Want to apply for this job but phone call advice is terrifying me.

[Duncan74]

@VictorR that same would apply to large corporates as well. Same applies for random reach out connections on LinkedIn.

I think in the past this was perhaps more effective. Really it's about being considerate of the time of the person you are intending to talk to. How will the 10minutes of your intended phone call give them more value than a 10 minute coffee break, or 10 minutes talking to their current colleagues on a work project.

In most cases, honestly, you aren't going to be on the right side of that equation,

 

[Rodafina]

@Owliet
I think there are two different issues going on here.

One is the trouble with phone calls which many of us seem to share with you. I think it’s really great that you are able to recognize when things are hard but pushing yourself and seeking advice here to meet your challenges head on. We all may have to make phone calls at some point no matter how much we are troubled by the process, so it’s a good skill to learn.

But, the second thing is different and that is this specific instance and the advice that was given by your father. Again, I have respect that you are willing to take this opportunity to challenge yourself into making an important phone call, but I think it is so important also to learn to trust yourself. One of the great things about seeking advice on the forum, for me, is that sometimes people offer contradicting advice and it all sounds good to me. at the end of the day, I have to make the decisions for myself and I end up taking bits and pieces of some advice and not using other advice.

We must learn to trust ourselves in our own thinking. Well your dad may have good intentions and good experience, this must be leveraged with the information that you have about yourself, your feelings, and the way you operate the best and most confidently in the world. Even though he is a father, possibly full of wisdom and experience, and possibly very effusive with his advice, it does not mean that he necessarily knows better than you in this situation.

I would love you to hear the voice that says trust yourself. You don’t have to do what anyone else tells you to do, and you should have faith in the knowledge that you have of the situation.

 

[grommet]

In my last job, I was told to watch out for an upcoming position in the subject area that I teach, in addition to another subject that whilst I havent taught it, I technically did elements of the subject in my MA. However, I am very apprehensive about applying for this because they invited me to apply, told me that even if I didnt have this additional subject that there were ways around it (although at this time, words are wind). The job has just come up, and I’ll start the application process tomorrow, with the aim to submit it in the next few days. So I tell me dad that this job has come up because he told me to check every day from when I was told (that I have been doing) and I was asking him a few questions like could my MA actually apply to show I have experience with the second subject area) and he was telling me that I need to make a phone call as soon as possible To mention about my MA and point out that some things tie. With my transcript with the syllabus (I mean, it does). My mom also interrupted with her “make a phone call“ to these other people — which wasn’t related or helpful, and was there to just further add the stress.

They both know that phone calls are difficult for me.
They just dont seem to understand that telephone calls are terrifying for me. They dont understand that it is quite challenging for me to make and even if I make a script, it is still extremely stressful. It’s the same for interviews but most of the time, now thanks to covid wariness, that they are on zoom and other online tools. I really want this job. I have a good chance since this place knows me and were the ones to encourage me to apply for this position. I also have additional support from others in this workplace. And whilst I appreciate my dad’s advice for this, I’m quite stressed about the very idea of making a phone call to ask. Wouldn’t it make more sense for me to mention all of this in my cover letter instead? Its not like they aren’t aware because on my exit interview I did mention that I didnt really have this when they mentioned it to me, but now realizing what my MA also did, I can do it. My boss at the time, she even said that I can put my mind to anything and do it.

Do I just write the cover letter? But then again, I can’t avoid phone calls forever. But I dont want it to be drawn out and make errors when making the phone call because that could impact me with this.

Can someone please help me with what the best decision is here?

Do you think you could lie, put on a character's voice and act while you are on the phone? That is what I do. It feels awful but if I lie and talk as a character I can be on the phone. If it is honestly me, a lot goes wrong and I have many moments where I cannot speak. If the other person is kind and understanding it can help a lot but I believe I cannot expect that normally.

It really does feel bad when I do it but going into character is how I talk when I have to.

 

[Owliet]

I agree it's up to you as to whether to call.

I should note that where I am, most public sector employers (which include most schools) have specific marking grids for hiring assessments, and they're usually quite specific - did the person indicate they have X experience in their CV and did they address all of the desired qualities in their CV or application responses?

This means that doing something outside the norm (like making a call) would result in no points, and if you were not someone already known to them and have a good rapport, it might actually be detrimental and cause a potential tie-breaker to go against you. (e.g. Oh, it's that super eager person annoying us)

All that is addressed is in their requirements But during my exit interview with them last month, they were the ones to mention this job opportunity that was coming up. They mentioned it to me. Not me. She said that she‘d like me to apply, that I was more than welcome to and when I mentioned that I didn’t have experience (as far as I knew at the time because I often forget transferable skills) in the other subject, she said that there’d be ways around it. Would it be something that I would be interested in and that I said I was. When I was talking to my colleague who I was covering for, I mentioned my MA and he said that it was experience there, that he recommends me and had recommended me to them when the idea was being put. Not to mention, they had been gathering feedback about how I did and it was all positive. I am known to them but I do not want to make this phone call that may be detrimental to anything that could be a possible chance for me with this. But my dad keeps insisting that I do make the phone call, even when I say this. I suppose I could “ make” the phone call and then just do the cover letter with the wording of what I have done. But thats lying and even that I dont feel comfortable with doing. I really wish I hadn’t said that the job came up. =(. I still apply to it but I wish I hadn’t said anything.

@Owliet
I think there are two different issues going on here.

One is the trouble with phone calls which many of us seem to share with you. I think it’s really great that you are able to recognize when things are hard but pushing yourself and seeking advice here to meet your challenges head on. We all may have to make phone calls at some point no matter how much we are troubled by the process, so it’s a good skill to learn.

But, the second thing is different and that is this specific instance and the advice that was given by your father. Again, I have respect that you are willing to take this opportunity to challenge yourself into making an important phone call, but I think it is so important also to learn to trust yourself. One of the great things about seeking advice on the forum, for me, is that sometimes people offer contradicting advice and it all sounds good to me. at the end of the day, I have to make the decisions for myself and I end up taking bits and pieces of some advice and not using other advice.

We must learn to trust ourselves in our own thinking. Well your dad may have good intentions and good experience, this must be leveraged with the information that you have about yourself, your feelings, and the way you operate the best and most confidently in the world. Even though he is a father, possibly full of wisdom and experience, and possibly very effusive with his advice, it does not mean that he necessarily knows better than you in this situation.

I would love you to hear the voice that says trust yourself. You don’t have to do what anyone else tells you to do, and you should have faith in the knowledge that you have of the situation.

That’s the problem. I dont trust myself. I do get the idea behind it, but I really dont want to mess this up. THe phone is the biggest obstacle for me and I often panic, mumble and that comes across that I am weird and I hate being weird. I still hate being different (sorry, I dont mean that as an offense, it’s just how I feel). I should be able to make phone calls. I should be able to take initiative and network but I just feel like it’s all dishonest. It is not me. I dont want to waste her time with the question when it should be obvious that I should just write it down in my cover letter and hope. I have mentioned that I dont have experience in this area and they still told me to apply. But If i mess up, then any chance that I may have will be gone. Any time I’ve had a phone call conversation it is always negative. It’s different with family calling But when its phone calls from feedback of “oh we felt we could give you feeedback about why you didnt get this job” or dealing with someone on the phone who thinks that my hesitancy means that I am deaf (I am not) and then they shout and get frustrated eventually. Its just too much and overwhelming. But I know that if I dont do it — Dad will be mad and will say that I let myself down. I really wish I could just pick up the phone. And I will have to do that in a few hours Once I am Less stressed.

Do you think you could lie, put on a character's voice and act while you are on the phone? That is what I do. It feels awful but if I lie and talk as a character I can be on the phone. If it is honestly me, a lot goes wrong and I have many moments where I cannot speak. If the other person is kind and understanding it can help a lot but I believe I cannot expect that normally.

It really does feel bad when I do it but going into character is how I talk when I have to.

I’m honestly following that pattern whenever I work. Even go as far as to put a “costume” on myself — blazer for example that is far from what I usually wear. But it may be useful. I will find out if I can put this to use in a few hours When I make the phone call. I’m going to my quiet place and then once I calm myself down enough, I will make the call without any distractions. Plus I have coffee at the workshop, so I can drink that afterwards.

 

[Forest Cat]

All that is addressed is in their requirements But during my exit interview with them last month, they were the ones to mention this job opportunity that was coming up. They mentioned it to me. Not me. She said that she‘d like me to apply, that I was more than welcome to and when I mentioned that I didn’t have experience (as far as I knew at the time because I often forget transferable skills) in the other subject, she said that there’d be ways around it.

It could be that you are in demand now. If the situation in Switzerland is anything like here, then teachers are in demand now. Not enough teachers here.

 

[Owliet]

It could be that you are in demand now. If things in Switzerland are anything like here, then teachers are in demand now. Not enough teachers here.

It is a similar thing here. I will just have to suck it up and make the phone call. I’m still applying anyway. Hopefully by then, the be calm thing that I’ve just taken will be working.

 

[Forest Cat]

It is a similar thing here. I will just have to suck it up and make the phone call. I’m still applying anyway. Hopefully by then, the be calm thing that I’ve just taken will be working.

Best of luck, you can do it. Just tell yourself you're a winner and you will conquer that phone call.

 

[Rodafina]

You can do this, Owliet. We believe in you!

Breathe deeply. Find your center & believe in your ability to get through this. You are strong and fierce and powerful, like some of the characters you play. You can do it.

Fennec fox believes in you, too. She is powerful through sheer cuteness.

 

[Forest Cat]

Fennec fox believes in you, too. She is powerful through sheer cuteness.
View attachment 94809

When someone drops a piece of cotton on a carpet in a soundproof room 50 miles away, Fennec Fox says "what was that? Did you hear that?"

 

[Owliet]

I did the call. It was positive. She recommended that I very much apply for the position. That I should definitely put in my MA experience and that she was going to call me anyway to let me know about another position that was coming up. Now I am extremely shaky and emotional but that’s tension. I did it.

 

[Rodafina]

Wahooo!!

 

[Owliet]

Wahooo!!

Thank you so much everyone for being here and supporting me.=)

 

[VictorR]

It could be that you are in demand now. If the situation in Switzerland is anything like here, then teachers are in demand now. Not enough teachers here.

Where I am, some public school boards are sufficiently short staffed that they have started to post job ads for non-certified teachers (in this case, requiring a bachelor's degree with some form of teaching experience, but I have seen, in remote areas, teachers being hired on an emergency basis and not even needing a bachelor's degree)

 

[Owliet]

Where I am, some public school boards are sufficiently short staffed that they have started to post job ads for non-certified teachers (in this case, requiring a bachelor's degree with some form of teaching experience, but I have seen, in remote areas, teachers being hired on an emergency basis and not even needing a bachelor's degree)

Yes — Its quite promising field at the moment. =) (Terrible of course the reasons why but I feel a lot more positive in this market than last year, and having the “I was going to call you about this position coming up also” is really nice to have.=D

 

[paloftoon]

This sounds like you're applying for a K-12 position. This is not out of the norm to be considered for a field you don't have experience in. Everyone needs to start their experience somewhere. Also, there is a need for teachers and teaching assistants right now. So, this is a great time to get experience!

A website you might want to consider trying to help move on is Jewel Never Broken

I hope the process of getting the job and doing the job itself all go very well for you.