MAR001

I have the impression that the job hunt moves faster than London, overall the feedback has been great but we have encountered some comments from our interviewers that we wouldn't even think to have in London as follows:

1. A recruiter told me in my interview that my design portfolio from the UK looks "too old" (just like that) for the Australian market (not precisely an esteem buster).

2. An interviewer told to my wife that thanks god he spent some time in the UK because her degree from Leicester may looks that was taken from a Cereal box (!), also a nice: "oh how tiny you are! how tall are you?".

3. Another (as....ole) told me that I'm way overqualified for a position but that they would be open to discuss about a (minimum wage) internship - if I'm interested.

Hard to explain (hope you understand what I'm talking about).. we also have perceive an air of arrogance in some of our interviews and a kind of an effort to make thinks too complicated some times. we really want to keep open minded and don't put labels but it's not easy.

Don't want to discuss about how good are the Folio or the Degree.. but, is it normal to have that kind of raw comments coming from the people here? Most people in the UK has the ability to really knock you down (if they want to) without loosing even a bit of politeness, but here we don't even know what to respond.

Best response from job applications and second interviews are when we play the "interesting" game rather than chasing, calling and insisting to recruiters (otherwise the advised in other posts).

Any similar experience or comments?

Ozzidoc

More likely to be cultural differences than intended impoliteness.

Good luck with the job hunting.

Turban Explorer

Unfortunately that's the way it is. Laugh off the uncouth jokes/comments. Work out some techniques whereby you are steering the interview so you are never backfooted. You'll get there in the end.

fish.01

I wonder if it is a cultural misunderstanding of motive...for example I can't see this comment as a big deal...just seems like a clumsy attempt at a joke, not a personal attack.

Jon77

With the nervousness if the interviewee and all the focus on the interview in hand and the questions you often forget about the person sat the other side of the desk.

As with any other area there are good and bad interviewers, I have certainly had a few bad interviewers in the UK and Australia.

Also on occasions interviewers can also be nervous of course.

I think you can be over sensitive in interviews also, you are totally tuned in to everything being said and looking for indications of if they like you / if you are saying the right things. It is not a natural environment.

sheene

That sort of bullishness is not restricted to interviews. The GTP(Graduate Teacher Program) in the UK is a widely recognised method of teacher training. Degree holders do their further degree whilst teaching - very rigorous and very hard work.

Widely recognised, that is, except in NZ or OZ.

Just plain arrogance and bloody mindedness. Some of the best, brightest, hardest working teachers come out of that program.

Ozzidoc

Ah, now that's interesting. I bet my life that there's another cultural situation at play here.

There used to be a qualification in Australia (or at least in Victoria where I grew up) called the "Dip Ed" ie Diploma of Education which was a one year graduate teacher program that nearly ANYONE with a degree could do to become a teacher. The only entry requirements related to the subjects that had already been covered in the B.A or B.Sc, in that one or two of them had to be appropriate to be taught at high school level. (English, maths, sciences, physical education/sports, other languages...etc)

At the time, the Dip Ed was a fall-back plan for anyone who didn't really know what they wanted to do, and it certainly was not considered in the light described above.

fish.01

Nice segue but don't think it is related to the cereal box joke made in the interview Strange that you would think someone decided not to recognise this particular programme from a foreign country because they happen to be arrogant...surely there might be more to it

sheene

I can only speak from experience. A friend came out from the UK on holiday to NZ, thought he would like to stay and teach, then found out his qualification would not be recognised. He decided to study for the NZ equivalent, and found the work to be very similar, certainly not more advanced, and in some areas weaker.

The 'arrogance' comes from 'a display of superiority', i.e. our qualification is better than yours, which is simply not the case. More and more schools in NZ are starting to use the Cambridge Examinations for their pupils, preferring it to their own NCEA. So they accept that the UK education system is good - but only when it suits.

sheene

Maybe that old qualification was a bit dodgy, I have no terms of reference, but the present DipEd is similar to the PGCE in the UK, which is very highly respected in the profession.

I am not sure that a 'fall-back' plan is always a bad thing. You can start out in a direction, then change your mind for a number of reasons - and those reasons can be positive. If you change careers, does that mean you will not be as dedicated in the new role, seeing as it was not your first choice?

fish.01

I don't mean to be rude but surely that is just an emotional response rather than the actual reason they don't recognise it. After all many degrees are recognised from all sorts of countries including the UK. They may have judged it not to be a good fit with their course, they may have not got around to validating it or whatever...but I doubt they sat in a room and let some arrogant tosser deride the UK education system for the hell of it and then let him cross the ditch and decide the same for NZ as well

sheene

I am actually fairly dispassionate about it, having taught in NZ for 3 years (my qualifications were ratified), and now residing in OZ. Probably nearer to cynicism than emotion - FE is big business (see below -if it is there - advert for Adelaide University)

eddie007

Same in Nursing... There was no equivilEnt to my uk qualifications in australia when I arrived...Therefore it was ignored... And I'm only recognised as a Registered nurse, rather than a Specialist Nurse Practitioner in my field... Non transferable qualifications is not uncommon simply because Australia hasnt caught up yet...

Here its still the length of time sat with your arse on your seat rather than the extended academic learning and specific experience you have actively selected and sought to progress your career... That is recognised....

You just have to Suck it up...... i was aware of this situation before I immigrated and I knew the implications for my career before I came... I had to start at square one again....

newjersey

PRINCE2 is the same kind of "widely recognized" project management certification. I found that outside of the UK and possibly a few northern EU countries most of the PM's go huh? when you say you are PRINCE2 Practitioner. PMP, an American alternative, did better job at being recognized internationally, and is too lacking a wow factor in a job interview situation. I guess it is a common situation across the board, not just IT, teaching or nursing.

Ozzidoc

As someone who has always had Plans A-H, I completely agree. And I am passionate about each one of my plans

However the situation referred to above was at a time 20 years or more ago, when the attitude was more along the lines of..."well, I guess if I can't get a job or nothing else appeals, I could always become a teacher".