Job interview tonight

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-05-2006
Job interview tonight
10
Wed, 03-11-2009 - 4:32pm
I had a job kind of jump in my lap. I'm currently a music director at my church, but pretty new at it. My only issue with my job is that the church is not in my community. It is a half hour drive so we never do any of the activities that the church puts on. Well - The church literally right across the street from me is looking for a music director. It's a bigger church and they are making me jump through hoops but I had to at least check it out. I've known about it for at least a year and the opportunity has kept coming up so I'm hoping that it is the right decision to make. I'm not sure what the pay is, but it is definitely much more responsibility than I currently have so it has to be more than the measly 110 bucks a week I'm making at my current position. I'm hoping the interview goes well although it is a very stressful interview. I have to sight read a hymn of their choosing (not my strongest skill). I have to direct the choir and I have to play a piece for them. They are also interviewing me the old fashion style. It feels like I'm putting myself on trial or something. But I'll suck it up and go in their with confidence that I don't feel and be myself and see how it goes!

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-17-2007
Wed, 03-11-2009 - 4:35pm

Good Luck May the angels watch over you today.


Mary Ann


iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2008
Wed, 03-11-2009 - 4:37pm

Abbie, this could be a great opportunity.

Norma


"Patience is the best remedy for every trouble"- Plautus


iVillage Member
Registered: 08-04-2008
Wed, 03-11-2009 - 8:51pm

Abbie good luck with the interview.

Yes, everyone has to go through hoops now. For a business job I have had to take a series of math tests, and have had not only an entire day of interviews with various departments, but also have background checks and credit store checks.

You will do fine, just be confident in your wonderful abilities. Tell the loudest people how great they sing, too - they always seem to be the most off key and have the most complaints - lol (I have a really horrid voice, so I play the bells.)

-Ski




iVillage Member
Registered: 07-05-2006
Wed, 03-11-2009 - 9:10pm

Whew!!! It's done!
Here's the email I wrote to my friends. Sorry if it has a little more detail than I added in my original post, but I didn't want to type it out twice!

"So I go in there for a sit down interview with the church council and they asked me about myself and talked about what the church wants in a music director. I told them about my musical prowess ;) and that I really wanted to be involved with my family in a church within my community. I felt like I made a great impression and made everyone laugh and that they liked me.

OK - on to the next part. The pastor gives me the hymn to play and while he gives it to me he says "and you can lead the choir from the piano' What!!!! I was expecting there to be a pianist! And for me to just direct. All this week I had been practicing directing in the mirror and I started to learn the song but then it was kind of hard so I gave up because I didn't think I'd need to learn it anyway. IN fact, I was wondering how the pianist would do because it was so hard. She must be good! I could feel my face getting all red and my nervousness popping up. I played the hymn really well actually. I think it was probably the best part. Then I played a piece on the piano and fudged it because it was too hard and I can play it perfectly at home but when I'm nervous, forget about it! Then I played a piece on their unbelievable pipe organ! YAY! and that went over well. I got through everything, but I wish it was better!

So here comes the part I'm dreading. "So guys...ahhhh...I didn't know I had to learn this song so let's just go with it and we'll see what happens" Move on...just keep smiling, just keep smiling! Fake it till you make it! Don't let them see you sweat! I went through the piece and realized right away that it wasn't going to work so I switched to just playing the vocal parts and that was fine I guess. I wasn't sure if I was doing well at all, but I just kept on going. I tried to be as artistic as I could with what I was given. MAN - what a trip! But I think overall they liked me. The pastor said it was good that I went through all the parts and tried to work with them. They asked me when I could start if I got the job and we agreed on May and then they said they'd get back to me.

SO they are really looking for someone to be more of a spiritual leader in music. To start a praise and worship service..to maybe start a praise band. I know that I can do this job because I know that I can do anything I put my mind to. Funny how I only think that about certain aspects of my life though! Hmmmm...I just realized that! But maybe this job will not only build my musical skills, but also my spiritual side and my confidence because I am a very introverted shy person. When I'm around people, especially in that situation, it's really all fake bravado.

Anyway - the interview had it's moments. Glad it's over and really really not looking forward to telling my current church if I actually do get the job. What a downer!"

DSG-
The pay will probably be around 80 dollars more than I currently make which I think is good although it's a lot more work than I currently do, but I guess it's more about the experience and the extra pay is just a bonus! Plus there will be more functions such as funerals and weddings which are extra pay.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-04-2008
Thu, 03-12-2009 - 9:40am

Wow, that sounds like it went great.




iVillage Member
Registered: 07-05-2006
Thu, 03-12-2009 - 9:49am
Hmmm...I never even thought of writing thankyou notes! I have so much to do today, but I will see what I can do about that!

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-14-2008
Thu, 03-12-2009 - 12:19pm

Oh Gosh, that all sounded so nerve racking!! I had to read a couple of verses one time and it just about killed me so good for you to do that in front of everyone!

I usually do well in job interviews if I am qualified. I have went to few where I was in over my head and probably didn't do as well but I still really really hate job interviews!

Good luck! It sounds like a great opportunity in a lot of different ways.



iVillage Member
Registered: 05-20-2005
Thu, 03-12-2009 - 1:01pm
Good luck, hope you get it.

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Wedding
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-05-2006
Thu, 03-12-2009 - 2:59pm
No kidding! I started out doing this about 4 years ago with a fear of performance. It was awful. 6 months of almost throwing up before every service. But surprisingly I've adjusted and now it's not so hard. But interviewing in front of 20 people and having to pretty much sight read the piece while trying to direct a choir I've never met and having anxiety about it. It was definitely tough! But a lady from the choir said I did an awesome job and gave her chills so I'm super excited. It's funny how I expected them to be this super fantastic choir that I would be able to do nothing for and it turns out that they really could use my expertise and I could teach them so much! I should hear by next week.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-07-2003
Thu, 03-12-2009 - 3:26pm

Fingers crossed for you as you wait to hear back from them!


and WAY TO GO surviving that interview!!!!!


Teresa
http://www.affordingpickles.blogspot.com