Hi everybody,

Help please!.

I'm nearing the end of my NVQ2 course and have already been accepted on the NVQ3 course begining in Sept 2008.

I've had two job interviews in the last month and have received the same comments from the senco and head teacher at both jobs.

I've been told that I interview really well and have answered all the questions they have asked correctly. They have been impressed by references from my course tutor and the teachers who's classes I support in as a volunteer and with the examples of my display and craft work which I have photographed. I have made it to the last two on both occasions.

I have two years experience as a volunteer working 4 days and sometimes 5 if the school are a ta down and yet the main comment is that the other candidate had more experience in the role. I find this really frustrating as I have experience as an unpaid ta but cant get the experience as a paid one if no-one gives me chance!.

Any ideas of what else I can do?, I cant work on any negative interview feedback as they havent given me any!.

I have another interview next week and feel quite downhearted about it, I dont want to give up after only two interviews but I dont know what I can do to raise my game.

I would be grateful for any suggestions and also examples of questions I could ask as I always struggle a bit with this. I have asked about the level of ta involvement in planning at the school but can never think of anything else!.

Thanks

Lexy

could you ask about career opportunities,/ whether TAs are in specific subject areas/ are TAs strengths utilised / are there any HLTAs and could you wpork towards that/would you be expected to cover classes in your role

im sure others will come up with some more

Hi Lexy,

I can sooo relate to what you are saying! If I got paid for what I did voluntary I would be extremely happy. The main thing I lack is office experience, so people are impressed with me but I can't get past that final hurdle. One feedback I had was they felt I would find the position boring.

My cv was passed to the job centre by my employment advisor for consideration for a work trial position, and got rejected because the person at the job centre felt I was not the right person because of the experience I've had. grrrrrrrrrrr.

All I can offer is if it is anything like the part of London I live in the fact you are getting to the last two is nothing to sneeze at. One TA position I applied for had around 160 - 180 applicants!

It is just a matter of time I'm sure before you are offered a position.

As for questions.

I'm sure experienced TAs could offer you more possitive advice on questions related to the job, future prospects and development etc.

But also think out of the box and do some research. The schools ofsted report will you give you an idea of the school, and the possible direction and priorities. Also check out

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This will give you information about the ward the school is in. In particular look for inconsistancies. IE the school has large number of students entitled to free meals in what appears to be affluent area. What does ofsted say about the school make up? large numbers joining/leaving at times other then normal intake - ie large refugee/assylum seekers population, local traveller camp?

The link will give you an idea of the demographics, including religious make up. This may help to point you to other questions.

ie if a school has a large number of refugees/assylum seekers this could indicate several things. Other then the obvious that English is likely to be a second language. Are they running from persecution, disaster, which could bring challenging behaviour, families are likely to be isolated from mainstream society and have difficulties accessing services. Families may be wary of officials and school is often seen as a 'safe place'.

What programs are they using to help the children with their english, reading and writing? Does the school have an outreach program to the parents? Does the school do anything to help the older children integrate within the local community? If it is something you are interested in would there be opportunity for involvement in these activities? Is there training opportunities for you to better understand the children you will be working with?

Do you have a particular interest or skill which the school may be interested in exploiting, and you are happy for them to do so?

Realy it is finding something beyond your role and shows you have shown some interest in the school as a community and in the wider community which it serves. Not sure if it will help, but would certainly help you to stand out those with 'more' experience as you have shown an interest wider then the just the role as it will show you have done some research. A genuine concern for the children you will be working with rather then just a job.

Sorry a slight slant as my main interest is in people and communities which I guess shows through. But I'm sure you could find something to meet your own interests and reasons for wanting to do so much training and want to work with children. You matched the other two other then on experience, so you might want to find that little something which differentiates you from them.

Thanks for the quick reply, encouragement and support all very helpful.

I know I'm not the only one this affects but needed a good rant!, thanks guys.

Lexy
x

Only thing I can think of is to ask to visit the school before hand and be really polite and friendly as you walk around ask some questions and hope it goes back to Head what alovely person you are.Keep applying there is a job out there for you.

Hi everyone,

Just to update you on the interview.

It was this morning, the head teacher and senco were very friendly and said my references from teachers at the school I volunteer at and my nvq course tutor were excellent. I took a folder with photographs of displays I'd produced, which they thought was a great idea and liked my work too.

I answered the questions they asked and prepared a list of questions to ask them.

On the leaving the senco saw me out and the head said she was sure she'd see me again soon. Positive you'd think.

I got a phonecall at 5pm to say that the position had gone to someone else, why?. Whilst they said I couldnt improve on my interview technique and my references were great they felt I hadnt had enough experience in the classroom, so two and a half years as a volunteer 4 days per week counts for nothing?!.

The head said she recognised this but had gone with somebody already in 'paid' employment as a ta. I wrote the details of my experience in my letter with my application form, so why even bother to interview me?.

She did say please apply again if we have another vacancy but what would be the point?, it seems only paid experience counts regardless of whether you are doing the same job as a ta or not. This is my third interview and the same reason I have been given each time.

My question is, if no-one will give me a chance how cn I ever gain 'paid' experience. I feel very downhearted now and wonder if it's actually worh going through this again.

Thanks for your help.
Lexy

what a shame and how annoying Lexy

maybe there was something else the other TA had, maybe she would cover classes and had that experience so they grabbed that

there will be a job for you somewhere, everything else they said was so positive, so do keep applying and volunteer too if you can still to keep the experience you do have going

that is a real shame
like DQ said keep trying there is a job out there for you so keep going
the other thing you could try is doing some supply work so you get paid and experience at the same time.
it can be up and down with the work but it will be paid work!!
hope this helps
and keep your chin up

Well, how frustrating is that. You are experiencing exactly what a lot of school/college leavers go through. Have you thought about continuing to volunteer so you put to good use all your training, but this time work in a different age group thereby expanding your experience. Its about now that a lot of schools start looking at staffing levels for 08-09 especially with the Sept. intake so don't give up hope as lots of jobs get advertised in local papers.

When I was at college my tutor was very helpful in networking and linking us up with potential jobs.

Hi everyone,

Just to update you all, after all that angst I have now been offered two jobs in two weeks!.

I have accepted a TA's job fulltime at a first school in year 1 beginning in September.

I think what swung it was that due to sickness I have been offered a temporary TA job at the school I volunteer in and being able to put on an application form that I was 'officially' a TA and not 'just' a volunteer. Not the way it should be but hey!. I also passed my NVQ2 this week and am stealing myself before beginning level 3 in September.

So take it from me , keep plugging away and eventually you will get the right job for you.

Thanks again for all your help and support. [/b]

well done
see it is really worth to keep applying for jobs, im so pleased you know have a perm job for sept.
good luck with your next NVQ im sure you will be fine.