Interview
This has come as sort of a surprise but i am going for a job interview tomorrow morning (make it later in the morning).
I was not actively looking for a job actually but 2 weeks ago, wilk sent me an advert from Seek.com which was a Autism school looking for a part-time educational psychologist. Because i wasn't really thinking of going to work, i only read the advert like a day or two later. However, when i read through the job scope and key selection criteria, the job sounded like something right up my alley. The nature of the job is very very similar to the work that i have done in SG and I felt i met every one of the key selection criteria listed. I find myself getting abit excited because it seems to meet every one of my needs IF i was looking for a job. It is a part time position (so i can still take care of Avery), the pay is more than decent (more than what i was paid), the job is something i am familiar with and i believe my previous work experience will definitely be value-adding. In short, i have a strong feeling that i will get positive response if i try for the post.
So, i redid my resume (its been a while since i written one), wrote my responses to the key selection criteria, my cover letter and sent them in through Seek. Within 2 days, i got a called back for an interview. However, there was a slight glitch then as the principal asked if i am registered as a psychologist in Oz... And i wasn't (well, i sort of knew this may come up but i decided to send in my resume anyway... try try mah). Anyway, because the position is for an educational psychologist, Oz law requires all psychologists to be registered with the national board of psychologist (AHPRA) which comes under a central governing body that regulates all health (and allied health) workers. This is to maintain accountability to the public in terms of service delivery and standards. This was something that i knew at the back of my head before i came but because i was dealing with quite a lot of issues before coming to Oz (e.g. being preggie, having a kid, organizing a move etc), i just put the whole registration onto the backburner (plus the fact is the whole application process cost alot of $$). I figured i may just find some other job that doesnt require me to be a psych (something like autism consultant or therapist...) then this job came up.
Initially, the principal asked me to check to see if i could get registered and after alot of phone calls to AHPRA about their registration process and making sense of the application, i found out that it may take 6-8wks (no guarantees that it will be approved). Understandably, i didnt think that the school is going to interview someone whom they may have to wait 8wks for (and for all they know, wont get the approval for registration). I called the principal back and told her about my situation and she said she would talk to her selection panel about it. I took it that it meant that's it... so i was pleasantly surprised that she called again the next day to invite me for an interview. She and the panel felt that i am very experienced and they are really interested to speak to me despite my lack of registration. And if everything goes well at the interview and i am their best candidate, they are willing to work around that 6-8wk wait. I must say, i am quite happy to hear that... it is nice that there are people who felt that i have experiences that they need. Quite confidence boosting actually. So there we go.. i will be going for the interview later in the morning. Even went to get new clothes and shoes cos i realized that i dont have any formal workwear and shoes (only tshirt and trainers) as i left them all back in SG (like i said, i wasnt planning to go back to work till Avery is settled in childcare)...
Of cos that doesnt mean i will actually get the job. After all, there may be people who is more suited to the job than me (local experience, registered psych already etc) but i am more than willing to give my best at the interview and see how it all pans out. I am not so worried about the interview itself, i have enough confidence about my ability for the job but my nagging worry is if the psych board will actually approve my application. For one, i am not locally trained and two, my MA was a reseach based one, and not clinical. However, i do make up enough of clinical supervision hours in my previous job to warrant at least a specialized registration. I am prepared to go state my case but really, it all bores down to the board of psych here in Oz. I guess even if the job don't work out, i am really hoping that the registration will get approved. For one, it will widen my possibility of potential work, and two, the application fees is a hefty A$490 non-refundable charge (and that's not inclusive of the A$390 registration fee and possible A$890 for my papers to be accredited if necessary)!
Sigh.. like alot of people said, it is only money.. can always earn back. I know if i can get it, it will be really helpful for when i start looking for job (if this one dont work out). So hoping for the best! Wish me luck!
I was not actively looking for a job actually but 2 weeks ago, wilk sent me an advert from Seek.com which was a Autism school looking for a part-time educational psychologist. Because i wasn't really thinking of going to work, i only read the advert like a day or two later. However, when i read through the job scope and key selection criteria, the job sounded like something right up my alley. The nature of the job is very very similar to the work that i have done in SG and I felt i met every one of the key selection criteria listed. I find myself getting abit excited because it seems to meet every one of my needs IF i was looking for a job. It is a part time position (so i can still take care of Avery), the pay is more than decent (more than what i was paid), the job is something i am familiar with and i believe my previous work experience will definitely be value-adding. In short, i have a strong feeling that i will get positive response if i try for the post.
So, i redid my resume (its been a while since i written one), wrote my responses to the key selection criteria, my cover letter and sent them in through Seek. Within 2 days, i got a called back for an interview. However, there was a slight glitch then as the principal asked if i am registered as a psychologist in Oz... And i wasn't (well, i sort of knew this may come up but i decided to send in my resume anyway... try try mah). Anyway, because the position is for an educational psychologist, Oz law requires all psychologists to be registered with the national board of psychologist (AHPRA) which comes under a central governing body that regulates all health (and allied health) workers. This is to maintain accountability to the public in terms of service delivery and standards. This was something that i knew at the back of my head before i came but because i was dealing with quite a lot of issues before coming to Oz (e.g. being preggie, having a kid, organizing a move etc), i just put the whole registration onto the backburner (plus the fact is the whole application process cost alot of $$). I figured i may just find some other job that doesnt require me to be a psych (something like autism consultant or therapist...) then this job came up.
Initially, the principal asked me to check to see if i could get registered and after alot of phone calls to AHPRA about their registration process and making sense of the application, i found out that it may take 6-8wks (no guarantees that it will be approved). Understandably, i didnt think that the school is going to interview someone whom they may have to wait 8wks for (and for all they know, wont get the approval for registration). I called the principal back and told her about my situation and she said she would talk to her selection panel about it. I took it that it meant that's it... so i was pleasantly surprised that she called again the next day to invite me for an interview. She and the panel felt that i am very experienced and they are really interested to speak to me despite my lack of registration. And if everything goes well at the interview and i am their best candidate, they are willing to work around that 6-8wk wait. I must say, i am quite happy to hear that... it is nice that there are people who felt that i have experiences that they need. Quite confidence boosting actually. So there we go.. i will be going for the interview later in the morning. Even went to get new clothes and shoes cos i realized that i dont have any formal workwear and shoes (only tshirt and trainers) as i left them all back in SG (like i said, i wasnt planning to go back to work till Avery is settled in childcare)...
Of cos that doesnt mean i will actually get the job. After all, there may be people who is more suited to the job than me (local experience, registered psych already etc) but i am more than willing to give my best at the interview and see how it all pans out. I am not so worried about the interview itself, i have enough confidence about my ability for the job but my nagging worry is if the psych board will actually approve my application. For one, i am not locally trained and two, my MA was a reseach based one, and not clinical. However, i do make up enough of clinical supervision hours in my previous job to warrant at least a specialized registration. I am prepared to go state my case but really, it all bores down to the board of psych here in Oz. I guess even if the job don't work out, i am really hoping that the registration will get approved. For one, it will widen my possibility of potential work, and two, the application fees is a hefty A$490 non-refundable charge (and that's not inclusive of the A$390 registration fee and possible A$890 for my papers to be accredited if necessary)!
Sigh.. like alot of people said, it is only money.. can always earn back. I know if i can get it, it will be really helpful for when i start looking for job (if this one dont work out). So hoping for the best! Wish me luck!
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