BS: AAArgh! Give me strength!

Subject: BS: AAArgh! Give me strength!
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 02 May 07 - 01:48 PM

I had a job interview today for a post of Peripatetic teacher for Visually Impaired children. At the interview I made sure that I stressed my involvement over the years with children with various special needs albeit within mainstream primary schools. I didn't get the job - why? Because it was felt that I was not immersed in the Primary teaching sector. I've only been a primary school teacher for 18 years - wonder how much longer it will be before I achive immersion! Not so long back I was interviewed for a post in a special school only to be told that as I worked in mainstream I didn't have enough experience of special needs!!! As a result I spent a few months working in Special schools to gain experience.
Oh well back to the drawing board!

Subject: RE: BS: AAArgh! Give me strength!
From: Wesley S
Date: 02 May 07 - 01:54 PM

It sounds like by the time you're considered "immersed" you'll also be considered too old for the job. Rest assured we like you just the way you are.

Subject: RE: BS: AAArgh! Give me strength!
From: Bee
Date: 02 May 07 - 02:12 PM

There's always something. I know I've lost out in job interviews because the interviewer assumed I was very nervous or somehow impaired. Why? I have a genetic glitch called an Intentional Tremor, which means, when my hands are at rest, they tremble visibly, but when I do something with them (hence the 'Intentional'), the tremor stops. It doesn't impede my functionality in any way, and no one who knows me even notices it after a few meetings.

But how do I deal with it at interviews and the like? Hardly anbody's ever heard of it, so to mention it means a longwinded explanation, and that would sound pretty weird to begin with. I even had a policeman, looking for info on a theft that happened at a party I attended, tell his next interviewee that 'Bee seemed very nervous about something'. Fortunately, the friend was able to tell him I always shake like that.

But good luck, Mrs. Duck! Your day will come!

I've tried having a pen in my hand to fiddle with, but that can look nervous as well. I've given up on finding a solution, just hope the interviewers don't notice.

Subject: RE: BS: AAArgh! Give me strength!
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 May 07 - 02:56 PM

Maybe you should have gone for being "embedded" ala the media in Iraq? **bg** Just kidding...sounds as though you would have been working for idiots, anyway, so there's got to be something better for you coming along. Good luck!

kat

Subject: RE: BS: AAArgh! Give me strength!
From: Leadfingers
Date: 02 May 07 - 03:04 PM

Having been made redundant in a Managerial role , I went as a Temp to a BIG Company as Workshop Time Keeper - I was offered the job as a permanent ,and as we were trying to get a Morgage I took it . After , I was told I nearly didnt get it for 'Overconfidence' as I said I thought I could do the job standing on my head ! I Ask You !!
In my opinion . Personnel - Ooops - Human resources - dont know which way is UP !!
Best of luck next time Jane

Subject: RE: BS: AAArgh! Give me strength!
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 02 May 07 - 05:40 PM

If at first you don't succeed...just keep trying and don't be disheartened.....people don't always get jobs on merit even if they really should....and the excuses given for not taking them on are not always truthful...just keep trying....you will get there at some point...

Subject: RE: BS: AAArgh! Give me strength!
From: artbrooks
Date: 02 May 07 - 06:58 PM

Personnel - Ooops - Human resources - don't know which way is UP! C'mon, Terry - I were one of them for 25 years, and I don't think you're giving us/them enough credit. Of course we do - "UP" is the side the butter isn't on when you drop your bread on the floor!

Generally, the Personnel office doesn't make personnel-type decisions - they may determine basis qualification ("Yep - this guy applying for a job as a physician has a medical degree, alright.") but they mostly process paperwork. The real decisions are made by the direct or second-line supervisor of the work unit where the job is located, according to whatever criteria are most important to him/her/them. The geeks in the HR shop are the ones with the thankless task of informing the unsuccessful applicants and, often, trying to explain to a very highly qualified applicant why he or she wasn't the "best qualified".

Subject: RE: BS: AAArgh! Give me strength!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 03 May 07 - 04:07 AM

It's always the way Mrs D... you need experience in one area so you work there for a while, only to find that when you return to normal working, you're no longer considered relevant. It's almost impossible now to not box yourself into a job. Same as how it's always lack of experience that prevents younger people getting positions in jobs that actually matter, but the only way to get experience is to do the job, which you can't get because... yadda yadda yadda..

Something will turn up... have courage and take care dear.

LTS