Job Interview…. How BAPP has helped.

I got short listed for a teaching job this week – a full time community dance development practioner post- and it prompted me into reflecting on how this course has helped me so far and what I have learnt. 

There was quite a bit of preparation needed for the interview/ audition day (practical work as well as written tasks, an oral presentation and the formal interview questions), as well as reading through the companies’ policies and what the person and job specifications were. There were so many opportunities for me to include my learning so far on this course it really did show me how valuable it has been, not just the research I am currently involved with but work we did back in module 1 on networking and social media all had its place within the interview and the questions that were raised.

It has never been about doing a degree just for the sake of having ‘a degree’, but often the focus can lean towards the end product (just like I have spoken before about in a dance class actually! Sometimes the focus is on the end result and the processes of getting there can be forgotten or not properly looked at). So it has been really helpful to take some time to see what i have achieved and learnt so far...

The course has already taught me so much about my own practise and has made me want to learn more and delve deeper and explore theories out there and put them to the test and see if they are relevant and helpful in what I do. It has made me look at things in a slightly different way and not be afraid to ask questions and find the right way of doing things for me. Already I can see the positive affects it has had on my professional practice. I feel i am continually learning as a dance artist and want to keep developing my professional practise, reflecting upon experiences, taking on board new ideas and keeping it fresh.

Coming from a dance performing background like many others on this course I have been used to auditioning for a job and not having to answer questions in a formal interview or write anything in a formal way, other teaching jobs I have got have either been achieved through recommendations or very informal interviews/teaching a trial class. This is only my second experience of having to prepare for such a formal and thorough interview process…

…now I didn’t get the job but still feel it was such a valuable experience going through the process, and I think before starting this course I never would of applied for this type of teaching job so it has given me more confidence in my ability and professional practise and is helping me to figure out where I would like to develop my future career.