Thank you all for your advice on following up after submitting my application.
I sent a follow up email this morning and immediately got an Out of Office reply. This seemed like a good sign; the principal had been gone for the past week and would return soon. Maybe then I’d hear from her.
Instead I got a response an hour later: The position has already been filled but best of luck to you.
I’m really disappointed to miss out on such a unique position in which I think I’d really excel, but in the end the real devastation lies in my nightmare schedule and the fact that now it is my definitive reality for next year. There is not one bright spot in my entire week. It’s going to be such a long year.
I know I’ll eventually turn around my thinking and start to focus on how I can make this a learning year that benefits me in some way…
But right now I’m just feeling sad. Really, really sad. I didn’t realize that the possibility of this other job was keeping the anger and disappointment about next year at bay, but now that the possibility is gone I am feeling the weight of it, heavy on my heart. My schedule is a disaster. Most of my friends have left. Our entire campus is under construction. This school year will rival, if not surpass, my worst experiences teaching.
I guess I better enjoy my summer.
I’m sorry that really sucks. The only possible bright spot is that you now have an updated resume and if you continue looking, maybe you could find another job to apply to this summer (not sure how it works for teachers)?
When I said a bright spot in my week, I meant during a week of classes in my schedule next year (as we have a partial block schedule I think of it more as “weeks” now instead of “days”–I recognize that isn’t obvious at all). There have actually been some nice bright spots in this past week, and for that I’m grateful. And I do appreciate that my resume is updated, but I’m frustrated I spent so many hours on my cover letter. I doubt there will be any more openings for next year; I’ve been checking daily and nothing pops up, not even in areas that I wouldn’t want to commute to. You really do need to look in the spring, when turn over happens. So yeah, I won’t be getting out of next year at my school, and I should probably get ready for a few years of proper looking for a new job, because there is only one time of year when openings happen, which makes it slow going.
I’m sorry you didn’t get position.
But, I think you have begun laying the groundwork for a new job and potentially a career transition. That’s a key first step. The next is to start finding those who are working in the positions you want and meet with them for coffee/tea. Ask them for pointers and advice.
In addition, have you thought about expanding outside the public school model? It’s scary because the benefits aren’t as good, but it may give you an opportunity that will allow you to step into your dream job.
Hang in there. I know the “no” is frustrating, but it doesn’t mean you are doomed to the career with the crazy schedule. And I’ve seen things come together in a short period of time. It’s just a matter of making the connections.
Do you have any advice for how I can meet people in these positions? It seems very weird to just cold-call email them off their school’s public email list; I doubt I would have coffee with some random person if they approached me like that. And I don’t know anyone who works at a high school.
As for private schools, I just don’t think I can abandon my pension plan this many years in. I’m not relying on it completely, but I have not put nearly enough away so far to opt out of the system (nor will I make enough at a private school to contribute enough to make up for the lost years). The truth is I make very good money at my current job (as far as teaching positions go) because I’m almost at the top of the salary schedule. Being knocked down to the bottom is already going to be very hard a pay cut for us to absorb; I don’t think I can take the additional pay cut of a private school plus losing my pension. So I think I have to stick to the public school system for now.
This is the tricky part. A lot of my networking comes through meetings or someone I know knowing someone else. You mentioned having a friend at a high school that you thought of applying to. He’s a great person to start with! Contact him about getting an introduction or for advice. One connection usually leads to a lot more.
As far as the pension, I fully understand. The public school districts have wonderful benefits. But the downside of that is stagnation. The way you’ve described your current work situation is lots of stability, but no opportunity to branch out or modify. That and you are at the whim of the principal scheduling. I guess my point is, you’re going to have to decide how much you’re willing to risk knowing that some points may make this transition take a lot longer. It sucks that this is the case, but important to think about too.
Finally, I really recommend LinkedIn, if you’re not already on it.
Sorry to hear that. I’m kind of surprised b/c usually things don’t move that fast in the public sector–usually there’s more than one round of interviews, time for the selected person to consider the offer, background checks, etc.
I do not think the public school system is the typical “get a job through connections” scenario.
Yeah. I’m surprised too. All I can think is that they filled it internally (public school positions have to be posted both internally and externally even if they already know someone within the district has requested a transfer to that position), or they just aren’t interested in me and wanted an easy way to get me to stop contacting them.
They probably filled it internally. If they weren’t interested they would say that you were not selected for an interview. They don’t care about your feelings.
I’m so sorry you didn’t get the position. It sucks, especially since your schedule for next year is so rough. I agree with you that most teaching positions are filled before the school year ends, or close to it. However, lots of things can happen over the summer, and I encourage you to keep looking (I’m sure you will!).
Meanwhile, enjoy the summer and the time you have. Sending lots of love your way!
Thanks. I’ll definitely try to enjoy the summer, and not let the impending shitty year hang like a cloud over it.
Just emailed you, BTW…
I’m really sorry. That sucks. The fact they filled it so quickly implies to me at least that they had a candidate-in-waiting but were required to advertise the role.
Sending hugs.
Ugh, this really blows. I can totally understand being really down about it. SUCKS!! Argh.
I don’t know how I missed this post a few days ago (just read your latest). I am so so sorry- all of this just totally sucks. I’m hoping something else pops up this summer or your current position somehow ends up being better than you are expecting. Hugs, friend.