My interview was this afternoon. I feel like it went very well. In any case, I wouldn't change a thing that I said. I went into it thinking I already have a job, I don't NEED this one. Therefore, it's up to the committee now...if it's meant to be, it's meant to be! The timeline is moving fast-they interviewed 5 today (2 hours each!), then they are making a decision tonight (with 7 on the panel, it's tough to get them all together, so they want to make it tonight). They'll forward the choice on to the VP of something or other tomorrow, Thursday call references, and possibly let the candidate now Thursday or Friday! Argh, now to wait! A few weird questions, although I know why they asked them. First: <from my prospective boss> If I drove the 75 miles over here to take you out to lunch at a restaurant, and you ordered a hamburger with ketchup but got a cheeseburger with mustard, what would you do? My answer: There are some fights that are worth fighting, but cheeseburgers aren't one of them. I choose not to die on cheeseburger hill. Plus, if you drove the 75 miles over here, I assume we have more important things to discuss than cheeseburgers. So, as long as it was tasty, I'd eat it and get over it. His follow up: How many quarters stacked up would it take to equal the height of the Empire State Building? I figured this was a logic/problem solving question of some sort, and now that I've googled it, it is. I said the first thing that popped into my mind: There is a lot of things that I know, but a lot of things that I don't know. One characteristic of a good leader is being able to delegate, so I'm going to find someone who knows the answer and get back to you asap. If you give me 5 minutes and a computer, I could get you the answer now. I think when I email my thank you, I'll answer him creatively-after googling it, turns out it is the true "$64,000 question"-the dollar value of the coins is around $64,000. I found this interaction hilarious! The supervisor of this job is certainly full of spit and vinegar.
Those sure were some unique questions. Keeping fingers crossed for you and hoping for great news soon!
Thanks. I'm so at peace with everything. If nothing else, I got a great new haircut/color, and some new clothes out of the deal!
kc~those are some creative questions, but I think you nailed the creative answers!! And I would definitely make a note in your thank you email. Good luck! I have all my fingers crossed for you!
THEY CALLED MY REFERENCES!!! They told my friend reference that things were "looking very good", especially after she gave me rave reviews! Oh, and it's not a grade level-it's for a college position.
And, they talked to my P and my friend for 25 minutes each. They tried to reach my third reference, but she was on a field trip with me today.
They called my 3rd reference last night, who wasn't home, but she (reference) called them back and they chatted for 25 minutes. They told her they never take the time to call references if they weren't very interested. It is going to KILL me if I don't get this. Coming this close...
I GOT THE JOB!!!!!!!I GOT THE JOB!!!!!!!I GOT THE JOB!!!!!!!I GOT THE JOB!!!!!!!I GOT THE JOB!!!!!!!I GOT THE JOB!!!!!!!I GOT THE JOB!!!!!!!I GOT THE JOB!!!!!!!I GOT THE JOB!!!!!!!I GOT THE JOB!!!!!!!I GOT THE JOB!!!!!!!I GOT THE JOB!!!!!!!I GOT THE JOB!!!!!!!I GOT THE JOB!!!!!!!I GOT THE JOB!!!!!!!I GOT THE JOB!!!!!!!
Yay! That's so exciting!!! What is the position? I loved your answers, btw. I think I would have been too taken aback by the weird questions to have come up with as great of answers as you did. Congratulations!!!
Great job! I would loooooove to teach college, but don't know if I will ever have the money to get a masters degree... let alone a phd.
THANK YOU SO MUCH! I am just floating. I talked to both of my administrators, and they both congratulated me but said they wished they didn't have to speak so highly and lose me! I think my head is swelling. This is very strange to spend so much time talking about how awesome you are! Oh, you guys...I have my own administrative assistant! She is awesome. She has a very similar name to me, and her dad is my husband's boss. We got along famously! I knew there was something to the ol' make-friends-with-the-janitor-and-secretary bit! I also have my own phone number (which happens to be the same 4 digits as my sister!), and large office WITH conference room, and big fabulous desk, and business cards, and website, and lots of technology--all in a BRAND NEW $2 million building! I know all of that doesn't really matter, but...hell, yes it does!!! I am so beyond thrilled. Can you tell???!?
Wow, now I am jealous--I've often said that an assistant to handle my paperwork would be the one thing I would LOVE to have!
Yippee!!!! I was actually thinking while driving home, "I wonder if KC got the job news yet?" When will this position start?
I'm very torn between being insanely jealous and beyond thrilled for you! It's so exciting just reading! I absolutely understand the excitement of the assistant and desk and conference room...ahhhh, it's so wonderful!!!!
Awesome! Do you feel comfortable sharing a general description of what you'll be doing? You might have mentioned it before but I didn't read it.
Thanks all! I am so sure this is right for me in my life right now, although my daughter is taking it kind of hard. She has had her mom at school with her since K, and she is nervous. I would have been her teacher next year. She told me tonight she was upset because a lot of kids like me, and she thought they would be mad at her if I left. I think she is hitting that insecure age where every little thing is a big deal. She's going to miss hanging out with her group of "teacher's kids" friends after school, and now she'll have to ride the bus home (I'll be able to take them to school since my job doesn't begin until 9, but I won't make it back to get them after). She'll be ok, but it's hard to see her upset. The job requires marketing the campus to local high schools, advertising and PR (weekly radio updates and newspaper articles), working with businesses to bring in trainings, recruiting, advising, and aiding students in selecting classes, scheduling classes, and finding adjunct faculty. If I really miss teaching and think that isn't enough to do, I can teach a class too. This campus is 75 miles from the main campus, so it requires a lot of self motivation and problem solving. One drawback is it is year round, but still follows the academic calendar, so there are few weekends, a week off at Christmas, Thanksgiving, and spring break. I also get 2 vacation days a month, and really great benefits. I am so blessed!
You ever get the questions: What is your favorite color? What is your favorite room in a house and why? What that got to do with the job? I love how do you deal with multiculturalism? We all know you want to say how you do with difference races etc just say it!
I think the point behind those oddball questions is exactly what kc illustrated-- the ability to think on your feet without getting flustered. Potential employers KNOW the people they're interviewing are hitting sites like this one, finding and practicing interview questions. They know they're likely to get prepared answers showcasing what people think they want to hear. But one of the most important attiributes in a teacher is the ability to think on your feet-- to react quickly and correctly. So the oddball questions are the best they can do in terms of judging that ability.
Congratulations! BTW, I would have sent that burger back, it could have been someone else's delivered to me by mistake!
The funny part is that now is anyone on here is asked the quarters question in an interview, they will know the real answer!
Ok, so I'm sure you're all sick of hearing about my job, but I just had to share this... Now that I'm employed by the college--me, my spouse, and ALL OF MY CHILDREN get free tuition. Paid. Done. I am just in shock at the fact that my worrying about how to pay for 3 kids' college tuition is taken care of. They can go to my college, up to 15 hours a semester, or get tuition assistance at any of the Universities in Nebraska, up to 9 hours a semester. I also get tuition assistance for my graduate work through a partnership with the Universities. <falling over> Blessed!!!
