Interviewing...

[Paolino]

So...

I've been interviewing for a teaching position starting next year since when I graduated, budgets failed and there were no permanent Italian positions available on the Island.

I was fortunate and got several interviews relatively quickly, and one district has been working fast (not common for schools on Long Island), and the procedure has been quick.

I have my 5th interview tomorrow (yes, on Long Island, this is normal), with this one district. You have to first interview with a committee, then do a demo lesson, then interview with the chairperson of the department, then an assistant principal, then interview with a principal, then with the superintendent, and then hopefully you're done. Some districts have had candidates do 2-3 demo lessons and interview as many as 8 times before they heard if they've gotten a job.

Schools are extremely competitive out here... and that has made me nervous.

So, tomorrow I have my final interview with this district--it's the yes/no stage. I either get it or I don't. But it's what I want... out east, good pay, brand-new school with excellent facilities/technology in the classroom, etc. Tenure-track, full-time, etc. It could be a school I'd be at forever, and eventually retire from.

So, it so happens during my 3rd interview, there were things I said that apparently "wowed" them as they were called, "revolutionary" and "first-rate" ideas--many in particular to a specific question they seemed to harp on, "How do you assess your students at the end of every lesson?"

Here's the kicker: The department chairperson just called my cell to give me a "heads-up" as to what the super will be asking tomorrow--and one thing he impressed, was the assessment question. Well, during that interview, I was nervous (because they kept attacking me with hearing about new ideas and I was running out of them!), so I started making stuff up on the spot... and I don't remember any of them! lol So, I didn't want to say to him, "Great, love that you thought so highly of my ideas, now what did I say cause I've never actually implemented some of them?" lol

So, this time tomorrow I should know whether or not I have gotten the job. It'd mean relaxing my nerves all summer, as well as time to really prepare materials, activities and work (Italian textbooks SUCK in the US, so many Italian teachers (myself included), choose to write their own material for the class).

Well, now I'm off to relax, watch some I Love Lucy on DVD, and floss. Wow.. I'm exciting

[ocnblu]

So far it sounds like you're Sally Field at the Oscars ("You like me! You really like me!")

I wouldn't fret over what was said. I'd keep an open mind for the next interview, and go from there. Go get 'em, tiger!

[Paolino]

Floss!

That's why the happy guy in your avatar has such a bright smile. :AH-HA_wink:

I've got four job offers I'm waiting to hear back about so I'm in the same boat as you. Best of luck and let us know how it turns out. Remember, wrap the floss around the tooth in a 'C' shape, and wipe the tooth from under the gumline (gently) to the tip two or three times, repeated to adjacent tooth.

Thanks guys. WMJ, I was a bit nervous I would forget how to properly floss lol, oh, and best of luck to you on your interviews!!

[z28luvr01]

Good luck, Paulie. What district is this? I have a sister who teaches art in West Islip.

[76ChevyTrucker]

Best of luck to you Paulie, I know that multiple interviews can always be nerve-wracking.

[Paolino]

Good luck, Paulie. What district is this? I have a sister who teaches art in West Islip.

Thanks again guys!

Sachem... it'd be at their newer school (2 years old)... out just southeast of the Nicholl's Road exit on the LIE.

Edited May 31, 2006 by Paolino

[z28luvr01]

Wow, that's the next district over from me (I went to Longwood). From what I understand, they pay VERY well . I hope you get in.

[Paolino]

Wow, that's the next district over from me (I went to Longwood). From what I understand, they pay VERY well . I hope you get in.

Haha--thanks... I hear that too :AH-HA_wink:

I have a friend who works at Longwood teaching highschool English... you would have loved to be her student--she's pretty hot

[76ChevyTrucker]

I wish that I could get my wife back into "real" teaching again, but right now she's happy where she is, although I would enjoy her teaching at a real school again simply because I actually enjoyed helping her grade.

[trinacriabob]

Is it teaching Italian? If so, YOU SHOULDN'T WORRY. Your enthusiasm is great.

In my field, once you get licensed, it's less competitive. I have had to interview with SOOOO many ass holes, I just assume I will talk to an ass hole and take it from there.

I don't think YOU can afford to have that attitude because of the nature of your field. With me, if it wasn't meant to be, it wasn't meant to be.

And, if you don't like them in the interview, you won't like it when you wind up working with them.

Buona fortuna e in bocca al lupo!

[regfootball]

In my field, once you get licensed, it's less competitive.  I have had to interview with SOOOO many ass holes, I just assume I will talk to an ass hole and take it from there.

true......true........

one of my last bosses was a MAJOR ASS and he came off that way in the interview. I was hired by another partner though....then that partner left...the company got turned over to the asshole, who ran it promptly into the hole. He decided to become a consultant back to the company after they asked him to leave, although his side of the story is not quite the same.

bottom line, TONS of assholes and egomaniacs in the field.

Edited May 31, 2006 by regfootball

[knightfan26917]

Hey Paulie, good luck!

Sure wish I was waiting for interviews or answers about whether or not I'm offered a new job ... can't stand the call center job ... keep applying ... so, something should turn up soon....

Cort, "Mr MC" / "Mr Road Trip", 32swm/pig valve/pacemaker

MC:family.IL.guide.future = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/

Models.HO = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/trainroom.html

"You better not try to stand in my way" ... J Paycheck ... 'Take This Job & Shove It'

[Croc]

Ummm...so all you gotta do is say something like "sorry, which idea were you referring to again? I told you several and I'm not quite sure which one you mean" That forces him to describe it, so hopefully you sorta remember what you said...

[Paolino]

Got it

[tmp]

hope it goes well for you!

I wish I kept up my Italian, I used to be pretty good, now I'm at best like Lucia and Georgie. My oldest friends mom was chair at the Italian Dept at Smith: she tortures my by refusing to speak to me in English, and cooing at me that I have the accent of a native born Fiorentino. Evil woman! A beautiful language.

[Sixty8panther]

...there were no permanent Italian positions available on the Island.

The lottery is a scam, don't go they'll take your liver!

[trinacriabob]

Got it 

As in: It's yours? Great.

[trinacriabob]

I wish I kept up my Italian, I used to be pretty good, now I'm at best like Lucia and Georgie.  My oldest friends mom was chair at the Italian Dept at Smith: she tortures my by refusing to speak to me in English, and cooing at me that I have the accent of a native born Fiorentino. 

Well aren't we privileged? One of the hardest things about rummaging around Italy despite being fluent in Italian is that they can pick up the subleties of which accent group you belong to. In my case, they can definitely pick up the sublety that it was taught to me by Sicilians (even though I am speaking the standard version)....and sometimes, you are treated accordingly. This goes to show the narrow mindedness and provincialism that prevails in most parts of Italy...including the North, where some of them absolutely hate southern Italians.

That's why I like to be in a Spanish speaking country. My indoctrination into Spanish was by an Argentinian professor at college....in my mind, the best brand of Spanish out there. (I know AAS doesn't appreciate that comment). And, the comment I get is that my Spanish is very good and very "clean." God bless Argentina!

[Paolino]

As in:  It's yours? Great.

Yup, got it -- signed the paperwork, very happy.

Well aren't we privileged? One of the hardest things about rummaging around Italy despite being fluent in Italian is that they can pick up the subleties of which accent group you belong to.  In my case, they can definitely pick up the sublety that it was taught to me by Sicilians (even though I am speaking the standard version)....and sometimes, you are treated accordingly.  This goes to show the narrow mindedness and provincialism that prevails in most parts of Italy...including the North, where some of them absolutely hate southern Italians.

It's funny, but without knowing why (and I can only assume the only Italian I heard in the house was Sicilian), I pronounce some words with a VERY slight Sicilian accent. A professor pointed out to my friend Giuseppe and I (the professor was a northerner, and didn't bring up the North/South feelings until a couple of Sicilians started getting into an argument with him), that we said "Professore" like a Sicilian would. Now, only to a trained ear could you hear the difference, but without realizing it, I said the first "o" in professore with an open sound, whereas, in Florentine (standard/book Italian), it is pronounced as a closed "o". To me, whenever someone says professore, I hear "professor", but I never really paid any attention t othe "o" sound... just knew the way Giuseppe said it sounded slightly different (but since he's a Sicilian (born and raised there)), it just sounded like "the way Giuseppe said it". He did the same thing, it was "the way Paolo said it."

There was a time when my Italian was very pure sounding, but since I took a break between my bachelors and masters, I lost a bit of it. Only when I really get into a conversation do I get my "melody" back--in Italian, there is a certain "melody" as I call it, to the tune of the language--just the way it sounds, the way the voices go up and down in phrases, etc. In fact, I would chat with many people when I walked around different cities in Italy, and after telling them I was born/raised in the United States I've gotten compliments on the fluidity of my Italian.

[ocnblu]

Congratulations, Paulie!

[Paolino]

Thank you! I'm already receiving new offers of interviews and even my first rejection letter as of today LOL

I swear, I'm reading the rejection letter (the interview SUCKED), and it's like, "You were wonderful, we loved you, we were floored by your expertise on the subject, BUT, you suck and you don't get to round 2." And as I was reading this, it was from the superintendent of the district--I never met her. Why is she the one mailing me the rejection letter... shouldn't the department chair write that and maybe include why the job didn't suite me? Whatever. I don't care--got me an AWESOME job!

[NOS2006]

Congratulations, P(to the)aulie.

[z28luvr01]

Congrats, Paulie! As a Longwood graduate, I am now required to hate you. I'll try to go easy on you though :AH-HA_wink: j/k.

[Paolino]

Congrats, Paulie! As a Longwood graduate, I am now required to hate you. I'll try to go easy on you though :AH-HA_wink: j/k.

LOL, I thought you were required to hate me because I'm from "North Shore Long Island", you southern boy! lol

I never heard about this "animosity" until a couple of years ago--never knew some southshore schools hated the north, snobby shore! lol

[Paolino]

Congratulations! I got one of the jobs I applied to as well, so lady luck must have paid us both a visit.

I know how it goes with the rejection letters. The job I just got I was sent the rejection letter for months ago and out of the blue they called and wanted me to interview the next day last thursday, then I find out I got the job yesterday. But seeing as how we are both now gainfully employed, I won't complain.

Congrats WMJ!!!! Let's go out and get WASTED!

[Nick]

Congrats Paulie on nailing the position!