VEC interviews... Waste of time

genieinabottle · 10-08-2009 2:23pm #1

Hey all,

Have two VEC interviews this wk

( over the moon when i got the letters). However iv been told by fellow teachers that VEC interviews are a waste of time because the jobs are already gone or you have to know someone on the inside

. True or false??

How many would be called for interviews anyway?

peewee18988 · 10-08-2009 2:41pm

Hi

I've two VEC interviews this week too, kinda hoping that they are not a waste of time! I heard they interview ten people for each posts and the interviews are really tough. Let's just hope that the jobs are there!

implausible · 10-08-2009 3:34pm

Why do some people love sweeping generalisations and conspiracy theories?!

In some cases, yes, the job may already be gone. Someone who is in the job already may have a better chance and gain more points at interview. This is not, however, the case for every VEC job. Go for it and give it your best shot. If you don't get the job, you may be placed on a panel (as I was) and get offered the next position that becomes vacant.

Good luck!

gaeilgegrinds · 10-08-2009 5:48pm

My first job was in a VEC school, had no experience bar the Dip and was up against some tough candidates. Knew nobody there. I got it. So no truth as far as I'm concerned.

TheDriver · 10-08-2009 8:36pm

same here, applied for a permanent job off the paper and got it. However, most of the time someone already in the school will get it but then they may be looking for someone else after it and if you shine at the interview, they will remember you.
knowing someone? Ah come on, unless your a well known sportsperson etc who could bring obvious benefits, not a hope...

rainbowtrout · 10-08-2009 11:13pm

That's true of a lot of teaching jobs not just VEC ones. Having said that not all jobs are gone. I got my first job and the one I'm still in straight out of college and was made permanent immediately. It's a VEC job and I knew no one, I'm from a completely different part of the country.

Having said all that if you're applying for any of the contracts going with my VEC this week, most of them are already gone because people are already in those jobs. It can be worth trying to find out a little bit about the job if possible.

Actually now that I think of it, I was offered two other jobs for interviews I had attended the same week I got this job, both were VEC

hot chick · 11-08-2009 2:21pm

I was offered a job in a VEC before I qualified because I knew someone, I turned it down to do my PGDE, and now I can't get a job in a secondary school! How ironic, and typical of the way the Irish system works.

gaeilgebeo · 11-08-2009 6:06pm

In some cases the jobs are already gone, i work in a vec school and taught there for 2 years before I was qualified(including dip year). Once I had the dip the principal said I had to do an interview to secure my job there. So a job was advertised and I was coached and went into the interview knowing that the job was in my school. Permanent now thank God.
In a lot of cases in our school, a teacher can already be in a post and the VEC will then advertise the post(stupid I know). Usually if the teacher is performing well in the post, the principal will want to keep them on and thats the main reason people who are in the job get it.
Having said all that, its not the case in every single VEC job. There isn't always someone in a job thats being advertised and sometimes it can be advertised again because they don't want to renew someones contract who may not be performing well. Unfortunatley this year VECs will have their pick of teachers with so many people applying. So give any interviews your best shot!

maynooth_rules · 11-08-2009 7:20pm

The hardest interview I had was for a VEC position. I knew two of the people on the 4 person interview panel, and they have spent a total of 0 minutes in a classroom teaching so i was a little annoyed that they were there asking me questions.

peewee18988 · 14-08-2009 2:10pm

Does anyone know if the questions in a VEC interview are any different from those other second level schools?

Are you supposed to know the structure of the VEC, etc?

peewee18988 · 21-08-2009 8:50pm

Hey

I had a Dublin VEC interview on Tues for an RPT post. Still haven't heard anything back. Am wondering do the VEC call mobiles or do they just send a rejection letter?

Can I assume that they have offered the job to someone else at this stage?

scut · 21-08-2009 10:13pm

Don't lose hope.
I had an interview for a VEC jobs a few weeks ago, I had no connections with the VEC or even the county. I had heard so many negative comments about VEC interviews and I was so nervous.
The interview was really really tough, a lot of difficult questions about my subject, special needs etc. I waited and waited for a call.
9 days after the interview I got a letter to say I was successful. I was so shocked but very happy! Don't listen to the negative attitudes or generalisation.

spurious · 21-08-2009 10:37pm

It's not fair to generalise about the VECs like this thread is doing.

Many of them have a history of converting part-time posts to CID or in the good old days PWT. Of course in such a case there would be a person already doing the job in the school and in with a very good chance of getting it.

gaeilgegrinds · 21-08-2009 11:57pm

I really agree with Spurious here, my interview was tough but I got it with them! I think these types of generalisations are not helpful for people going for interview. Just do your best.

peewee18988 · 22-08-2009 4:20pm

Cheers guys, will stay positive so. Have a few other interviews coming up but really fancied the VEC job. The interview was very difficult but I did quite well. Hope they get back to me soon.

buster13 · 24-08-2009 6:27pm

had my first interview today for a job and it was a VEC interview and was offered the job a couple of hours later so they are not a waste of time!

peewee18988 · 31-08-2009 5:20pm

Hey

Just wondering did anyone get a letter / call from the Dublin VEC today? The application forms had to be in by Friday so I thought the letters would be out today for the interviews?

maynooth_rules · 01-09-2009 6:03pm

peewee18988 wrote: »

Hey

Just wondering did anyone get a letter / call from the Dublin VEC today? The application forms had to be in by Friday so I thought the letters would be out today for the interviews?

Id give them a couple of days. Im sure they spent Monday looking through the applications so it will be at least Wednesday before letters are sent out

TheDriver · 01-09-2009 8:26pm

if its like my VEC, then they will spend the week thinking about looking through them

Were-rabbit · 02-09-2009 3:45pm

gaeilgebeo wrote: »

...In a lot of cases in our school, a teacher can already be in a post and the VEC will then advertise the post(stupid I know). Usually if the teacher is performing well in the post, the principal will want to keep them on and thats the main reason people who are in the job get it.
Having said all that, its not the case in every single VEC job. There isn't always someone in a job thats being advertised and sometimes it can be advertised again because they don't want to renew someones contract who may not be performing well. Unfortunatley this year VECs will have their pick of teachers with so many people applying. So give any interviews your best shot!

The reality is some positions are already filled some are not and worth noting this is not just true in the education sector when it comes to national adverts for employment...

Those who get into sub be it in VEC or any school would be wise to see all opportunities as potential probation for future employment.

As for why they advertise if someone is already in the job.. The VECs as with all schools have no choice but to advertise every position they wish to fill in the national press. This is not only the case in schools and education but in all state paid employment!

Were-rabbit · 02-09-2009 3:47pm

peewee18988 wrote: »

Hey

Just wondering did anyone get a letter / call from the Dublin VEC today? The application forms had to be in by Friday so I thought the letters would be out today for the interviews?

Dont forget An Post is no longer sorting post over the weekend so may take bit longer

peewee18988 · 02-09-2009 5:00pm

Yeah An Post are not working over the weekend anymore. Still thought the VEC would have to have teachers in classrooms this week. Surely if there are any real vacancies they would be ringing people today?

implausible · 02-09-2009 7:34pm

TheDriver wrote: »

if its like my VEC, then they will spend the week thinking about looking through them

Ah no, they'll have to have a meeting about thinking about it first!

One of the biggest problems with the VECs is getting an interview panel together. They will only get the panel together for a raft of interviews, not just one. Added to that, the panel members are nearly always employed elsewhere and have to be given notice of a time that suits. Then.....they give notice to the poor oul applicant:rolleyes:

I once applied for a VEC job in June. I was interviewed the end of August!

VEC interviews... Waste of time

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