A job interview or a job offer that made me uncomfortable
By Valentina
@valherma00 (1003)
Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)
January 21, 2026 5:12pm CST
It was unusual from the beginning. Usually, principals call me on a interview, when is a teaching job and, this time, i was called by a teacher who i am supposed to replace. Okay. I showed up and i met her first,then second teacher,who will be in a morning shift. While i conversed with them, i thought but why i didn't meet a principal or a secretary. All my other interviews for a teaching job was first principal, then the staff.
I stayed in a class for a while to see the children and they were telling the children i'm a teacher for a next week, Tuesday. I corrected them and said maybe, i still don't know. Then those 2 teachers went to principal with me. When i went in, i was introduced and then there was an argument between teacher that i'm replacing and principal that this job ad is for a morning teacher, not afternoon one and that documents are different. This is 3rd grade in question and in the afternoon they have activities with their teacher. It's like they are a whole day in school. I felt uncomfortable between 2fires and especially since i didn't know who was in charge. It should be the principal,right?
Well,principal said he will get back to me. I returned to the class where children were and went there with 2nd teacher. The first one,that needed replacement stayed, showed up in 10 minutes and said i'm going to be her replacement.
I was there almost an hour and left. They said i should come on Monday too,a day before the job so i can see things. I thought okay but that's unpaid and i already did this job before and no school before asked me,especially staff to come twice. I mean,it's like they are exploiting me but the main question is will the principal call me and if he doesn't,should i come in this school or not.
This is all so messed up and at least they could do,out of politeness, is arrange things among themselves first,right? The principal should sign the contract with me, not the staff and this is weird. I feel and felt uncomfortable. Only if principal and this teacher that i'm replacing are in agreement but it doesn't look like that.
I need a job but i want to be surrounded with normal people, not nut jobs.
What do you think?
9 people like this
10 responses
@LadyDuck (491807)
• Italy
22 Jan
@valherma00 What those teacher told you is ridiculous. Kids saw you already and they will have to trust you. What a cumbersome situation!
1 person likes this
@valherma00 (1003)
• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)
24 Jan
@LadyDuck yesterday was friday and noone called me. on monday, i am thinking to send one of this teachers a message, saying i'm not coming and i hope i'm seeing her from tuesday. but, how i'm momentarily feeling, i even don't want to contact them. i just hope they don't call me, asking me why i didn't show up. i think a principal should call me. if he doesn't, this story is finished then. it's a situation i wish noone findthemselves in cause, it's really unnecessary.
1 person likes this
@valherma00 (1003)
• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)
22 Jan
She is taking a sick leave from Tuesday,so i believe my first day of work is Tuesday,January 27 (and i should get paid) but i don't get it why she and 2nd teacher told me to come on Monday too.why?they mentioned that kids should get used to me.sorry,kids already saw me and if i worked this job before,they should trust me to be on my own. Also,kids will get used to me and if there is something i don't know,i will ask other teachers,in other classrooms.Or,principal should trust me.why can't i get a proper job interview,dear heavens
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (166437)
• United States
22 Jan
I would wait for the principal to call. He is the one who can hire you, not other teachers. In the meantime, keep looking for a job.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (166437)
• United States
22 Jan
@valherma00 I wouldn't trust the teachers... But I don't live there so maybe things are different there from here.
1 person likes this
@valherma00 (1003)
• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)
22 Jan
Thank you.if he doesn't call me, i can send him the email.i am applying for other positions and praying for someone closer to my neighbourhood and less messed up to contact me. I was also thinking that some senior teachers, and she is, maybe and in agreement with a principal, she can decide for her own replacement but i feel they are not in the agreement.they obviously showed me that. I was brought as her her candidate.like i'm in the games of thrones series or something. Ah.normal job offers,please...
2 people like this
@valherma00 (1003)
• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)
22 Jan
@DaddyEvil i wouldn't too but why didn't principal call me from the start, i wonder.everything is so suspicious. i also realised that every school here,just in a capital city,is so different,with their own set of rules. But,i wish the principal,when i spoke when they were arguing and said, i can leave the room so you can talk it through,he simply said no,there is no need.well,i wish he said, sorry for putting me in that position cause,it is the best for them to talk it out first. I hoped for some manners,at least at the interview.and this should be a month gig,maybe even less. Very sad and disappointing how some people behave.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (82598)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 Jan
I think that you shouldn't be so quick to dismiss the job. Or lower your expetations. While I agree that you shouldn't work where you're uncomfortable, hearing them out is a good idea, or change what it is you do. Or look into gig work or something you can do from home.
2 people like this
@kaylachan (82598)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
25 Jan
@valherma00 That's good, then. Patience is key.
1 person likes this
@valherma00 (1003)
• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)
26 Jan
@kaylachan but sometimes you are running out of it. thank you.
1 person likes this
@valherma00 (1003)
• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)
24 Jan
i'll wait a call on monday. if i don't receive it, their message will be clear to me. still debating with myself if i'll text one of these teachers, letting them know i won't come on monday or maybe that will only complicate things, not sure. even though they are horrible in communication, working in school is a safe option for me. they are not messing with payments but, yeah, makes you think twice.
1 person likes this
@just4him (321633)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
21 Jan
I've learned to always listen to my instincts. The fact that the principal didn't call you the teacher did, is the first red flag. The fact she said to the class you would replace her next week, is the second red flag. The fact that the principal was brought in last and didn't know about it and said he would get back to you is the third red flag. Personally, I would wait until the principal called. Don't go into the classroom again without a contract.
2 people like this
@valherma00 (1003)
• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)
22 Jan
Since i came home from that interview and it was on tuesday,i felt screaming inside and praying that someone more decent contacts me.and you know what,i am replacing this teacher only for a month ,maybe less.it is insane feeling like this and the job hasn't started yet.i heard that in some schools here senior teachers have upper hand and that principals listen to them or let them lead things but these 2 obviously weren't in agreement and i am too old to be toyed around. Thank you for your excellent advices;there are so many red flags,you are right.i also don't want to work before the start of my contract and i should listen to my gut.
2 people like this
@just4him (321633)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
24 Jan
@valherma00 Yes, you should, or you won't get paid.
1 person likes this
@valherma00 (1003)
• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)
26 Jan
@just4him after teacher number 1 and school counselor calling me,i received a call from a secretary that i can come to work tomorrow.actually,she asked me if i want to come.i said if it is confirmed,then yes.of course,no apologies after a week of waiting.
@Deepizzaguy (117762)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
21 Jan
I do not be working with persons who do want to be helpful and cooperate with you.
2 people like this
@valherma00 (1003)
• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)
22 Jan
It definitely screams that something is not right,doesn't it?i don't want to refuse this job if i am offered one and with schools here,you are afraid they will spread bad things about you so the other schools won't hire me but,that's the deal,noone properly offered me a job.
2 people like this
@Ineeddentures (15403)
•
22 Jan
Go with your gut feeling.
I wouldn't want to be working with nut jobs.
That's a fact
2 people like this
@Ineeddentures (15403)
•
22 Jan
@valherma00
If it were me I would go and get a job in a store like LIDL.
They pay well and it's normality working with normal people
1 person likes this
@valherma00 (1003)
• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)
24 Jan
@Ineeddentures here, people who are retired, college students and foreign workers have bigger chance to get it than me. i remember i applied 10 years ago, i waited for 3 hours with bunch of people, they asked me some stupid questions and i wasn't hired and i finished my university back then. i tried again, for a seasonal job, they wanted to do a whatsapp meeting, i declined. i did hear they have good paychecks but they are also rude to customers and i don't like shopping there; my items are always thrown by cashiers.
1 person likes this
@valherma00 (1003)
• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)
22 Jan
Not sure when was the last time something was eating me alive,like this. If he doesn't call me by tomorrow, i'll contact him. Why can't i have normal job interviews or normal job offer,i wonder.this is just a month gig and already are so many crazy things around me. You are right and thank you.
2 people like this
@valherma00 (1003)
• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)
24 Jan
yesterday noone called me. i'm not going to school on monday to volunteer. maybe i'll send a message to one of these teachers so they don't call me and ask me why i didn't show up but, maybe they won't call me at all cause they chose someone else. it's so messy. all i know is if principal doesn't call me, that's it and i won't contact him first. i have a job interview for another school on thursday but it's a high school so not looking forward to going there. thank you for understanding my struggles and feelings.ah
1 person likes this
@valherma00 (1003)
• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)
24 Jan
so sketchy and so unnecessary. noone called me yesterday. if principal doesn't contact me on monday, then i don't have anything else to add.
@valherma00 (1003)
• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)
22 Jan
Not sure if i should contact him first but that would mean i'm pushy,right?i feel these teachers are toying me around.why would i come one more time on monday,to see things.if i am going to work from tuesday next week,i will come on tuesday. I had a share of strange interviews and employers but this is beyond that.not knowing simple things in advance,not knowing who is in charge,then why they are messing with me.ah.dear heavens,spare me,just once.
1 person likes this
@Traceyjayne (7351)
• United Kingdom
22 Jan
If the Principle doesn’t call you soon I would call him. Make sure everything is very clear about what you have to do and when. If people are arguing in front of you, I would think do you want to work there ! Maybe for now if you need the job , but thinking ahead, it may not be the happiest of places to work.
1 person likes this
@Traceyjayne (7351)
• United Kingdom
24 Jan
@valherma00 I would wait for the Thursday one ....good luck
1 person likes this
@valherma00 (1003)
• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)
26 Jan
@Traceyjayne in the end, they called me but i have a bitter sweet feeling cause i received 2calls from the teachers and then finally from a secretary,not the headmaster.they killed my will to work there but since i don't have any better job offer,i don't have any choice.ah
@valherma00 (1003)
• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)
24 Jan
i mean, they didn't raise their voice or only a little bit but imagine receiving a guest in your house and some family members are against it; it's obviously they should have come to an agreement first. yes, they killed my will there and i'm having second thoughts of working there cause, this all started really messy and without any respect. also, noone called me yesterday. deadline is monday and i'm not coming on monday to volunteer. i think i won't contact this principal either. before, i was calling principals and it felt they didn't like it so, if i get a call, good, if not, good luck to them and i won't apply there ever again. i have another job interview on thursday actually, they are testing my knowledge, ah.
