    It's just the way things work, why should anyone feel 'obliged' to take a particular job if there's a possibility of a better one. This is what I mean by being 'nice' i.e. just to please others before yourself. Like I know teaching is a vocation but it's not as if your a nun and have to accept wherever the mother superior sends you!

    We've seen plenty of cases of folk here bending over backwards under the pretense of "doing it for the good of the school/children" and royally getting shafted year after year with no security of tenure or appreciation for their work.... (20 teachers on part time CID's in one school!)

    Damn sure there's plenty of Principals and DP's out there playing the same game for a better life... and good luck to em.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 530 ✭✭✭chippers


    I agree that you have to look after yourself but maybe some peoples actions are going to far. There was a poster on a different thread who had verbally accepted two posts and was still applying for more positions. Where do you draw the line?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 11,812 ✭✭✭✭evolving_doors


    chippers wrote: »
    I agree that you have to look after yourself but maybe some peoples actions are going to far. There was a poster on a different thread who had verbally accepted two posts and was still applying for more positions. Where do you draw the line?

    Draw the line when you get the job you want not when you get the first job that comes along.

    If the interview boards are sensible they'll have enough for reserves (and try being courteous with a follow up thank you after the interview). If the interview board just has one candidate these days then there's something wrong


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,620 ✭✭✭seavill


    Ah come on you can't try justify accepting two jobs at the same time. Whatever about continuing to search because you never know if you will get another one or not but accepting two is immoral. Weight up both and decide which one is better and continue to search if you want but accepting two and not caring is wrong


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,962 ✭✭✭r93kaey5p2izun


    Employers are treating non permanent teachers like absolute crap these days. The facts speak for themselves - see statistics in the Ward Report. In this climate it can't be anything other than every man for himself so I would recommend every teacher look after number one above all else - because sure as hell nobody else is looking out for you!

    I would hesitate to sign two contracts but not verbal agreements - these aren't worth a damn and can disappear over night. I've seen it happen a few times, leaving those playing fair shafted. This is what the recruitment process has come to.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,575 ✭✭✭✭TheDriver


    A very worrying sentiment........
    Every year on this forum, a generalisation that all Principals, DPs and schools have no morals, standards or decency tends to be the course of advice and action. Please ensure you know who and what you are dealing with prior to taking advice given above-you do indeed need to look after yourself but part of that is ensuring you don't burn those bridges with people who are actually decent.
    To the poster who mentioned 15 on the list-if I had to go to 6 on the list, a new ad would be put up as anything below that isn't proper panelling unless they spent days on end going through it.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,962 ✭✭✭r93kaey5p2izun


    TheDriver wrote: »
    A very worrying sentiment........
    Every year on this forum, a generalisation that all Principals, DPs and schools have no morals, standards or decency tends to be the course of advice and action. Please ensure you know who and what you are dealing with prior to taking advice given above-you do indeed need to look after yourself but part of that is ensuring you don't burn those bridges with people who are actually decent.

    I absolutely agree that not burning your bridges is part of looking after yourself.

    The generalisation that many education employers are messing people around with contracts is backed by facts - see the Ward Report. There are of course many decent schools out there and many decent principals and deputies. But there are many who are far from decent, particularly in certain sectors. If recruitment was done in a decent fashion then there wouldn't be just short of 50% of ETB teachers without secure full time work.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 11,812 ✭✭✭✭evolving_doors


    Hi folks I've sectioned off the union debate to a separate thread HERE. So I think we'll keep this one for 'waiting for the call and accepting position(s) if that's ok!.

    Mod
    ...


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 11,812 ✭✭✭✭evolving_doors


    TheDriver wrote: »
    A very worrying sentiment........
    Every year on this forum, a generalisation that all Principals, DPs and schools have no morals, standards or decency tends to be the course of advice and action. Please ensure you know who and what you are dealing with prior to taking advice given above-you do indeed need to look after yourself but part of that is ensuring you don't burn those bridges with people who are actually decent.
    To the poster who mentioned 15 on the list-if I had to go to 6 on the list, a new ad would be put up as anything below that isn't proper panelling unless they spent days on end going through it.

    Well I wouldn't necessairily share the sentiment that the 'employers' mentioned before this are Principals and DPs. They can only advertise the hours that they have and they can;t magic up extra hours in a subject to give a full time position...

    However... there is a case to be made for amalgamating hours (as was evidenced by Arlisenne's case where there were multiple people with the same subjects being in a permanent 'freeze' after years all on part time hours).

    It was myself who mentioned the 15 on the list. That was for another public sector where there were about at least 100 candidates interviewed!.. so you can imagine the top 20 would be of some sufficient standard.

    And maybe that's the way it should be done for teaching.. one centralised situation where preliminaries place you on a panel and a group is called forward whenever a position comes up.

    As regards 'holding a position' while you look for another job I'd still stick to my guns and say to be selfish. (Although this actually didn;t happen to the poster, they were just contemplating!)
    It's no more selfish than looking for a job while you have a job. Plenty of other folk in the workplace do the same without a seconds thought wher as in teaching your supposed to bite the hand of the first thing that comes along 'for the good of the school.. or 'think of the children' or whatever'.
    Yes, there are risks associated with burning bridges and all that. So a little bit of courtesy and skill (from both sides!) will go a long way

    And before I'm accused of management bashing, I know of 3 DP & P's currently doing the interview circuit themselves, and I know another one who left a new post one October to take up another post that suited their work/life balance better. Is that greedy/underhand/immoral? hell no... good luck to them, they got to see more of their kids with less of a commute in a newish school which they can shape themselves... their replacement was just as good so I don't see anything underhand towards anyone.

    It's a sellers market so I really can't see how any school would be stuck to find a replacement for any candidate. If they've advertised sufficiently and called enough of people then they should at least be able to offer another interview round at short notice with time to look for new candidates as well.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 967 ✭✭✭highly1111


    In relation to waiting for the call I think if they call soon afterwards, you've a great chance. I've gotten two offers recently - both rang the following day. Rejected one, accepted the other. Its only 8 hours but they're my hours. However its privately paid so I've no idea what the route to permanence / security is. I will keep looking for a job with more hours, ideally department paid, but I'm delighted to have something that not someone else's hours - the first time in my career.


  • Registered Users Posts: 39 lulufinn90


    To everybody posting on this tread, please don't give up hope. I applied for around 15 jobs and only got one response. Thankfully it was an interview and I got it.

    I think the hard part is getting somebody to read applications due to the sheer amount of applicants. Also add in the jobs advertised where schools have already decided who they want and it gets harder.

    Focus on writing your application in case it is read. Make it impossible for a school to say no to you (or at least guilty if they have already decided on the candidate).

    I did two years in the UK teaching Maths and for those who are in a position to go. I would recommend it. It is both rewarding and eyeopening and I don't regret the decision to go. Sadly it is not the same as home and I always knew I would not settle there permanently


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 11,812 ✭✭✭✭evolving_doors


    highly1111 wrote: »
    In relation to waiting for the call I think if they call soon afterwards, you've a great chance. I've gotten two offers recently - both rang the following day. Rejected one, accepted the other. Its only 8 hours but they're my hours. However its privately paid so I've no idea what the route to permanence / security is. I will keep looking for a job with more hours, ideally department paid, but I'm delighted to have something that not someone else's hours - the first time in my career.

    From my experience folk on private hours are usually kept there indefinitely unless you argue your case for dept. hours every year if they become available. So forget about dept pension (for what thats worth nowadays anyway!)... read your contract to see if its tied to dept. payscale, be suspicious if they put off giving you your contract to sign (tell them you need it for a bank loan or something). Congrats anyway.. maybe start putting in a request to do resource hrs before sept, at least that will get you on the depts. books.


  • Registered Users Posts: 30 Rainbowshimmer


    Well I finally got the call yesterday. Really happy. It was the secretary that rang me though and not the principal herself. Is that a bit strange?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,534 ✭✭✭gaiscioch


    Well I finally got the call yesterday. Really happy. It was the secretary that rang me though and not the principal herself. Is that a bit strange?

    Nothing strange there. Maith thú/Good for you. And it has to be better than working for that principal who authorised the 10-page application form in that school outside Greystones...


  • Registered Users Posts: 30 Rainbowshimmer


    gaiscioch wrote: »
    Nothing strange there. Maith thú/Good for you. And it has to be better than working for that principal who authorised the 10-page application form in that school outside Greystones...

    Thanks, I'm thrilled! Finally a job with decent hours too. I wholeheartedly agree!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,534 ✭✭✭gaiscioch


    I think it would be a good idea for those of you on part-time hours to have a chat with your principal about ways to save you money/increase your income for the next year. I think if you do it right, you could save money. For instance, I got a 4-day week one year and it allowed me to save money on petrol and stay at home and study for another subject that I added in that year.

    The worst that will happen is that they say they cannot facilitate you for some genuine reason (which also happened me one year), but even then by bringing up the issue you'll let them know you'd appreciate if they could throw extra work your way. Essentially, don't be afraid to broach such an important issue (in a respectful way of course) as soon as possible as timetabling is being finalised now that they're sure of their staff for next year.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 909 ✭✭✭gaeilgebeo


    Gaiscioch, while I agree that the idea of that sounds good, I know it'd be laughed at in a lot of schools.
    Part-time teachers are not top of the list when it comes to timetabling.
    Facilitating a 4 day week can really tie up/affect timetables for the rest of the staff, depending on subjects.
    It can be difficult enough to facilitate job sharers as is.
    I know that one year, we had Irish 3 days per week. 2 doubles and one single,
    This was to facilitate a job-sharer but there was huge uproar and it didn't happen again.
    No harm in asking though, as you said.


  • Registered Users Posts: 30 Rainbowshimmer


    Well I finally got the call yesterday. Really happy. It was the secretary that rang me though and not the principal herself. Is that a bit strange?

    As a follow up to this I have received an offer of an interview from a school in my own county to teach both my subjects today. The interview is not for another week and a half, but I've also been sent out documents to sign by the school I accepted an offer from. I know an interview is just that, but this job woukd be an amazing opportunity for me. On the other hand I don't want to leave anybody down either. I'm thinking too far ahead, I know that, but I'm so confused!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 454 ✭✭aunt aggie


    As a follow up to this I have received an offer of an interview from a school in my own county to teach both my subjects today. The interview is not for another week and a half, but I've also been sent out documents to sign by the school I accepted an offer from. I know an interview is just that, but this job woukd be an amazing opportunity for me. On the other hand I don't want to leave anybody down either. I'm thinking too far ahead, I know that, but I'm so confused!

    Would you consider speaking to Principal of the school you verbally accepted an offer from? I've found Principals are very understanding of conditions and they might be willing to give you two weeks before expecting a final answer and signed documents. If you're luckier closer to home then I'm sure they'll have someone waiting on a call who'd be happy to step in. AND its also a big plus when you're able to point out in interview that you already have an offer from somewhere else!! Don't mention the school by name though, unless they're already on your CV.

    It would be better to speak to school management rather than leave them wondering why it's taking you so long to sign documents. That's just my point of view. Someone with more experience of hiring in schools might be able to offer you better advice.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,135 ✭✭✭mtoutlemonde


    aunt aggie wrote: »
    AND its also a big plus when you're able to point out in interview that you already have an offer from somewhere else!! Don't mention the school by name though, unless they're already on your CV.
    .

    Firstly congratulations on getting the job. I don't think I would be mentioning that I had a job elsewhere in interview. I would be afraid that the panel would say candidate x is good but he/she already has work.


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