I am royally pissed off today! (Am I allowed to use the "p" word? Not sure. Anyway ...)
Why, you ask?
I just received notification that I was unsuccessful in my last job application. I'm actually not gritting my teeth about not getting the job, it's the
process that bugs me. The entire process was over & done with in 3 working days (something of a record!

). The thing is, though,
I didn't even make it to the interview stage! Now this is rather unusual. I have always been told that I write a really good application & I know I do. So not to even get an interview is highly unusual ... a first for me. And to have the process over & done with in 3 working days is, well, incredible!
You have no idea of how frustrating this process of applying for teaching jobs actually is. First you have to try & figure out if it's a
real position. Government schools
must advertise vacancies, even if they have a preferred candidate in mind. So you ring the principal & politely ask the usual, carefully phrased questions to try & figure out whether it's worth your while applying or not. In this case I was assured the vacancy was "real". But then, they can't really say it's
not real because then the school could be subject to a merit & equity claim! (Are you still with me?) It is no fun applying for jobs that in reality are already taken. (AS has happened
twice in a couple of months to a teacher in my department at work, who actually should have had priority, due to Excess procedures in government schools. Too long a story to explain here, trust me.

)
Anyway, to not get even to the interview stage is quite strange. I actually feel quite offended. I have contacted the school for "advice" about their assessment of my application, but frankly, I'm starting to get very fed up with this sort of thing. I don't think I fancy doing another of these applications for quite a bit!
On the credit side, I'm told I have quite a few of long service leave credits up my sleave from my permanent teaching days.

That money is available to me in a lump sum. I could take a wee breather from this nonsense for a bit & recover some sanity!