Any Advice.....

[IanT]

Hi Chaps,

I've just been invited for a interview for a Network Manager at a new academy near me, now I hate interviews, any tips at all?

[DaveP]

For a recent interview I had to prepare a presentation on a topic provided by the academy I was hoping to work for. The presentation was to last half an hour and be followed by a formal interview.

I had not presented to an interviewing panel before until now: Has the academy you are going for a job with made any 'unusual' requests?

The answer to this might be useful in replying to your post?

[IanT]

No odd requests, just I will be meeting the head then being interviewed by 2 people after.

[DaveP]

I also hate interviews [I equally dislike talking to groups in a formal setting (presentations)] so I feel your pain.

Are you already a Network Manager?

Running short of ideas here [as you can probably tell] but if you are already have experience of network management it would put you in a better position in their eyes]

I guess the watch word here is prepare and try not to get too worked up.

Sorry not that helpful. I will post again if I have any [more] ideas.

[IanT]

I was a Network Manager 7 Months ago, went back to my old company due to family issues\closer to home (illness) now looking at going bk to the education sector.

What I worry about is I think people think I look young which really anoyys me (im 24 btw) which leads onto them thinking I couldnt handle the job blah blah blah, my last school the asisstant head didnt want me as he thought the job was too much for me.......proved him and alot of other people wrong, thats the ONLY thing which is in the back of my head when I do these interviews at schools.

Ian.

[DaveP]

All I would say is that I have found that school interviews are in some way easier than interviews for industrially based jobs.

Again not much help I am afraid.

[IanT]

I've noticed that yes, very true.

I've just got my confirmation email!

[GrumbleDook]

If possible read up on the academy development plan, see what they have outlined for IT already and where there may be room for growth / development / innovation.

Depending on the job description you can tie in awareness of the educational outputs of the services you will be delivering ...

Good knowledge of the Harnessing Technologies agenda helps, as does things like FITS, project management and customer services.

On the techie side of things look at things like expected up time, new courses coming up and how that changes what is needed and also how the Academy may or may not link in with other groups such as the LA or national groups and shared resources.

Things that may come up ...
Mobile learning
VLEs
Parental Engagement
Security
Costs
eSafety
Network reliability (actually meaning the network infrastructure, the servers, the desktops / laptops and any services that run across it all)
Remote access

[john]

What I worry about is I think people think I look young which really anoyys me (im 24 btw) which leads onto them thinking I couldnt handle the job blah blah blah, my last school the asisstant head didnt want me as he thought the job was too much for me.......proved him and alot of other people wrong, thats the ONLY thing which is in the back of my head when I do these interviews at schools.

Ian.

Don't worry about that if they are good people they will see through that, I was the youngest at my interview for my job and I got it, and if they are good people and when you show you are worth it they won't give a second worry. I am confident after a chat with the head today that they know and are happy about that with me now and have no worrys and they didn't have before so all should be good. They are not allowed to discriminate on age anyway as its against the law isn't it, fine its probably hard to prove it if you did a legal angle but I am sure they won't see that as a problem.

Perhaps do like Webman does and grow an incredibly dodgy beard

[IanT]

I got a beard so thats a start!

[AXE]

Other people get all the interviews...

[IanT]

Other people get all the interviews...

Sorry mate, I really dont know what too say, if I can be any help please let me know, look at your CV or something?

[mossj]

If your young make an extra effort to be polite and watch your body language. Thanks to the media anyone under 25 is painted as a yob... and the interviewers may have this perception, if they do prove them wrong...

[IanT]

Im 24 and i think im very mature (sometimes a moaning old git).

[DaveP]

What I worry about is I think people think I look young which really annoys me (im 24 btw) which leads onto them thinking I couldnt handle the job blah blah blah...

I am getting on for double your age and I think that my age is against me also. Perhaps we should both be a little more optimistic/positive?