This was a professional interview process. I did a screening call followed by a zoom interview. I felt respected and while I didn't receive the position I will keep looking for positions at this school in the future.
I applied through other source. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at Tahoe Expedition Academy in Feb 2022
Interview
I was interviewed via Zoom by the Head of School and the current CFO, who according to a reliable source also heads the School's Finance Committee. I have worked with several independent schools as Interim CFO and as an external Finance & Accounting Consultant.
The Head of School mentioned that I will be interviewed the following week by the Finance Committee. At the end of the interview, he made an unusual request that I include my independent school experience on my resume even these details are highlighted under projects listed on my resume. I took extra time to create a one-page resume with a brief summary of my independent school experience as suggested by the current CFO. I submitted it a few days after my interview to the Head of School.
I had also applied for the same position on Indeed. After I forwarded my resume to the Head of School the week I was expected to have the Finance Committee interview, I received an email from a consultant hired by the school for a phone screen. I replied to the consultant that I was already in the interview process. On the same day, I received a rejection email.
Unknowing to the Head of School that I received a rejection email, he replied to an email I sent afterwards that initial interviews will be conducted over the next two weeks and that I will receive feedback even though he had promised that I will speak with the Finance Committee in that same week. I followed up at the end of the next week with the Head of School and he sent me an email saying "Although I offered to connect you to our finance committee, the chair of that group let me know that they felt your experience was not the right fit for the school"
I consider this highly discriminatory and biased given the unusual nature of the request to forward a different version of my resume. This was very deceitful and was merely a calculated scheme to come up with the flimsy excuse to -find a reason to reject my candidacy. Besides, the requested experience was already highlighted on my initial resume and cover letter. I found it very unfair that I was made to spend a good portion of my time to prepare a different resume knowing fully well that the plan was to reject my candidacy on such a very discriminatory ground even though the purported Finance Committee is headed by the CFO who I had interviewed with. I am very familiar with recruiting processes at independent schools as I have been on selection committees myself and the Finance Committee will not give such reasons for disqualification when a candidate is already in process. I have very serious concerns about the integrity of the leadership at this organization.
Prospective candidates, please beware of this school.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
What is my experience managing environmental and safety risk management
Why I am considering a CFO position within an independent school?