Finalist Frustrations: Second Prize, Unemployment
I was recently a finalist for a probationary, tenure track teaching job at a school I very much admire. It came down to two people. Needless to say, I'm not celebrating anything. Somewhere across town, somebody is celebrating, preparing to start the new school year in a comfortable district with the prospect of a rewarding 30 year career looming over his or her head.
My first interview went extremely well. I was interviewed by a five member panel of administrators and teachers. I felt welcome at the school and completely at ease when I sat down across from the panel and began answering their questions. I did not stumble, I did not fall. Everything worked. My attempts at humor found an audience. My soundbites for specific questions landed softly in the ears receiving my answers. It's always nice to see one's little phrases written down in the blank spaces on the interviewer's sheet. Panel interviews are often intimidating. I worked the crowd, made a lot of eye contact, and addressed specific questions tailored to each panelist's specialty at the end of the interview.
I sailed through the first round. There would not be a demo lesson for this position, but I was kind of hoping for one as I do like to showcase my skills when possible. My name was passed up to the district office, and an interview with the Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources was scheduled. Next stop: recommendation to the Board of Education and subsequent appointment to the probationary position.
I prepared for my interview with the Assistant Superintendent by combing the district website for talking points I could reference in my interview. I arrived a few minutes early and spent time talking to a 4th grader while she waited for her mother to get out of a CSE meeting regarding her brother. She showed me some drawings she made during her wait and we talked about her favorite subjects in school. A few minutes later, I met the man responsible for making a decision on my career.
He asked me about five questions, all of which I answered without hesitation or confusion. The interview lasted about 15 minutes. I asked him a few questions at the end. I needed to know the next step in the process, and he delighted me by letting me know that I would hear from his office "one way or the other" sometime tomorrow about the job. He told me that he makes a recommendation and throws the final decision back to the original panel. Thinking that I did well at both interviews, I figured I had an excellent shot at this job. I got my hopes up.
The next day, I received a call while teaching Summer School. I couldn't return the call for at least an hour, but I would definitely squeeze it in before everyone went to lunch. I called the district office and the phone just rang, rang, rang. I left a message with the secretary. I'm hoping to hear back from her in a little bit. The anticipation is killing me. I waited two hours before trying again. Went to her voicemail. I tried back around 3 PM and finally talked to the secretary. She wanted to inform me that I did an excellent job at my interview but unfortunately, the district chose the other candidate.
I was crestfallen. I threw myself a pity party. I let the realization sink in, and I took a few days to dismiss the negativity and find something positive about the experience. I finished second out of a few hundred candidates. That's nice. I did well at two interviews, managed to impress a few people. Also nice. Perhaps I made a lasting impression that will work in my favor should I interview in that district again.
This all happened over a week ago. I didn't want to write about it while I was angry. This was not my first time as the finalist for a job, but it was the first time when it truly mattered. It was the job I always pictured myself having. I want to work in a nice district with some functioning lab equipment where I can excel at my job. I want to learn from others and become the best teacher I can be. I'll keep trying a little while longer, but I may have to hang those dreams up to dry if the current teaching job market in WNY stays permanent.
Thank you for sharing your experience. It is nice to know, and to identify with, how other searching educators are feeling too. I genuinely feel your disapointment and frustration.
The same exact scenario happened to me as well, about two weeks ago. I had two interviews, that both went very well, with a great district. Although it was only for a long-term sub position, I had a 50% chance of getting one of two openings. There were originally 8 interviewed; then four of us asked back. So two people ended up with a job, and two did not.
Obviously, I was one of the two who didn’t get the job. They told me they would give me their decision as soon as the day after OR, sometime after the 4th of July holiday. That’s a bit ambiguous of a timeline. Once vacation time settled by, I began to panic. I made calls to other districts to “check upon the status of the position,” but I just couldn’t bring myself to hear the news for the district I really wanted a job with. I finally called….no one called back. Three days later I called again, leaving msgs with the middle school and the district office. God bless, a sweet woman who had just started in the district office told me she would find out. She did, but only to tell me a letter would be mailed either way. I had already been searching the mailbox up to that point, and ironically enough, the rejection letter came that very day. I was so crushed. I had a pity party too.
The pity party unfortunately carried on. Since then, the status of jobs I applied to in WNY have only revealed bad news for me. I filed for unemployment, finally. I also accepted the fact that I will have to most likely move away from my family, yet again, to stay in the field that I love.
The past two weeks have been pretty depressing. Last week was just plain ugly. I don’t think Ive ever felt that crappy in my life. I had to get ok with preparing myself to relocate again. Interestingly enough, a middle school counseling position opened up in NYS, @ 6 hours from here. It needs to be filled immediately. It’s also in an area that I am actually excited about!
Here is what I learned: even if that job doesn’t work out, it doesn’t matter bc seeing that posting, gave me something very valuable. HOPE.
For everyone else out there searching, don’t give up your passion. Keep searching. Know that if an interview didn’t work out, or if you weren’t considered for an interview that you thought you would definitely get (this happened to me as well this seaason), that means that there is a MUCH better fit for you out there. And you will find it. It may require that you step out of your comfort zone, but there will be a meaningful purpose in it happening…just for you.
Thank you to whomever you are for running this site, and sharing your job searching adventures! It allows readers (at least it does for me!) an anonymous outlet to share and identify with. I think all of us who are in this boat should get together and write a book of these stories!
Good luck to us all…..!!
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I too am feeling completely rejected lately. As I recently entered the market as a “mature candidate” I knew it might be difficult but I always believed that the market for science teachers was good. I thought at least I’d have a realistic shot at a job, but only half of what I apply for I get called for an interview. Ugh. Very frustrating. I might be rethinking my masters plan (if i can afford to get one!)