Saturday 24 May 2014

Teaching Assistant Interviews

Yesterday I spent all day on an interview panel for Teaching Assistant jobs. We had over 60 applications for 3 jobs. We whittled it down to 24 people to interview in one day. In order to get through this many people there were 3 interview teams and the day consisted of a presentation, an activity and the formal interview. There was elimination after the first two stages so we only interviewed who we seriously considered.

I dislike interviewing because I understand that we are shaping people's lives. It is a huge responsibility to decide whether a person is right for the job, the school, the team but someone has to do it. And that someone is us.

We saw some brilliant teaching and innovative answers to our probing questions but we couldn't take everyone and looking at the day's performance together with the application form and references, we made our decisions. I've been part of the process many times and I always reflect on those candidates we do not choose. How disappointed they must feel, did we make the right decision?

I also think about my circumstances. Have I been making the right career choices? Right now I'm a stay at home mum but I'd love to have a job even if it means compromising my voluntary work. However, four kids, a husband and two cats doesn't leave much time for working in a paid position so where does that leave me?


I'd like to hope we made the right decisions yesterday. I'd like to hope I've made the right decisions about my life and career choices. Interviews always make me do this. It's part of the responsibility I carry. 

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