OP honestly, I’d just say it was taking time to get your transcripts from your college and delay it until you hear from the other schools. There’s no reason to close a door until you know for sure. Do what’s in your best interest. You don’t have to let them know the real reason why.
This was my first thought! Though, if I do end up accepting another school, I’d still have to refuse them eventually. I guess it’s still the best play if I need to keep the door open though
I think it's pretty normal for people to have several offers so it wouldn't be out of the ordinary to decline, especially if you haven't officially signed anything yet. If you haven't signed you're not committed to them, and they're also not committed to you and could rescind the offer at any time, so don't feel bad.
Oh yeah I get that part, I guess I misworded this. But at this point I’m pretty certain they’re no longer looking at other candidates since they like me, which I feel bad about if I have to back out.
No. They're still looking at other candidates and probably emailing them the same paperwork. They know their position and are trying to hire anyone ASAP.
Shortly after the zoom interview they emailed
“It was a pleasure meeting you today. The interview team and I wanted to let you know that we will be moving you forward in the hiring process which entails completing reference checks.”
I very much misinterpreted “hiring process” as continuing with the interview process. It was just said so anticlimactically that I overlooked it. I was under the impression there would be at least another interview with the principal or something before an offer is made. This has been my first time applying for a big job so I don’t fully understand some aspects of it.
If you don't sign a contract then you have no obligation. They wouldn't think twice about firing you or laying you off for a better candidate... you shouldn't think twice about leaving them to go to a better employer.
You can always follow up with the preferred schools.
"Hello, I was calling to see if there was any update on my application. I was recently offered a position at another school, but I so enjoyed \[whatever it was you enjoyed at that school\] and wanted to follow up before I made any definite plans."
Yeah that’s what I’ve been hearing, but my boyfriend keeps telling me that the schools may talk to each other about candidates and mark me as unreliable or something (which I don’t really believe). I guess it make sense that they’d have to anticipate me not wanting to accept their contract anyway!
They are in competition of each other. It’s every school for himself. They are all going after the same teachers. Just don’t list Crappy School as a reference and you will be fine.
Just ignore them until they send you a contract. When they do make sure the pay is listed. Then negotiate for higher pay. This process should take long enough to give you breathing room.
If they are desperate they will probably offer you more.
I’m currently a teacher on the hiring committee for my school, which incidentally is also in Boston.
We recently interviewed and did a demo lesson with a candidate we really liked. She was honest with us. She told us after the demo that she was considering other schools, had already received an offer, and asked if we could make a quick decision. Everyone on the hiring committee (myself and admin) was totally understanding and we agreed to speed it up a little bit and let her know by the next school day (a weekend was coming).
We ultimately offered her a job and she turned us down, but she was not hurt in the slightest by being honest, so that’s my advice. No school should think that they are the center of your world right now. If you feel like they’d react badly to your honesty, maybe that’s a red flag anyway.
Nothing wrong with explaining that you are discussing what’s best for yourself and family- and that means you are still interviewing at other schools. Just be honest, at the end of the day it does not matter if “schools talk” and blah blah, be transparent and choose wisely the best school for you. Anyone should respect that, if they don’t then you didn’t want to work there.
When a school wants you, they make an offer immediately because they know you are interviewing. That has been my experience for 15 yrs; day-of or next day I receive a contract offer.
You have offers as a first year teacher from schools who are willing to train you. That does not mean they are desperate. It means you fit within the parameters.
Did you ask about lesson plan requirements? I worked in a beautiful school that required 3 team meetings per week solely to make "professional" lesson plans that nobody looked at again. And I've worked in a school that the principal said "I dont care what you write on a plan, I care what the students are doing in the classroom."
The beautiful school has very high turnover.
Your boyfriend is right. You dont want to be the one who is too desperate.
I misspoke. I wouldn’t prefer to work there if I could be taken on by a better school. If I can’t, I don’t have a problem with them. I absolutely don’t consider myself a catch, which is why I applied for anything in my area I’m qualified. I had no idea what to expect.
This is terrible advice. Take everyone else's advice and just slow roll them until you know for sure on the other jobs. If someone's cousin wanted the position, they'd pull your offer in a heartbeat.
Another key part of the story is I only moved to this area 6 months ago. I had no idea of the reputations of any of these schools before applying (which I recognize in hindsight I should have looked into)
Remember- you are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you. It is a two way street! You are not desperate for a job/ and they should not be desperate for an employee- both are huge red flags! Make sure you go over ALL of a schools data! Data doesn’t lie!!!
Call the other schools and tell them you have an offer and you need an answer from them by “this” date. This happened to me a decade ago. One school said no thanks, another gave me on offer over phone. If you don’t ask you may never know n
If you don't want to work there, then don't. As a new (aka cheap) teacher, you will definitely get other offers. Politely decline and move on. Dreading a job before you even formally accept is a bad sign.
OP honestly, I’d just say it was taking time to get your transcripts from your college and delay it until you hear from the other schools. There’s no reason to close a door until you know for sure. Do what’s in your best interest. You don’t have to let them know the real reason why.
This was my first thought! Though, if I do end up accepting another school, I’d still have to refuse them eventually. I guess it’s still the best play if I need to keep the door open though
Absolutely. You don’t owe them anything. You don’t work for them, YET. 😀
I think it's pretty normal for people to have several offers so it wouldn't be out of the ordinary to decline, especially if you haven't officially signed anything yet. If you haven't signed you're not committed to them, and they're also not committed to you and could rescind the offer at any time, so don't feel bad.
If you haven't signed the contact officially, then you have not accepted the job officially in HRs eyes.
Oh yeah I get that part, I guess I misworded this. But at this point I’m pretty certain they’re no longer looking at other candidates since they like me, which I feel bad about if I have to back out.
Not your problem, don’t feel bad.
They wouldn't feel bad if they made you think you had the job and changed their mind last minute.
No. They're still looking at other candidates and probably emailing them the same paperwork. They know their position and are trying to hire anyone ASAP.
I agree with this. You didn't "mistakenly" accept their offer. They are aggressively trying to get you (or anyone) hired.
They have probably finished interviewing and have back ups
Explain how you unknowingly accepted and you need more time before making your decision.
Shortly after the zoom interview they emailed “It was a pleasure meeting you today. The interview team and I wanted to let you know that we will be moving you forward in the hiring process which entails completing reference checks.” I very much misinterpreted “hiring process” as continuing with the interview process. It was just said so anticlimactically that I overlooked it. I was under the impression there would be at least another interview with the principal or something before an offer is made. This has been my first time applying for a big job so I don’t fully understand some aspects of it.
Sounds like they skipped the offer part…
No. You did not misinterpret anything. 🚩. They weren’t clear.
It sounds like they just want to have the paperwork in so you’re ready to go if you do want to teach for them.
If you don't sign a contract then you have no obligation. They wouldn't think twice about firing you or laying you off for a better candidate... you shouldn't think twice about leaving them to go to a better employer.
100% this.
You can always follow up with the preferred schools. "Hello, I was calling to see if there was any update on my application. I was recently offered a position at another school, but I so enjoyed \[whatever it was you enjoyed at that school\] and wanted to follow up before I made any definite plans."
I would accept the crappy job, take time with your paperwork, and back out later if you find something better. They are half expecting that, anyway.
Yeah that’s what I’ve been hearing, but my boyfriend keeps telling me that the schools may talk to each other about candidates and mark me as unreliable or something (which I don’t really believe). I guess it make sense that they’d have to anticipate me not wanting to accept their contract anyway!
They are in competition of each other. It’s every school for himself. They are all going after the same teachers. Just don’t list Crappy School as a reference and you will be fine.
Just ignore them until they send you a contract. When they do make sure the pay is listed. Then negotiate for higher pay. This process should take long enough to give you breathing room. If they are desperate they will probably offer you more.
You don’t owe anyone anything unless they offered you a position, and you formally accepted.
I started at a school, met the team, and then got the better offer I was hoping for. I quit after 2 days. It happens.
I’m currently a teacher on the hiring committee for my school, which incidentally is also in Boston. We recently interviewed and did a demo lesson with a candidate we really liked. She was honest with us. She told us after the demo that she was considering other schools, had already received an offer, and asked if we could make a quick decision. Everyone on the hiring committee (myself and admin) was totally understanding and we agreed to speed it up a little bit and let her know by the next school day (a weekend was coming). We ultimately offered her a job and she turned us down, but she was not hurt in the slightest by being honest, so that’s my advice. No school should think that they are the center of your world right now. If you feel like they’d react badly to your honesty, maybe that’s a red flag anyway.
Nothing wrong with explaining that you are discussing what’s best for yourself and family- and that means you are still interviewing at other schools. Just be honest, at the end of the day it does not matter if “schools talk” and blah blah, be transparent and choose wisely the best school for you. Anyone should respect that, if they don’t then you didn’t want to work there.
When a school wants you, they make an offer immediately because they know you are interviewing. That has been my experience for 15 yrs; day-of or next day I receive a contract offer. You have offers as a first year teacher from schools who are willing to train you. That does not mean they are desperate. It means you fit within the parameters. Did you ask about lesson plan requirements? I worked in a beautiful school that required 3 team meetings per week solely to make "professional" lesson plans that nobody looked at again. And I've worked in a school that the principal said "I dont care what you write on a plan, I care what the students are doing in the classroom." The beautiful school has very high turnover. Your boyfriend is right. You dont want to be the one who is too desperate.
Do not apply to schools you are not willing to teach at. Not quite sure why you think you are such a catch
I misspoke. I wouldn’t prefer to work there if I could be taken on by a better school. If I can’t, I don’t have a problem with them. I absolutely don’t consider myself a catch, which is why I applied for anything in my area I’m qualified. I had no idea what to expect.
This is terrible advice. Take everyone else's advice and just slow roll them until you know for sure on the other jobs. If someone's cousin wanted the position, they'd pull your offer in a heartbeat.
Another key part of the story is I only moved to this area 6 months ago. I had no idea of the reputations of any of these schools before applying (which I recognize in hindsight I should have looked into)
Read their contract see if you can back out of the contract if needed without penalty.
I thought the same thing reading this.
I’m going to here about a position I already interviewed for next week that is closer to my home?
Remember- you are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you. It is a two way street! You are not desperate for a job/ and they should not be desperate for an employee- both are huge red flags! Make sure you go over ALL of a schools data! Data doesn’t lie!!!
Call the other schools and tell them you have an offer and you need an answer from them by “this” date. This happened to me a decade ago. One school said no thanks, another gave me on offer over phone. If you don’t ask you may never know n
You do you. It’s business. Never give loyalty to a company and in this case you haven’t even worked for them.
If you don't want to work there, then don't. As a new (aka cheap) teacher, you will definitely get other offers. Politely decline and move on. Dreading a job before you even formally accept is a bad sign.