Interviews

I don't know who needs to read this but if it helps one person, it's worth the time spent writing it.

My ambition is to be the headteacher of a secondary school. I have a vision for how that school will be, what values will pervade what we do, what success will be defined by and the enjoyment, learning and reflection that will happen in the school community I lead.

I applied for my first headship before the pandemic and came second to a serving head teacher. The interview process was long and took place in 7 little bursts over 10 days and including a phone call with a trustee which I took in a car park in Rochester on Saturday morning. I did really well, but didn't get the job. The only feedback was - the other candidate in the last two was a headteacher already, and Ofsted was imminent.

During the pandemic I applied for some more jobs. All of the interview processes took place virtually. My children are the children of a key worker so they were in school. I went through a number of processes in my front room.

In my day job, we were introducing a trauma informed behaviour approach in school and, as senior leaders, we got to have SUPERVISION. If you've not tried it, and have to deal with stressful, challenging or heart breaking situations, I cannot recommend it enough. (I am a convert).

One particular school had caught my attention and so I organised a pre-meet with the CEO - she walked her site with hr laptop showing me different parts of the school and we were chatting away. I wrote an application I was proud of. I got shortlisted and set up my laptop for interview day.

I didn't get through the first day.

In feedback (it's a good thing to get, even if ...) I was told that at the start of the interview process I was the person to beat. Through our pre-meet and my application I was at the top of the pile by a distance. And then I did an interview.

During the interviews I felt imprisoned by my chair and table. I could "see" myself but had no control over what I said or my thoughts. I overran in my answers, waffled, said nonsense and couldn't think clearly. Thoughts about what I did, could and should have said rattled through my mind for days afterwards. Horrifying.

So during my next supervision I took the opportunity to unpick this interview. And it was an hour of great learning for me. I was directed to the Ted Talk by Amy Cuddy about power posing. We spoke a lot about hormones and nervous energy and breathing. And I have read a lot since, references dropped into supervision that day and conversations and coaching since.

In subsequent processes I didn't sit down for interviews. I put my laptop on the high shelf so that a chair and table couldn't imprison me. I went for a run in the morning. I pulled the curtain a little so as to reduce the glare a little. I did power poses. And I did much better in interviews as a result. The feedback was much better and I didn't replay horrific panel interviews because they didn't happen - just like that.

There is a school I have wanted to work at for years. I have taken measures to get to work there including not working, so that I'm ready to start as soon as possible (don't laugh) and not embroiled in another new role that I'd have to leave prematurely. I got shortlisted for this role and it's my perfect next step.

The morning went well and I got through to the afternoon (fewer than half of us did). Student panel was great and data task easy. (I've not had feedback yet, by the way, but I know). Then I was called for the panel interview. I didn't know what time this would happen and was just sitting working on my data task. I had prepared my presentation and it was ready to go - totally confident.

I had forgotten about my chair-table issue and didn't have time to breathe (you know what I mean) or power pose prepare. I spoke utter gibberish for all of the questions. I could "see" myself but not think or do anything about the utter nonsense that I was peddling. I am waking up thinking about what I did, could and should have said.

I should have:

• asked for two minutes to be ready (I'd forgotten)
• asked to step outside when I realised what was going on (I'd forgotten and had lost thinking power)
• sat back from the table (I sort of did, but I'd forgotten, so not enough)

The interviewers could have:

• recognised what was going on - there was no way someone would be saying this stuff, not with their track record, composure in writing and all other stages.
• offered me a minute - I've done this when interviewing and stepped outside with someone, told them why and encouraged them to breathe/put their arms up (I know, but it works) - they've always come back in and done much better
• not had the conference table set up in such a small space - my job doesn't ever require me to operate in this way so the whole interview set up is alien and doesn't allow me to show ME.

So however confident you feel, if you have a track record in interviews which means you don't say the things you want to say or would say in any other context and conversation, watch Amy Cuddy. Get some coaching from someone who recognises the impact of hormones in interview. Don't forget your strategies, even if you're confident.

Interviewers, take time to consider what you want to see, be clear and recognise how you can allow candidates to perform at their best.