Bubbles, everyone, BUBBLES!
This one gets a big Dan "WOW"...
Journey with me to the interview I had today! It was with a Preschool which shall remain nameless for its own protection and all names have been changed. :)
This lovely Thursday morning, I travelled over the river to the corporate office of the Preschool That Must Not Be Named (Heretofore known as "PTMNBN"). Upon entering, I observe a girl - I am assuming the receptionist - sitting at her desk...but on the floor next to her big comfy desk chair. She is talking on the phone. She is discussing the crap someone keeps pulling, how tired she is of it and what she is going to do to prevent it in the future. She barely acknowledges me. I stand there for a couple of minutes and then another lady comes out of an office behind the front desk. She is quite friendly and introduces herself as Donna. She takes me into her office, confirms my name and asks me to have a seat.
"How much time do you have today?" She asks.
"I'm not on a schedule," I reply and hand her my teaching portfolio.
She says thanks and says she will look at it while I am watching the three videos they had for me to view.
"The first video," she explains, "talks about how the program at PTMNBN works and what is expected of every employee."
I nod.
"The next one talks about the after school program and the third video shows an example of a teacher implementing our program's curriculum."
She says that after I watch the videos and take the quiz, they would take me to observe at one of the schools and then do an interactive observation of me with the kids.
Note: This is the point in the story where Denny and Steve said respectively "Why am I thinking Kool-Aid?" and "Cult-cult-cult" :)
I agree to the process..It seems appropriate and fair. Donna hands me the policy manual, the after school teacher rules and the post video quiz. She brings me into a room with 2 other girls who are already watching the first video. She apologizes for the bad quality of the video which is rolling and staticky and assures me they are working on making one that looks better. I settle in to catch up on the video and look over the policy manual.
It does not take long for me to suddeny feel like a 15 year old Girl Scout watching a "How to babysit properly" video. The owner of the school is sitting there on the screen going page by page through the employee manual...laboriously, point by point...And I must note that this manual includes explanations such as when to change a diaper, how to speak to children and the espcially helpful nugget: How to read a book outloud to kids:
"Be sure to hold the book out to the side, facing outward so all the children can see it...and ask questions about the book such as 'what colors do you see?'"
I am desperately trying not to let my jaw fall onto the table...and trying like mad to calm my ego and remember that I should be humble...But inside I am thinking that aside from having enough experience to know these basics, that even when I DIDN'T have experience I knew how to read a book to a child.
Next we are told we ALWAYS had to be bubbly and warm and always had to smile because children love to see smiling adults. Yes, the phrase, "Be bubbly" is in their employee manual. My hackles are going up by the minute despit every effort to talk them down.
Somehow I make it through the first video. Determined not to jump ship prematurely, I have great hopes that the 2nd video is better....Hopes that are quickly doused.
This one is hosted by a girl who proceeds to tell us how to wear a name tag so that parents know who they are talking to "See mine?" (camera closes in on her name tag) "It says 'Teacher Becky'... She explains that we should have our activities and lessons prepared before hand "so you're not standing there cutting out art projects while the students wait."
At this point I zone out. I am busy trying to decide whether to stay or go. I th about the $12/hr. that I would be paid. Then think about the $150/hr in therapy that I would need to survive this place. I decide that I am not yet at a place of desperation. It isn't worth it. I have to plan a graceful exit. Do I pretend Denny called with an emergency? Do I simply say "something has come up - can I reschedule my interview?" There must be some way to get out of here with my dignity intact.
-->Calmly, I gather my things and say so long to my fellow inmates. I go into the office and quietly put the paperwork on Donna's desk - realizing now that the owner of the whole blessed PTMNBN franchise (and illustrious hostess of the first video) is standing there with Donna. Donna asks me if I was done watching the videos.
"I don't think this will be a good fit." I say and smile apologetically. "Could I just get my portfolio?"
Donna looks at me in surprise and says "Oh, OK..." She hands me my portfolio. "was anything wrong?"
"No," I say "I just dont think it's a good fit...but thank you."
The owner introduces herself and says "I have to know...what didn't work for you?"
Do I tell her that I felt insulted and condescened to? Do I offer the constructive criticism she seems to want? Maybe it will help?
Nah.
I start for the door and say "It just don't think it would work out".
The owner pursues me to the exit asking me to explain. Finally I pause at the door, look at her as sincerely as I can and say "I don't think I'm bubbly enough for you".
That stops her short...she smiles and nods and kind of shrugs. I give her a wave and smile and book it down the steps to the safety of my Saturn.
Kool-Aid indeed!
SHEESH!
Journey with me to the interview I had today! It was with a Preschool which shall remain nameless for its own protection and all names have been changed. :)
This lovely Thursday morning, I travelled over the river to the corporate office of the Preschool That Must Not Be Named (Heretofore known as "PTMNBN"). Upon entering, I observe a girl - I am assuming the receptionist - sitting at her desk...but on the floor next to her big comfy desk chair. She is talking on the phone. She is discussing the crap someone keeps pulling, how tired she is of it and what she is going to do to prevent it in the future. She barely acknowledges me. I stand there for a couple of minutes and then another lady comes out of an office behind the front desk. She is quite friendly and introduces herself as Donna. She takes me into her office, confirms my name and asks me to have a seat.
"How much time do you have today?" She asks.
"I'm not on a schedule," I reply and hand her my teaching portfolio.
She says thanks and says she will look at it while I am watching the three videos they had for me to view.
"The first video," she explains, "talks about how the program at PTMNBN works and what is expected of every employee."
I nod.
"The next one talks about the after school program and the third video shows an example of a teacher implementing our program's curriculum."
She says that after I watch the videos and take the quiz, they would take me to observe at one of the schools and then do an interactive observation of me with the kids.
Note: This is the point in the story where Denny and Steve said respectively "Why am I thinking Kool-Aid?" and "Cult-cult-cult" :)
I agree to the process..It seems appropriate and fair. Donna hands me the policy manual, the after school teacher rules and the post video quiz. She brings me into a room with 2 other girls who are already watching the first video. She apologizes for the bad quality of the video which is rolling and staticky and assures me they are working on making one that looks better. I settle in to catch up on the video and look over the policy manual.
It does not take long for me to suddeny feel like a 15 year old Girl Scout watching a "How to babysit properly" video. The owner of the school is sitting there on the screen going page by page through the employee manual...laboriously, point by point...And I must note that this manual includes explanations such as when to change a diaper, how to speak to children and the espcially helpful nugget: How to read a book outloud to kids:
"Be sure to hold the book out to the side, facing outward so all the children can see it...and ask questions about the book such as 'what colors do you see?'"
I am desperately trying not to let my jaw fall onto the table...and trying like mad to calm my ego and remember that I should be humble...But inside I am thinking that aside from having enough experience to know these basics, that even when I DIDN'T have experience I knew how to read a book to a child.
Next we are told we ALWAYS had to be bubbly and warm and always had to smile because children love to see smiling adults. Yes, the phrase, "Be bubbly" is in their employee manual. My hackles are going up by the minute despit every effort to talk them down.
Somehow I make it through the first video. Determined not to jump ship prematurely, I have great hopes that the 2nd video is better....Hopes that are quickly doused.
This one is hosted by a girl who proceeds to tell us how to wear a name tag so that parents know who they are talking to "See mine?" (camera closes in on her name tag) "It says 'Teacher Becky'... She explains that we should have our activities and lessons prepared before hand "so you're not standing there cutting out art projects while the students wait."
At this point I zone out. I am busy trying to decide whether to stay or go. I th about the $12/hr. that I would be paid. Then think about the $150/hr in therapy that I would need to survive this place. I decide that I am not yet at a place of desperation. It isn't worth it. I have to plan a graceful exit. Do I pretend Denny called with an emergency? Do I simply say "something has come up - can I reschedule my interview?" There must be some way to get out of here with my dignity intact.
-->Calmly, I gather my things and say so long to my fellow inmates. I go into the office and quietly put the paperwork on Donna's desk - realizing now that the owner of the whole blessed PTMNBN franchise (and illustrious hostess of the first video) is standing there with Donna. Donna asks me if I was done watching the videos.
"I don't think this will be a good fit." I say and smile apologetically. "Could I just get my portfolio?"
Donna looks at me in surprise and says "Oh, OK..." She hands me my portfolio. "was anything wrong?"
"No," I say "I just dont think it's a good fit...but thank you."
The owner introduces herself and says "I have to know...what didn't work for you?"
Do I tell her that I felt insulted and condescened to? Do I offer the constructive criticism she seems to want? Maybe it will help?
Nah.
I start for the door and say "It just don't think it would work out".
The owner pursues me to the exit asking me to explain. Finally I pause at the door, look at her as sincerely as I can and say "I don't think I'm bubbly enough for you".
That stops her short...she smiles and nods and kind of shrugs. I give her a wave and smile and book it down the steps to the safety of my Saturn.
Kool-Aid indeed!
SHEESH!
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