tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937205822682397549.post1356008372796850496..comments2023-08-17T16:08:29.049+01:00Comments on Ranting Teacher: Slippery LaddersRanting Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15511994675532378693noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937205822682397549.post-31534287699208552742009-10-12T17:28:07.772+01:002009-10-12T17:28:07.772+01:00I worked at one place where it was definitely a ca...I worked at one place where it was definitely a case of "who you know" that got you the job. Once I'd been there a few years I was astounded really that I'd ever been given a foot in the door, not having been from "round those parts". <br /><br />Several jobs were never advertised, but offered to former pupils who had just completed PGCEs. Most promotions were internal, and that was rife with favouritism in itself. Some were nver even advertised internally, beut given seemingly at random to people who had "work-shadowed", ie done the job for nothing for a term or two before it being made official.<br /><br />When I left, they knew who they wanted as my replacement: a former pupil who was now working at another school nearby. The post was advertised externally, the whole selection and interview process was seemingly adhered to, but the other candidates, including one internal, never had a chance. Scoring was skewed to ensure that this former pupil got the post. Probably would have done anyway, but there was another candidate who did equally well, if perhaps not slightly better in some aspects.<br /><br />So I'm under no illusion when the feedback includes the phrase: "we needed to consider what fits in with our current team". To me that is such an arbitrary statement, that it really just is a case of "if your face fits" or "we know you from years ago" rather than the more objective scoring process that many other public sector positions employ.Ranting Teacherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15511994675532378693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937205822682397549.post-45849613308733892662009-10-12T15:27:22.466+01:002009-10-12T15:27:22.466+01:00Snap! Three applications and three interviews = n...Snap! Three applications and three interviews = no job offers.<br /><br />Snap! I am positive one went to an internal candidate from something a member of staff started to say to me and then abruptly stopped. Gawd knows about the other two.<br /><br />A colleague of mine mentioned his partner's recent promotion at her school. The school knew who they wanted so the brief was written around that person; the job was advertised; they only interviewed one applicant - guess who this was.<br /><br />Applying is so apparently timewasting in academia. Now I've given up even though it's obvious I can write a brilliant application and my CV is also fantastic!<br /><br />I'm thinking of transferring what I do for the uni where I am a visiting lecturer (euphemism for part-time hourly paid therefore no contract) to something similar online. My own business!! Fingers crossed.<br /><br />I empathise greatly and if I get any ideas for you, I'll drop you a line :-)Northern Teachernoreply@blogger.com