I submitted an application to a position found on Indeed. I heard back almost immediately, with the hiring director requesting a Zoom meeting, which went well. I was then invited to an all day visit, with multiple interviewing panels (12 people in all) and a presentation that I was to give to current parents (posing as prospective parents) where I was to pose as though I was already in the job. I prepared for that presentation for the entire weekend prior to my visit, creating handouts and other printed material as I would if I were actually in the job. I arrived 20 minutes early for an 8:45 start and got myself mentally ready for the day ahead. Six hours later (and remember, this was for an assistant administrative position, not Head of School) after giving the presentation and answering question after question, from groups of teachers, parents and administrators, I headed out feeling that I had gone above and beyond what was asked of me. I thanked everyone who had taken the time to meet with me, and felt good about the way things went. I was told that I would hear back the following week. I went home and sent individual thank you messages to each and every person who interviewed me, expressing gratitude for their time, and interest in joining the organization. I heard back from a few of these folks, but, interestingly, not the person who had set up the visit, and to whom I would be reporting. I think a simple acknowledgment and thank you back for my time would have been gracious and appropriate, but I heard nothing. A week and a few days later, after lots of stressing about whether or not I was going to get an offer, I decided to reach out and contact them. I got a very formulaic response basically say that they were going with another candidate. While very disappointed, I also felt disrespected. After having put so much time and effort into this process, and receiving back a basic "thanks but no thanks" I came to feel that this school's motto of kindness and respect is nothing but empty words. I responded back and asked if they could provide any feedback that might be helpful to me as I continue my job search, but again, heard nothing back, as though by that point, I had become an afterthought. I think I probably dodged a bullet by not being offered the position, but overall, it felt like an enormous waste of time, effort and the 8 hours of vacation time that I needed to use to attend.
