I applied for a position of lecturer at pre-u unimas. 1st stage was mock teaching. A week or two after the mock teaching, they called me for an interview. I had a week of preparation but since I still had a job, I couldn't prepare much (I had like 2 days, just the weekends to prepare, huhu). By the way, they asked me if I wanted to be a part timer there. The part time job is different than the full time one that I applied. I declined the offer as I still haven't resigned from my current job. Anyway, a day before the iv, the pre-u director called the candidates to talk (gave some tips/questions that might be asked during the iv). To be a lecturer, u must have at least a master. That's what make me surprised that I still got an iv even though I only have a degree. Like, how could pass the mock teaching. Hahahhah. So, during the iv, there were only 3 candidates. It was an individual interview. Some of the questions asked were my view on open distance learning. They also asked abt my strengths. There were some questions that they said I didn't understand and my answers were not what they wanted even though they asked about my view. So, after the iv, I prayed that I won't get the job since I was not confident and underqualified. But I still wonder how I could get a call for an iv even if I don't hv a master (the least qualification needed). Anw, here are some mistakes that I think I did.
1. Not focusing on the target.
(I have experiences in tutoring primary students. Since the position was to teach pre-u students, I should have talked about my experience of teaching without relating much about primary students. Maybe that's why they said my answers were not what they wanted. Instead of talking abt primary students, I shd focus more of the pre u students in my answers.)
2. Too nervous
(I couldn't sit still and making it obvious that I was sooooooo freaking nervous.)
3. Answering right away.
(When the panels asked, I straight away answered their questions w/o thinking deeply. Hence why they said I wasn't answering rightly. I should take my time before answering. The questions were easy but maybe at that time I thought I answered them good)
Tips/questions I think might be helpful:
1. Read abt current issues in education. (microcredentials, open distance learning, gov effort in improving edu, collabs between uni, English usage in Malaysia - do you think English is still relevant/widely used giving some articles saying that English isn't that fluently spoken by students, etc)
2. What can/would you do for the students?
3. What can you contribute to Unimas?
4. What can you contribute to the students?
5. How would you improve their English skill since the pre-u students are taking muet and they're also not that bad in English? Do you think you can improve their skills and the percentage of students to get band 5?
6. What can you do to improve the students English proficiency?
7. What is your view on open distance learning?
8. Do you think we can create and offer odl/microcredential courses?
9. What are your strengths? (Talk about your skills and other related/necessary things)
10. Talk about your publications/researches.
11. If you're just a degree holder, talk about your fyp. If you didn't publish your fyp or any research paper, prepare a reason for it if the panels ask.
The interview questions were not that hard now I think abt it but at that time I couldn't control my nervous systems and my mind just went blank. Also, the interview was supposed to be at 8 a.m but I was the only one who came early. I came at 6.30 a.m. I was waiting but didn't see any staff or candidate. Many of the staffs came nearly at 7.40 or 8. Some arrived after 8. They were late but asked me to come early. I thought the interview would start punctually at 8. Even other candidates came so late, after 8. So, they said we would start at 8.30. Even then, the time changed to 8.45. Hahahah. Anw, it was a good experience for me. But now when I think about it and came across some videos on socmeds, I don't feel like working as a lecturer. It's been a few weeks and I still haven't got a result. I hope I won't get the job. I mean I know I wasn't selected. Hhahhahaha.
