Job Discussion Forums

[Temujin]

I'll be there. And I'll remember the secret password just in case

[Dipso]

See you there!

[Temujin]

How did your interviews go?

I waited outside as arranged and met several people heading into the interview - I don't know if any of them were you two.

I got through to the individual interview and it went ok - not obviously brilliant but not obviously bad. I'm really anxious now! At least I'll find out fairly soon.

I hope you both did well, sorry I didn't get to meet either of you (unless I did ).

[Perpetual Traveller]

I was one of the lucky ones who got caught on the circle line so didn't actually get there until about 20 mins after the official start time. Dipso and I managed to meet up at one of the breaks though. Maybe you did talk to me... I've got long blonde hair and was wearing a black suit with a blue scarf, ring any bells?

Overall I was pretty happy with how the personal interview went although I was totally thrown when asked what two things my brother would say I should improve, I haven't really spoken to him all that much in the last few years, we're half a world away from each other!

Yep, now it's just a waiting game...and I HATE waiting!

PT

[Dipso]

Have either of you heard from Aeon yet? I have heard nada.

[Perpetual Traveller]

I received an email from them yesterday asking for some further contact information for a couple of my references. I'm hoping that's a positive sign. My theory is that if they didn't want me I would have received a thanks but no thanks letter by now...fingers crossed!

PT

[Temujin]

I sent in some additional contact information for my current employer via e-mail shortly after the interview, and got a reply a couple of days ago saying thanks. Other than that I've heard nothing, and my referees haven't been contacted yet as far as I know. The waiting is driving me mad! I was beginning to get pessimistic but it seems you two haven't gotten any further either. Lets hope we all get through, especially me!

[Perpetual Traveller]

I was asked for a couple of email addresses and when I sent them I also included an alternative phone number for one of my references, they replied and said that they had already managed to speak to that reference.

At the personal interview when I asked Kayoko how I would be contacted she said that if successful it would be by phone and if I was unsuccessful then it would be by letter. Well they're running out of time to get a letter to me since tomorrow will be day nine of my 5-10 days after the personal interview so my theory is that they want all three of us and will call us tomorrow with an offer so that we can have the weekend to think about it (I seem to remember someone at the interview asking about the offer process and they were told that you'd usually be given a few days to think about it, most often a weekend). Isn't that a good theory?

PT

[abufletcher]

Good luck to all of you.

I'm just amazed when I read about these language school screening procedures. I've been teaching EFL at the university level for over 20 years and I've never experienced anything so rigorous. In fact, I think I've only had a personal interview three times in my career. The first time was in Kuwait and it lasted 5 minutes and ended in a job offer as the director of the language center headed out the door to catch a flight. The second time (10 years later) was in Mexico where I was asked to teach a sample class and the last was for my current job in Japan where I was flown over from Mexico to have a 30min. face-to-face after they had really already decided to hire me. There were no other candidates at that point.

The only experience that I have had that was even remotely as competive as your interviews was when I applied for a tenure-track position at an American university.

I guess what I'm saying is that you should all congratulate yourselves just for having gotten through the interview process sane!

One last thing, I once got a phone call from an employer at a Korean university at around 12:30am offering me a job. I asked if I could sleep on it and call him back in the morning. He said no he needed an answer immediately. Well that pretty much set the tone for that job so "no" it was.

[Temujin]

[Perpetual Traveller]

Well I just got a call this evening and I did it! I've been given a general offer, which means that they want to employ me but can't tell me where just yet, they'll let me know in January as I'm not available to leave until July-August next year. Kayoko herself called me and we didn't speak for all that long but I think for those people who they have solid offers for the process probably takes a little longer.

I have my fingers crossed for you!

PT

[Dipso]

Well done!

I hope to be out of my misery soon, one way or the other.

[Perpetual Traveller]

Thanks! I'm pretty stoked! Something else I forgot to mention was that my current employer, who I also put down as my professional reference, was not contacted. The person they spoke to was my employer about 2 jobs ago. However they may have just chosen that person because she is in America and therefore easier for them to contact, no worries about time differences, language barriers etc.

PT

[Temujin]

Congratulations!

I'm available to go in February so hopefully you're right about it just taking longer for those who will be given specific offers. I'm still going to worry myself sick until I hear from them though!

[Gordon]

Congratulations and good luck. Often, employers don't contact personal references. What exactly would they say anyways? Of course they will give a glowing recommendation. Contacting 1 or 2 references is the norm, they are pretty busy.