Monday, August 08, 2016

The Interview Process (Trina Agee Cornell)


I was not planning on using so many of Trina's devotionals so quickly but I am slow to adjust this year to life back in the US PLUS planning to get school started. So, thanks, Trina!
T'is the season for change!  This is the time of year when school districts are looking to fill vacancies in their buildings.  Change happens for a myriad of reasons - retirement, relocation, maternity, and other kinds of leave.  Vacancies are open and ready to be filled - let the interviews commence.
This has lead to a slew of interviews as the right candidate is sought.  I have had the privilege of being on both sides of the process - more as an applicant and less as an interviewer.  My personal relocations necessitated that I make searching for a job my "part-time job", getting my name out there and seeing what was available.  I have interviewed several times in several places - and let me tell you, I'm not sure it gets any easier.  People ask you questions about yourself, your teaching career, best practices in education, and questions specific to the content.  You share what you know - you put your best foot forward, and hope for the best.  
First impressions are everything - when you meet someone for the first time, you want to make sure they see your best side.  You dress professionally, you prepare for the interview, and you do the absolute best you can.  I used to walk away from interviews thinking about everything I should have said, could have shared, and might have done to improve my responses.  Even though I was extremely hard on myself, I always walked away confident - confident that they saw the real me, and confident that it was in the Lord's hands.  
I have lived this first hand many times over.  My teaching career has taken me through Arkansas, Tennessee, and now, Missouri.  I have changed jobs for a number of reasons – staff reduction, relocating – and, finally, marriage.  Going through the interview process hundreds of times over has not been easy, but it’s made me who I am.  As challenging as it has been, these experiences have shown me a great deal about my Heavenly Father.  They have reminded me of His faithfulness – He has helped me land in the right place at the right time for that specific time in my life.  Currently, I am working as a reading specialist, about to start my tenth year of teaching – and I feel like I have arrived.  All along – through the changes, shifts, and moves – the Lord was preparing me for this.  He is faithful, without a doubt – His plan is always higher than our own!
God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1

www.hawleybooks.com
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com

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