I swear, I must be cursed!! The principal called me today regarding the RSP job I interviewed for and she said that she was impressed with me and interested in hiring me, but the HR person told her she is having trouble getting in touch with my references! The only 1 who responded was my friend/mentor teacher that gave me the head's up last night! My former principal has not returned her calls and neither has another employer. My principal is now retired and I fear she is traveling or something! She wrote me a great letter of rec. when I left and we have often kept in touch through e-mails over the past 2 years. I called her house today and left a message, but I know she would have returned the HR person's call if she were around. What do I do??!!! I am so afraid that I am going to lose this job because she can't reach people!! The other person is a supervisor from a job I had for 1 year back in 1999. That woman may be gone or not even remember me! I called the HR person and left her a message, but she hasn't called me back either! I'm wondering what I should/could say to her? I'm going to offer to fax her my letters of rec., but the principal at the school said she wanted to talk to direct supervisors I've had. Well, I had the same principal for 6 years! She was it!! We had a VP for a couple years and she retired, but she wasn't my evaluator! Help! What do I say/do?? I can't believe this is happening to me! Thanks guys!
I know the feeling. My references are at least 6 years old, I have no letters of recommendation, and one of them is traveling the world right now. He's a safety instructor and is traveling through Figi, Australia, New Zealand, etc. Luckily they haven't called me for interviews yet. Hope things go well for you.
Can you email the principal and ask her to get in touch with them or leave you a more up to date contact number? Is there another teacher from that school you could contact to see if they know how to currently reach the principal? Is there a different reference you could use in place of the one from 1999? When you talk to the HR person let them know the situation and that you are trying to work it out. Ask them if they could try to contact the principal by email. Good luck!
Can you have a former coworker call? I know they're ideally looking for supervisors, but maybe a coworker can vouch for you.
I just got off the phone with HR person and she was very firm with me about what was needed. No letter or other person will do. She wants to speak with my immediate supervisor-principal-that I listed and that is it. She is the only person who observed me and my mentor teacher was the other one and they spoke with her. I am so afraid that my old principal is traveling. She always loved to travel and now that she's retired, I fear that is exactly what she is doing. I have her home phone number and just get the machine. I left 2 messages, and also e-mailed her. I just can't believe this is happening! They are not going to wait too long and if I don't hear back I am out of luck. I could just cry right now. This has to have happened before to others. It just does not seem fair that I could lose a job because my reference is not around right now.
Could you call your mentor teacher or the school where your principal retired from and get her cell phone number? Just explain your situation and they should be more than willing to help in any way they can.
My mentor teacher does not have that info. I checked with friend who taught there and knew her and they only have what I do, her personal e-mail and home phone. The people I worked with are not even at the school anymore. I feel horrible. I am just hoping and praying that she gets her e-mail or checks her messages this weekend and gets back to me. Thanks for the support/advice
Could you maybe call the school where she retired from and get the information from there? Surely someone would know her cell phone.
This doesn't seem right--it's a bunch of beaurocratic read tape! Does this HR lady have a supervisor who could be a bit more reasonable? Maybe you could go over her head to reason with them. Maybe the principal that is hiring you could pull some strings? That really sucks!
Thanks guys. It is all so frustrating. I talked to an old friend who works for the district and she told me that this HR woman is VERY by the book and doesn't bend. She doesn't want letters and insists on speaking with references. All I can do is hope my old principal calls me back or e-mails me this weekend and that I can pass on the info to her. My hands are tied. I feel it is so unfair, but my friend said that this district is like that and that she knows this firsthand. They are sticklers. Unfortunately, in 6 years, I only had one supervisor. And she is MIA... I really appreciate all the good wishes and please keep fingers crossed and good vibes for me to get in touch with my old principal soon! This position is an awesome opportunity and in a city I am familiar with and they even pay SPED teachers a monthly stipend!! I will be devastated if I miss out and am trying to stay positive and think good thoughts, but it's hard. Thanks again guys!
Having just gone through my own HR nightmare, I feel for you, believe me. Hang in there. I am sure your P will check her messages, even if she is traveling. She will get in touch with you and this will all work out.
I'm soooo scared now! I only have two 'real' references - my undergraduate advisor and a manager from *Burger King* when I was back in high school. My most recent job was temp work scoring standardized tests, I didn't really have a supervisor, certainly not one who knew my name. The only other job I've ever had was with a company that has since folded. And really, it's worse than that - my advisor is in the field for an unknown period of time, out of regular contact. When he was in India one winter, his wife didn't know for sure he was OK after the tsunami for nearly two weeks. And my Burger King manager moved to another store, and though I've tracked him down, it turns out he's out because he's got surgery next week. I immediately called him at home to make sure he was OK, but I couldn't bring myself to mention the fact that I only looked him up because I needed a favor. =( It's eye surgery, btw, and he sounded rather depressed and now I'm worried to boot. Anyway, sorry to vent in your thread - but I hope you find a teeny bit of comfort in the fact that someone else feels your pain.
Spedteach: is this the interview you had with LA UNIFIED? I ask because it sure sounds like typical HR people that I have dealt with. They are very by the book, almost to a fault. :unsure: Is there any other HR person in that monsterosity of a district that you could speak to in regards to this? Seems like this particular person is being a bit strict. I know that you don't necessarily want to "go over her head" either, so it's a touchy situation. I'm hoping the best for you because I know how much you want a job in sped!
No, this is not with LAUSD. It's another district and my friend who works for them said this lady is like that. She is the main HR person and has a reputation of being by the book and will not bend. I still have not heard back from my principal. I am just waiting to see what happens this weekend, and hoping and praying to hear back from her. This is just the worst thing that could happen and it makes me wonder about how these districts operate! I have 3 great letters of rec. from people and she doesn't even want them! She just kept saying she needed to speak with a "real" person. That just rubbed me the wrong way somehow. Thanks for the support Nasimi!
Spedteach: Hang in there. The right job will come. I know, I'm sick of hearing it too....and yet deep down I know it's the truth. Maybe this isn't even the job for you, if they are being so difficult, who knows. I'm just sorry that the HR person is being so stubborn. I can totally understand how frustrated you must feel. Seems to me they should be A LOT more flexible. I mean hello, people do go on vacations and move. I agree with you. A lot of these district's "hiring practices" these days leave much to be desired. I think because it's an employer's market they almost treat us job seekers like hungry sharks waiting for any slab of meat to be thrown into the tank. It's quite demoralizing. That said, hang in there and know you're worthwhile and eventually a group of sped students will be fortunate enough to have you as their teacher. Maybe go for a walk, make some coffee, do something for yourself today.
I have no advice for you, but I want to say hang in there and if this is the job for you everything will work out. Try to leave it in God's hand and all will be fine.
The Latest Thanks guys. Just thought I'd fill you in on the latest, as I can't believe this whole thing! So, I was able to dig up my old principal's cell phone number. I called her yesterday around 1 pm. It went straight to voicemail, so her phone was obviously turned off. I left a detailed message and asked her to please get back to me as soon as possible. Never heard back yesterday. It's now Sunday, and I don't know what to do? Do I call her cell again today and leave another message? Won't that be considered nagging? I almost wonder if something is wrong, because I just don't get it... Then, all I can think about is what happens with all future jobs I apply for? I applied for LAUSD jobs and they want her to fill out this long form and fax it to them before they will even put me on the list! Or, what about any other jobs? If she is gone or can't be reached, this is just going to keep happening! Has anyone ever had their references move or not be able to be reached, or worse--die?? What do you do in that case? This has to have happened before? Thanks again guys!
My old boss at the college retired and moved out of the country and is impossible to reach. I've used others in her place along with a letter from the campus president describing the situation with the retired boss. Some people have accepted that, others haven't.
I agree with BSU. Pass the cell phone number along to HR. She will see that you are doing everything in your power to reach your old principal, and she will also see how the call goes straight to voicemail. It can't hurt.
The problem is that she doesn't seem to be around or checking her messages at all! The HR person already left her a couple phone messages on her regular phone. She told me to call her and try to reach her and have her call them back. We had a great relationship and even after I left and she retired, we've e-mailed occasionally and I've spoken to her on the phone a few times in the past 2 years. That is why I fear something has happened, or she is on some long trip or something and can't be reached! I just don't know... I know she would return my calls if she was getting my messages. My question is if she can't be reached, what can I do? I imagine others must have had their references move, not be reached, etc. This can't be the first time something like this has happened!
Another Update! Well, the prayers and good thoughts worked, because I called my old principal again this afternoon and I reached her!!! She told me she just returned from a trip late last night! I feel so much better after talking to her! She was encouraging and told me she would call the HR lady tomorrow morning! Now, I just need good thoughts about actually getting officially offered the job! Thanks everyone and please continue to keep fingers crossed for me!!!
Thanks STG! Now, I just sit and wait to hear something! I would imagine I'd have to hear in the next few days. I feel like this is the most painful part and I hope I make it! It is out of my hands now... Thanks again for all your support.
I was elated to hear that you finally reached her. I am glad that this worked out for you. I could read your agony as I read your posts. I knew that it would work out for you.
Oh I am so happy for you! Try to keep your chin up- you've waited this long! Good luck and please keep us updated!
As I was reading this thread, I was on pins and needles hoping something would work out! So happy hear it has worked out and you got ahold of her!! Hopefully the HR person will be around tomorrow to get her call! Fingers crossed they offer you the job!!
Thanks everyone! I am a nervous wreck and hoping and praying to find out for sure-one way or the other-soon! I keep imagining that this is going to be strung out and I will keep waiting and wondering! But, I'm trying to be positive and if it's mean to be, it's meant to be! Thanks again for all your kind words and support. It means more than you all know. The only thing that has kept me sane through this job hunt nightmare has been this board and you guys who understand and feel my pain!!
I am so happy you reached her . Nothing but good thoughts coming your way. Please let us know how it works out .
I think I really connected with your plight because this is something that could happen to any of us ... and we are all so committed to working in education - as teachers, paras or subs. Can't wait to hear how this goes!
