Rejection

So, while this job search has definitely been stressful and frustrating, I had never thought about what could happen after the interviews. I know that sounds funny, but I was just so focused on getting the interviews to begin with and handling them professionally, that I did not think about the rejection that could possibly follow.

I had another interview on Tuesday, and it was with the school district that I would really like to work in, if I was given a choice. I was excited about it, because the principal had never even answered my email or anything, so I guess she was holding out, or one of my connections contacted her. I got prepared, and was feeling even better before this interview than my first one (understandable, I'm sure).

I felt like I had some great answers for their questions. I knew the sorts of things they were going to ask, and I was better prepared to answer those things. I know a lot of people write out their answers and things prior to interviews, but that doesn't work for me. I just stress about trying to remember what I wrote down, so instead I just go in and think through what they ask before answering. While the first principal I interviewed with was hard to read and told me he was impressed, I could not read this one at all.

Sometimes she seemed like she was incredibly pleased, and other times she seemed eager to get me out of her office. That wasn't too surprising, since the next interviewee was sitting outside her office waiting for us to finish. I guess she was not as impressed because Friday I got the call; she had given the job to someone else. That was all she said, aside from "thank you, goodbye."

I guess I was not prepared for those words. I knew that rejection was a reality, but I do not have much experience with it. Along with that, the whole job search has me so stressed and upset that I lost it. All my friends from school seem to be getting jobs already, and I've only had two interviews. I'm trying to stay positive, but it is not an easy task.

I still have no heard from the first principal I interviewed with. The position he told me might open up has, and he was supposed to contact me by the end of the week as well, but I have yet to hear anything. I would like to think that might be a good sign, but I'm trying not to get my hopes up. So, back to the drawing board I go in hopes of getting more interviews. Wish me luck!

Tiffany

Interview #1

As most of you know, I have been working very hard to get interviews and things for open teaching positions for the next school year, and it has not been easy at all. I filled out a million different applications for districts and then sat around waiting for calls for interviews. In the meantime, friends from school were posting all over Facebook about how they were getting tons of interviews and I could not help but wonder what I was doing wrong.

You see, at school they did not give us many tips about what to do once you're actually done with college. They never told us how to go about trying to get the jobs and everything. They told us not to email principals, that they would come to us. They could not have been more wrong, though.

I went to dinner with two friends last week, who both happen to be in my wedding coming up very soon. We met in middle school and have quite a bit of history and have been friends since that point. We ended up at the same college, and the three of us graduated the same day. It was wonderful, and I enjoyed going to dinner and talking to them. That day they had both had interviews though (for the same job, eek!) and told me that they had been emailing principals like crazy, and that was how they were getting their interviews. Boy, did I feel behind!

The next day I began emailing principals. It took awhile, since most of the districts have sixty plus schools, which means sixty plus principals that needed to get emails. I was feeling pretty good, even with all of the "Thank you for your interest, but we do not have any openings." responses coming back in reply. However, some asked for my resume or said they would keep my information on file.

Then yesterday, I got a call. The lady assured me that they did not have any current positions but wanted to have a pool of people in case something did open up. I believe I was the first person they called, since they gave me the earliest time this morning, and I was thrilled despite not having any openings at the moment.

I'm not sure that the interview could have gone much better. I left the office feeling wonderful about the whole thing. The principal was nice, as was the secretary. He loved that I was about fifteen minutes early (though I was sitting in the car for about fifteen before that as well). We talked, and he seemed happy with my answers, and at the end he told me he was very impressed with me, which definitely made me feel great. He said a position might just open up, one I'm certified for. I love the school and it's close to the area we want to live, so it would be great.

This is just interview number one, and while it might not be too promising since there are no current openings, I'm already feeling a bit better. Hopefully this will be the start of many more interviews and a future teaching job!

-Tiffany