It seems that I've gotten to the point in my job search where the little things - especially the ones that occur over and over and over again - are really starting to grate on my nerves, and I'm sure that I'm not the only one experiencing this. I figured it might be nice to have the opportunity to vent a bit! Here are a couple things that having really been getting me: Lately, I've applied for several positions in which the posting referred to me as a "perspective employee". Why do I have to submit an application if I'm already a "perspective" employee? I mean, with that title, I assume that it is my job to provide the school/district with my perspective on something - perhaps appropriate word choice? AGH I also hate, hate, HATE browsing the websites of schools I'm applying to and stumbling across sections that clearly haven't been proofread; interestingly, I've found that the "principal's message" section is most often the one that is error-ridden. It's especially frustrating to come across this sort of thing when I'm applying for jobs that emphasize clear communication skills, the ability to teach literacy skills, etc. It's like - hey! I'm more articulate than your principal! If they were good enough to hire, why can't I even get an interview? Those are my two pet peeves of the day - what are yours?
Sorry you're having to look so long you've noticed patterns in the process! I also dislike errors like that. Even when people's accents make it sound like they are making errors like that, my nerves dance. "The perspective employee is the one uh comes in here to innerview fur this here job, far as I reckon!"
My biggest pet peeve is never hearing back after an interview. There's nothing that bothers me more than that. Or, sometimes I get a rejection letter a month or two later. I really think they could let me know sooner then that. I also hate it when I go to interviews and have to wait a half an hour. I get that the principal is busy, but didn't we have an appt? I know the principal would be appalled if I made him/her wait! A few minutes, that I understand. But, I've waited up to 45 minutes. Last one - when they want all these requirements that seem unbelievable. I've seen postings along these lines: Fourth grade classroom teacher position: Must have at least 5 years experience at the fourth grade level. Special education and reading specialist certification required. Must have experience with our exact reading program and our exact math program. Must be bilingual. Please submit your resume, cover letter, 5 letters of recommendation, 5 essays, transcripts, blood sample, and rights to your first born child.
Not looking, but I hated this while job hunting: Schools posting a position that they weren't really hiring for. As in, they know they're going to hire someone within the school or district but they have to publish the position and get your hopes up. AHHHHH-- don't waste our time!!!
Jerseygirlteach: The never hearing back/hearing a month or so later is probably one of the things that irritates me the most. I've been pretty lucky with not having to wait quite that long but this last interview I waited 20 minutes because she had a phone call as I was walking into the office. BioAngel: That happens in this county ALL THE TIME! They've already got their mind set on someone but I guess they have to post it. It drives me crazy.
I agree on the no call backs. They really bother me. As a fellow New Jersey Teacher, if you've waited only 45 minutes consider yourself lucky. You haven't waited until you've waited in Linden NJ for hour and a half to interview for a 2 month LTS position. I had that pleasure this Spring. I was kept occupied by the secretary talking to her sister and friend about her pending divorce. That was some day.
I so agree with this. I know it's probably hard to tell somebody that they didn't get the job, but at least have some common courtesy and let people know the outcome. I've stated this before in other threads and I know I sound like a broken record, but I'm an adult, I can take being rejected. Another pet peeve of mine is when you never hear back from them and then you try to contact them to see what the final decision was and they never get back with you. It's like they just drop off the face of the earth.
Not taking down job postings bothers me! There is a job I applied for in MARCH still posted with an application deadline of 3/28/2012. Uh- that was 4 months ago!!!!! (There are actually a few postings that ended LAST summer!)
I dislike it when districts only create one applicant pool for all openings for the year...it's impossible to see if there are actually jobs available or what those jobs might entail, to better tailor a resume or cover letter to that position. I can't imagine it actually makes it easier on their end, either, as I work in HR right now and I detest applicant pools because they're so big; it's much easier to have one specific job posting, see who is a good fit within those 20 or so people, note status of each accordingly, etc than it is to wade through 500 applications.
I hear you on all these points. I think you mean "prospective" unless the employers are actually spelling it wrong! I also get annoyed when I see all those typos in the job listings and school web sites. Our resumes would be thrown out with one little typo, but they can't be bothered to hold themselves up to their own standards? And yes, the not calling or notifying stinks. As is making applicants wait forever and then rushing us though the demo or interview. Many of these types of things have happened with the job I am currently a finalist for and waiting on...add rude, brusque attitudes and packing the interview so tightly that you see the candidates before and after you!
I've seen that too! LOL. I've seen ones with or without a deadline that just seem to sit on the website for months. This includes a position I interviewed for about 6 weeks ago. It's still up there. Truly, they must get tired of people sending applications for a position they had to have already filled. How hard is it to just take it down? I would have had heard quite a wrath if I ever forgot to update my teacher website, but they can't take down old job listings? BTW, funny story. The position I just accepted had a posting date of March something when I applied for it this month. I almost didn't bother because I was sure it must have been filled already but I was applying for another job in the same district of applitrack and it just meant ticking another box. Well, wouldn't you know it? They called me the next day. (I don't know the circumstances, though, for why they would post it in March and still be interviewing in July.) So, you never can tell.
I can understand why they might need to do this-- I'm sure their schedules are very busy, but I also think its very unprofessional because it really does not allow the principal (or whom ever is doing the interviewing) to reflect upon the candidate. (We all know how difficult it can be to bring students back in to what we're doing the next day if we don't have some type of closure with the lesson-- imagine a super busy principal with a life outside of school too) Something I really enjoyed about my principal-- back when I was interviewing for my position and as I assisted with finding a math teaching candidate this year-- is that she made sure to only schedule one person a day (only once was it two people-- but one in the morning and the other in the afternoon). Usually she would have them come in around 3:30 or 4pm-- when most of the students have gone home and most of the teachers-- and she would meet with them for 20 minutes, then walk them around the school (and introduce them to any teacher who was still around) and do a finish up q-and-a time. She treats each teacher as professionals and allows them the time to get to know her and the school. :thumb:
When I was applying for special ed positions my pet peeves were when the job postings did not specify which certifications were needed. In NY, there are a few different special ed certifications that people can have so obviously I wouldn't apply for a specific position if I did not have that certification. Also, since I am certified in another area besides spec. ed, when I was called for an interview they sometimes didn't know what subject the interview was for. How are you supposed to prepare for that?? How annoying!
Yes, I meant that some employers who intended to say "prospective" have written "perspective" in postings (or on their HR website, in a few cases). That's one of those things that will frustrate me if I see it anywhere, but when I'm job hunting and feel that I have to be especially cognizant of small errors in my application materials, it's even more maddening! I also hate not hearing anything back after interviews, though I have at least gotten closure on all of mine. One school sent me a rejection letter through the mail, which I felt was interesting, considering that it was dated as the same day that I sent an email to follow up on the status of their hiring process. It was like they realized they hadn't gotten back to me, so they decided to...whip up a paper rejection letter? I thought that was kind of bizarre. Sending me a return email would have been quicker and cheaper.
Similar to this, when I was job seeking, a few times I was interviewed for HS math positions only to find out they really wanted HS special ed math..and one time they really wanted a computer science teacher, but since that's handled by the math dept., they listed it as math. It was unbelievable.
Sometimes I think I'm the only person interviewing and there's like 3 or 4 other people there too . They always seem prettier and better dressed than me.
One time I got a postcard from a school in December announcing that unfortunately, I was not chosen for a job I applied to in July. I figured it out already. That was a waste of postage.
I really don't think being pretty will get anyone an advantage in this field. It's not about what you look like, but who you are as a person, and what you can do for the kids. Better dressed? The only thing that matters is that you look professional, appropriate and clean.
Sad to say, but I have friends who have seen it at the school I used to teach at. The principal, who came after I left, likes to hire pretty young women. And the principal is female. I guess she's trying to create a specific image for the school.
There is a school in my area that has fired non-tenured teachers for not "being in our image". I think this translates to not attractive/well-dressed enough. One school I worked at has an abundance of young, pretty, long haired women on staff...hard to imagine there isn't a trend there with hiring. That being said, I think it's pretty rare for schools to hire this way. I think most of the time it's going to be talent and education that get you in the door.
I think - I hope - these are exceptions. I understand they might want someone younger, but not because of the age, but because it will seem like young person=young teacher, meaning no bad habits, easier to train, flexible. Older person = veteran teacher, may be old skool, set in ways, etc. But that's also a wrong assumption. Some people get into this field late, like I did. Also a veteran teacher will have years of experience, confidence, tried and tested strategies, etc. So either way I look at it, age should not be an issue, because it could mean anything. But being pretty? That has nothing to do with how well you can teach, so I think that's just wrong. I don't know how I would feel, if a principal hired me because she / he thought I was pretty.
I totally hear you. When I was job hunting it drove me crazy that you would interview and NEVER hear anything back. Please just call or something and let the candidate know they didnt get the job. Yes it may be an uncomfortable conversation but think of all the uncomfortable situations the job seeker has been in. It really bothers me how you feel like you instantly are kissing butt and complimenting and having to make them feel good. But they aren't worried about making you feel good by giving you the job. (for those situations when you don't get the job). Job hunting in general is emotionally and physically draining. Hang in there. Something will come your way. Just keep in mind that you are not selected for a position, everything happens for a reason. You may not would have been happy there. The right one will come along.
Some schools only hire "pretty" people?? I'd be in big trouble hahahhaha! I'm glad that doesn't happen at the school I just got hired at. The staff members aren't glamorous or trendy but they act and dress professionally.
I've never personally experienced it, but I've read a lot here about people who never hear anything after interviewing. I think that is incredibly rude and there is absolutely no excuse for it. I don't care how busy they are- it would literally take 2 seconds to send out an automated e-mail to all of the candidates saying that the position has been filled. From what I've experienced, I hate when they interview outside candidates when they know full well that an "insider" (a RIF'd teacher, etc.) is going to get the job. That's just cruel to get people's hopes up and have them put their time/money into a position they have no chance of getting. When I was first looking I interviewed for a job in my hometown that I thought I had a great shot at- only to find out later (from a friend who works in the district) that the plan all along was to hire a RIF'd teacher from another school in the district who didn't even have to interview for the position.
Yes--and I don't see why they have to advertise in situations like that. Most contracts will state all of the RIF rules, so they are following it to the letter of the law--yet they are still obligated to post it? I don't get it. It is a huge waste of everyone's time and energy.
AMEN! Just went through that myself. I tried to make an appt with the superintendent, but they were "busy." Emailed the principal... no reply. Turns out they kept a long-term sub in the position and only posted it because they had to.
I second these practices as super annoying! Another one for me is when I see a position that has an overwhelming amount of requirements then an asterisks at the bottom that says it's only 1/5 of a full time position!! For example, "dual-certified French and Spanish teacher, needed M-F from 8-8:50 am and 2-2:50 pm" Good luck filling that! I've seen a ridiculous amount of openings this year for positions which are less than 50%. I understand that every district is trying to cut every corner they can, but - call me crazy - it is almost insulting to the profession. There's no such thing as a part time teacher, at least not in my experience - I took a 30%, no benefits position two years ago but was there 4 full days a week with my classes (4 preps) spread out throughout the day, so it was at least 80% in reality. I was also asked often to come in on my day off for meetings. The experience helped me land my FT job now, but it was tough. I wish they would give part time positions their own section on applitrak so I wouldn't bother opening them.
Ahhhh, that's a good job for someone who won the lottery! Don't need the money but still want to teach LOL :lol:
