It was interview day. The sun was out, so I had pinned a blanket at the window to stop me squinting at the computer screen. I’d already fetched a glass of water so I could take a drink (and gain thinking time). I was ready.

It went well. I enthused, the interviewers enthused and there were agreeing nods in abundance. I felt like I was warming up nicely for the more difficult interviews. The second day of interviews flew by. By the end, I thought I had a pretty good chance.

Then the call came. I hadn’t got it.

Despite really wanting the post, I wasn’t sad. Not only did I get some of the most useful feedback I’ve had in my career as a teacher, I also learned a lot about myself as a classroom practitioner and as a potential head of department. I’ve come to realise that almost making it is a huge learning opportunity. 

So what have I learned?

1. It doesn’t mean you’re a bad teacher

Not letting the rejection knock your self-confidence can be hard, especially if feedback isn’t forthcoming. But try to reframe the rejection instead. It’s not a failure; it’s a step on the path to whatever comes next. 

In my case, that next step is completing my NPQML and returning to my wonderful students. I was lucky to receive excellent feedback on my interview, alongside advice on how to improve. There’s nothing to lose from asking for feedback and everything to gain.

If you aren’t able to get feedback, then you have to remind yourself you wouldn’t have even been interviewed if they hadn’t thought you were a good teacher. 

2. Don’t see it as wasted time

Although you might look back on the hours you spent on interview preparation as a waste of time when you have nothing to show for it, the truth is that time spent writing an application and preparing for an interview is always worthwhile.

Preparing for an interview forces you to find some time to reflect. You have to ask yourself some tough questions: what is your pedagogy? Why do you teach? What’s your favourite topic? We start our careers as reflective practitioners as part of our training, but then we run out of time. 

Something I’ve resolved to do once we’re back at school is to keep this reflective practice going. I’m going to keep a reflective journal and continue to ask myself these questions in order to keep improving.

3. Use the experience to identify what you want

Once you’re over the initial disappointment, spend some time going over what happened in the interview. How do you think you did? Did the impression you got of the school and its leaders really make it seem like the sort of school that you’d like to work in? Were you really going for the right role?

Once upon a time, for example, I was sure that the pastoral path was for me. But the experience of applying for a curriculum role has made me rethink that. Ask yourself if you feel clear about what role you’re after, and what you would be willing to compromise to get it. Once you know this, plan so that you’re in a stronger position to achieve your goals.

4. Celebrate and put it behind you

You have managed a wonderful achievement getting to the stage you did, so that is worth marking in some way.

Whatever you choose to do - getting a takeaway, visiting somewhere special to you - celebrating the occasion helps to give the process a sense of closure, enabling you to come back stronger.

Heidi Drake is an English and RSS teacher at Colchester Royal Grammar School in Essex