I blogged back in October about my decision to apply for some part-time work. Since then I've filled out reams of application forms and, for the most part, heard nothing. Last week I had a surprise phone call - I had an interview at part of the technical college next to the school where my son will be in January. Great!
Then came the stressful bits. The next day was filled with calls from someone in the recruitment office - I hadn't put my maiden name on the application form: there was no space or request for it BUT I had submitted my CV in the initial round (before the recruitment company would send out the application form). Then they left a garbled message for one of my referees and I had to get them to contact her again. Then, what really shocked me, BECAUSE I WAS CURRENTLY SELF-EMPLOYED I had to supply a character reference - not just any character reference, this had to be from a 'professional' who had known me for more than 5 years. (I have since upset many friends and relatives when recounting this - because I didn't ask them!) Of course this was needed immediately so I wasted a day trying to get them to agree to various 'professionals' who knew me - some hadn't known me for long enough, others weren't 'professional enough', then I had to get hold of the potential referee to check they could do it, now!
Today I had the interview - they were running 10 minutes late and then I was left with 3 of the panel whilst the remaining panel member stepped out to talk to the previous applicant again. I didn't get the job.
Throughout the whole process I was struck with how things have changed. My last interview was over 10 years ago and then you were advised to keep your CV to a single page and expand on it in the interview. The applications I have made over the last couple of months require a lot of work and crafting - personal statements and examples in answer to specific points in the person specification. In the interest of fairness all candidates that were interviewed were asked the same 6 questions and there was little room for expansion on that.
So in all I felt a little disadvantaged that I was self-employed - my experience of running my own business wasn't really touched on and in the need for a character reference gave the impression that it was disregarded in my career history. The nerves didn't help either.
At least, if I apply for another, I won't be as nervous about my first interview in 10 years.
Coronation Street Parties Senyru
1 year ago
1 comment:
Well done for getting back on the job-hunting merry-go-round. It's a shame you didn't score on your first try, but if my recent experience with the FE sector is anything to go by (see http://mswellwords.blogspot.com) you probably had a lucky escape.
Life-long teachers are sometimes criticised by their colleagues who used to work in business or industry for their lack of appropriate business-related skills, and FE administrators could, I have found, be suffering from similar problems. Getting references is a classic - they don't appreciate how awkward this can be for those of us outside education. If you're on the inside, references are a dull formality; if you're on the outside, especially if you're freelance, it might involve going back to clients you haven't worked for for several years, or where your contact has since moved on and no-one knows where to.
But you have already passed the main hurdle that many job-seekers apparently stumble over (if the Guardian's weekly jobs section is to be believed) - tailoring each application to the particular job, instead of firing off identikit forms/CVs to all and sundry in the hope that your scatter-gun will hit a target.
Hang in there - I'm sure you'll find something soon. Good luck.
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