Hi All

In just over a week, I've got what will now,be my second interview for a job in HE. To give my background I'm an FE lecturer / manager with a masters, trying to find work in a university education department. I had an interview a few weeks ago which was a disaster as it wasn't quite right for me due to my lack of research experience. Now I've got another one which is less research-y but there seems to be more emphasis on the business side of things and they want ten minutes on how I would boost recruitment to their courses. I used to,work in marketing so have some ideas about targeting different audiences through multi-channel communications - web, pr, social media, open days, etc etc. But I just feel like it's all stating the obvious. Any one got any tips / ideas what they be after?

Thanks.

I feel your pain. I recently had an interview for a lecturing job that wanted a twenty minute presentation and it was conflicting with all sorts of other work. What I found was I was procrastinating too much about it and neither the presentation nor the work was getting done. So I took myself off to the uni library for an afternoon and just said 'right I'm not leaving here until it's done' and gave myself a strict time limit. Did it, did my notes then didn't look at it again until the interview. Then, in the interim, I could get onwith other stuff. I'd love to say I got the job at the end, but I didn't, sure yours will be better.

Yeah, that's a good idea, write it all down, I will try that.

And thanks also again, Tudor Queen, that's good to hear. I guess I would apply there again, and just hope they don't rememeber me. I do feel I'll get there in the end. I keep trying to remind myself of all the positives. I've got nine years now working in FE, including course leadership, I've lead training and staff development, I've got links with my local uni through my mentoring and I'm trying to,build on that. And I did so well in my Masters when I did that, even though I was doing a full time job at the same time. I'm just feeling bruised and buttered at the moment. I'll feel better on Monday once I'm back with my classes and can start getting back to normal. The whole things just dominated the whole past two weeks, so I think I'm getting things out of proportion. To be honest, I've got some baggage about it all. My family were never supportive of me trying the academic route, dissuaded me from it years ago, they think I'm chasing a dream. For a few years I fell into a relationship with a selfish person who put me down and didn't have any faith in me either. So this knockback has raised all that in me again, and other negative experiences. This is why I I'm up at five in the morning still thinking! I'll get over it. I just need to keep going. If I'm getting interviews, I must be getting closer, and these things are a case of practice. It seems to go in threes and fours for me. It took me four interviews to get my first teaching job. Three interviews to get a job in FE. Four goes to pass my driving test. I get nervous, but eventually it clicks.

Thanks peter, I know what you mean about making wrong assumptions. (Ironically one of the topics touched on in my presentation was the danger of new teachers trying to be reflective and reflecting the wrong things about themselves without full facts, then I'm doing the same thing here probably)., I did ultimately feel 'underdressed' without the doctorate, even though it was only a desirable and ultimately I did go in with a negative mindset believing I had no chance, even though I tried not to. Then when that's come true, I've given myself a right kicking for it. I guess I should ask for feedback. The thing is, I kind of gave up on the day, once I knew I'd fluffed the task I had to do. I feel embarrassed but yes, I probably should get feedback, if there's a single nugget of information in there that might be useful. You're right that there's nothing to lose.

Oh, and yes, something else you touched on. I think my CV and statement writing skills are good, and that's the thing. I feel like in person, I dont live up to it. I've always been more of s writer than a talker. Years ago, I went for an interview at an FE college, and the man giving me feedback even said straight up, 'it's like you're a different person'. So it's happenned before and that stuck in my head.. I just clam up sometimes. But then, the next interview I had, I got it, so I'm not all bad. And about eighteen months ago I had an interview and was offered the job, although I declined. I just wish I could be more consistent. I so much want to be a lecturer and do research and stuff. I know this job wasn't ideal, I just don't want to blow another chance if one comes up. I think I'm going to,try counseling because I think some of it comes from low self esteem. I need to learn to think positive, otherwise my head is always going to drop when I meet the other stellar candidates and I start comparing myself.

Thanks for your reply Tudor Queen. A phd was a desireable. Masters essential. I think that's what has made it upset me so much. I was so pleased...now I feel so crushed. I really did try to prepare, that's the thing. I'd cope much better if I hadn't tried! Honestly, I spoke with a friend of a friend whose had similar interviews to ask his advice, emailed a professional acquaintance who gave me further tips, and brushed up on everything they said. I've been off work for Easter hols, so have had plenty of time, and I put it in. I spent two days going back to my old uni library (an hours train ride away) to work on my PowerPoint and have some contemporary research to draw on. I even bought myself a new pair of shoes ):

But I think, yes, they did want research experience really. They had a whole twenty minute 'discussion task' on it, and the guy doing it didn't seem to know that I didn't have publications. And the other candidates were more experienced than me - ex heads / deputy heads, some did have publications, and some were known to this particular uni. I think that set me on a defeatist path. I know it's nothing to do with my background / accent really, everyone was lovely on the day. I could really see myself there, that's the thing. But they asked a lot about 'partnerships' and, I suppose the politics of the educational landscape, and that's the areas I felt lacking on where they'll have had more of an idea. Also the main focus of the job was secondary education generally whereas my background is mostly post-16 so it's true I maybe just wasn't a good fit...it's a long time since I was in a school and it was mentioned.

So can see why I didn't get it, totally. Just shocked at how hard I found it.

Had my first interview for an academic job and it was awful. Applied for a lecturer in education post at a really prestigious place, Russel Group, one of best departments in the country. I didnt expect an interview and I don't know why they did. I don't even have a phd, just a masters and professional experience. Nothing I did on the day seemed remotely good enough from the word go. My presentation they just frowned at, there was a gang of them, and after it they asked questions I didn't even understand so,just had to waffle back like an idiot. Had to improvise a talk for twenty minutes on something I knew nothing about, disaster and they ended up asking more questions anyway. Got grilled about my 'research' when I don't have a publication to my name and have only an EdD proposal in the pipeline, which they knew from my application so wasn't sure what to say there either. By the time the panel interview came, I was knackered and couldn't wait to get it over with to be honest. .after my rejection, I emailed them out of courtesy just to say 'thanks for,your time...sorry I was crap' and they didn't try to dissuade me, just agreed basically. So that's one place I can never, ever show my face at again. It was so different to teaching interviews, I felt like they were asking the impossible. There's no point asking for feedback now, because I know how rubbish I was. It was such an intimidating environment, in front of all these professors. I'm from a really ordinary background and get really self-conscious about my accent which isn't strong but a couple of times this really posh professor was like 'can you repeat that'. I feel really down now. How do I get over this and get better? My whole interview technique is terrible. I need help with it but where from / how?

Thanks tree of life. That's what I'm hoping, I guess it might just depend on the other candidates. I've got a doctoral research proposal in the pipeline with the uni I mentor for, hopefully that will stand in my favourite.

Thanks for the encouraging response!

To my surprise, I've been called to interview for a lecturer job in the education department of a university. Happy, but no idea what to expect.

I've got a lot of professional experience. Started out in TEFL and worked on political campaigns for DfE before my pgce, four years school teaching experience, then last eight years in FE. I've got experience of course leadership, training and quality assurance roles, and currently lead on staff development where I work. Also been a pgce mentor a few years now, the uni I do that with have put me on their books as an associate lecturer and I'm doing some work with them this summer on their initial teacher training program.

My big weak point is my lack of research experience. My highest qualification is a Masters I completed a couple of years ago, I got a distinction and my supervisor recommend I do a doctorate. But it was just a taught course, and I didn't publish or anything. I've spoken to the uni I mentor for about an EdD and they were enthusiastic about a research idea I had, but I've not finalized and submitted the proposal yet, that was a job for this summer. Research was only a desireable on the person spec, and I meet all the essentials. I just feel like other candidates will have more in the locker than me.

Any one out there have any hints / tips about how I should approach things, the type of questions I might get asked? Do I stand a chance, or should I just go along for the experience?

Cheers.

Onion.

I found the same. Got a 2.1 in my undergrad, but a distinction masters. I found the latter much easier, and much more engaging. Some people just seem to be better suited to it. At the end of the day, and undergrad degree is very broad, it's about narrowing down your area of expertise. Once you're doing a masters, you've picked - hopefully! - the one are that interests you above all others and have the chance to show off your knowledge and expertise over a greater number of words.

Hi. If you are interested in a career with special needs learners, I would have though a PGCE with SEN specialism would be better than a PhD. There are quite a few around. I know some people who do it as a job and they love it, but it's very tough, hard work.

I suppose the thing to ask yourself is, how would you feel if you took the masters then couldn't get a your old job or a related job straight away at the end of it? Although you will probably know better than anyone what employment prospects are like in your field and country. Would your employer hold your job open for you?

If I were you, I'd look to see if you could do a masters part time while working. That way you get the best of both worlds. I had a similar dilemma a few years back and went the part time route. The benefit of it is you can apply your masters to actual issues in your job, which might be of more benefit to your employer. The other thing is, whilst any scholarship at all is fantastic, there will be some costs to pay plus living expenses, obviously. Why pay out when you could earn and learn?

Unless of course money is no object, in which case, I'd say go for it, have fun!

Yep, I'm a similar age to you. Did undergrad degree over ten years ago and I think my family always assumed (wished!) I'd stop there and that would be the end of it. They complained loudly when I took a study year abroad. Then despaired again when I left a secure but dull public sector marketing job after two years to do my first post grad. Scratched their heads when I was back at uni again a few years later doing a research masters (part time, while working full time) Now confounded further as I'm about to embark on a professional doctorate. (Currently I work in FE, but work with my local uni in the education department and long term, that's where I want to be). I think it's tough, and sometimes it effects my self-belief knowing that my family ultimately think I'm pursuing something that's 'not for the likes of me' (which is their attitude - very working class). But I've learned to live with it (getting a distinction and recommendation for,doctoral study from my Masters supervisor helped). And knowing my CV is getting better and better now and it's just a final (massive) hurdle to achieve my goal. Some people just don't get it, or see the appeal, I guess.

No worries!