So I was told once by a former boss that I interview like a rock star, and quite frankly, I believe it. I don't know why, but when I get into that situation, particularly when there are several interviewers, I become just nervous enough to be awesome. Anyhow, last week I got an email for THE job I've been hoping to get. The reason I waited to look for a teaching job, and the reason I am now unemployed.
My ideal working situation is working from home. There are a lot of different things you can do from home, but few of them are desirable (so if you're reading this and know about something I don't take pity on me and hook me up). However, there is a beautiful thing known as a virtual school where teachers work with their students via the internet. It's a full time gig and it's AWESOME for someone like me who wants to be with their kids, but can't afford to not work (stupid student loans...angry face). I would still have to have our wonderful sitter around, but I'd be able to see a little more of my kids (and I wouldn't have to pump!).
Anyways, I had an interview last week for one of these jobs, and sadly it went from bad to worse. First off, I had interviewed with a different virtual school the week before (I thought it actually went well, but I never heard from them...lame) and the principal had an uncommon name and it was spelled in a less common way. Then, I got an email about an interview later in the week and I didn't read it very carefully. I saw the first name of the guy and assumed I was being invited for a second interview. (WAHOOOOO!) I emailed him back and thanked him for inviting me to do a second interview (mistake number 1). So then he emailed me and asked me why I thanked him for inviting me to a second interview (uh cause we talked a couple of days ago, duh!). So I replied that we'd spoken before (mistake number 2). Then Daniel, and I were talking about it later and he pointed out that I was invited to interview at a different school than the other one (oh poo! same stinkin first name as the other guy...totally threw me off).
So the interview rolls around and I'm as nervous as heck and waiting for the phone call, which I receive a few minutes late (no biggie right). It was his secretary asking if I was going to call into the conference line (huh?). Apparently there was a number on the email and I was supposed to call it, but didn't (mistake number 3). Seriously dude, you should explain that, not just send a phone number.
So I call the number and apologize for the confusion, and about thinking it was a second interview blah, blah, blah... (mistake numbers 4 & 5) He didn't remember I was the airhead who couldn't read emails carefully, but I kindly pointed it out. You're welcome!
Then the questions began....Tell me about a time you multitasked. "I'm a mom, so I have to multi-task all the time. Like the other day, one of my kids was puking, and one was playing in the toilet...(Shut up Danielle), and I was trying to breastfeed (SHUT UP DANIELLE), and I was cooking dinner and the pot was boiling over (SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!!!!!!)..."
What I should have said (maybe that principal will come across this and realize I'm not an airhead, just mother brain dead), "When I was teaching kindergarten, I always had several projects going at a time. In order to stay organized I kept a paper at my desk so I could jot down notes of things I needed to accomplish. Throughout the day I would add to it whenever I thought of something so I wouldn't forget. Then when my plan time or a recess break came along I would look at my list, add things I hadn't forgotten, and then number them by highest priority. Taking a couple of minutes to do this made me far more productive during this time and I was usually able to finish everything on my list before going home."
That's just one example of how stupid I was, I think I blocked out much of the rest of the interview because it was super traumatic.
Anyhow, when Dan was on his job search he was told to ask at the end of an interview if he said anything that they had questions about so he could clear it up. The kiss of death is always the following response (which I got) "No, (chuckle) you did great!". (I'll call that BS!)
So now that it's been about a week I can almost laugh at myself, although I'm terribly disappointed that I did not get the job. However, I know that I asked the Holy Spirit to help me find the right words at the interview. Apparently, this is not God's plan for me at this time, because I am a rock star in an interview, and I most certainly was not at that one. I guess I'll just be a rock star mom for now!
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