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Effective Interview Strategies for the Academic Job Search
Joya Misra University of Massachusetts, Amherst In this brown bag session, Professor Joya Misra (Sociology) will provide valuable insights about what to expect, how to prepare, who to impress, things to avoid, and how candidates are often judged in an academic interview. She will discuss the logistics of a campus interview, describe the “hidden” interviews, provide tips for the job talk, and offer advice about pre-trip preparation to maximize chances for success. The workshop is based on materials developed for a job market course, and will be useful for students at all stages of the academic job search. Bring your lunch. Coffee and cookies will be provided. Pre-registration is requested:
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What are interviews about?
“In general, departments are looking not only for a candidate with outstanding independent research potential, but also for an outstanding colleague who will enrich the department, not simply by being present, but also by interacting productively with others.” – Deneef and Goodwin The Academic Handbook, p. 180
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How to Prepare Choose Job Market Clothing
Conduct Practice Job Talks & Mock Interviews in department Ask for a schedule Research the university and department Prepare Job Talk and/or Teaching Demonstration Bring application materials in case someone you meet with asks relevant questions, etc. Choose/Buy Job Market Clothing Conduct Practice Job Talks & Mock Interviews in department Ask for a schedule of your visit beforehand Do research on the university and department University and its student body, department and its curricula Research areas for all faculty (especially those you’ll meet) Priorities in the Dean’s office (if meeting) Have questions prepared for Deans, Chairs, Faculty, Students Job Talk and/or Teaching Demonstration Practice many times, so that it’s very smooth (more later) Ask: Who will be invited to the talk? How many people will be there? What technology can you access? Bring copies of vita, application materials, syllabi, etc.
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Who to Impress Find out who (search committee, faculty, students, administrator) is most involved in final decision. Listen and treat all administrators, faculty, students, and staff with respect. Embody the sort of colleagues you want to have (engaging, smart, funny, helpful) Be gracious and show gratitude to everyone who meets with you
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Things to Avoid Getting involved in departmental politics/ruptures
Being defensive A talk/answer to a question that goes on forever Questions about your family/personal life Revealing too much about other employment prospects Saying anything negative about your job/graduate department/a colleague Drinking too much Trying to negotiate the job before it has been offered Using negative, self- deprecating language
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Phone/SKYPE Interviews
Ask who will be at the other end Try to get the questions beforehand Whether video chat or phone, dress up fully Make sure you have a good phone/internet line, and thoroughly check technology Have your application and information about the job readily available Make eye contact as much as possible, but take notes if it will help you Make sure you know who will be at the other end (and do a little research on them before the interview) Ask if you can get the questions beforehand Whether SKYPE or phone, dress up (sometimes they switch formats unexpectedly) Make sure you have a good phone/internet line, and thoroughly check technology (camera angle, lighting, sound, etc.) Have your application/other information about university readily available Make eye contact as much as possible, but take notes if it will help you
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In person interviews Be prepared with clear, concise answers to the most common questions Be very organized, with information to consult during any down times/before each meeting Have questions prepared to ask in each interview (do not ever say “someone else already answered all my questions”)
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Be prepared to answer basic questions
What appeals to you about this job? How would you feel about leaving X for here? How would you teach X course? How would you feel about teaching X (required course)? Why did you choose your topic? How closely related is your research to the work of your advisor/postdoc sponsor? Do you have any experience with distance learning/team based learning/flipped classrooms, etc.? Where do you see your research going? Do you see potential collaborators here? Do you plan to submit (more) proposals for funding? How would you approach mentoring/advising students? Do you have any experience with advising students? How many chapters of your dissertation are complete? When do you plan to defend your dissertation? What kinds of departmental/university /disciplinary service are most interesting to you? What kind of service work have you already done? What type of start-up package do you need? How would you contribute to the diversity (broadly defined) of this university? What courses would you want to teach? What are some approaches you take to teaching?
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Be prepared to ask good questions
In what directions do you see the department/college going? How are graduate students funded? What is the relationship between grads and faculty? (if relevant) How would you characterize the intellectual approach of this department? What service work do you most enjoy? What kinds of support is there for research? What are the service expectations for junior faculty? What do you like best about the students here? What is most challenging about teaching here? What are the tenure requirements? How diverse are the students here? How diverse is the faculty? What courses do you teach here? What approaches work best in those classes? How does the university see X department? What is the typical course load? Class sizes? What do you like about living here? How is teaching evaluated here? In what directions do you see the department/college going? How would you characterize the intellectual approach of this department? What kinds of support is there for research? Start up costs? Travel money? Course releases? Graduate or undergraduate RAs? Support for proposal writing? What do you like best about the students here? What is most challenging about teaching here? What courses do you teach here? What approaches work best in those classes? What is the typical course load? Class sizes? How is teaching evaluated here? How are graduate students funded? What is the relationship between grads and faculty? (if relevant) What service work do you most enjoy? What are the service expectations for junior faculty? What are the tenure requirements? How diverse are the students here? How diverse is the faculty? How does the university see X department? What do you like about living here?
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Avoid answering illegal questions
Are you partnered? What does your spouse do? Do you have children/plan to have children? What is/was your first language?
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A Good Job Talk Create a clear talk with a focused research question, on a piece of research that you have fully thought through Be enthusiastic, use humor if you can, and don’t worry about the person falling asleep Prepare a talk that is minutes shorter than the time they allow Don’t summarize entire dissertation, but place in context of dissertation Use visuals to engage the audience Write the talk to a broader audience than your subfield Practice, practice, practice! Organize practice job talks to friends/advisors/department Answer the “so what?” question
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Q&A for the Job Talk Practice the Q&A for the job talk
It’s OK to say “My data don’t speak to that question” or “I’m not sure,” but don’t fabricate a response Prepare extra slides that allow you address common questions or pieces you had to leave out Keep your answers short Ask someone to field questions Treat all questions with respect Take notes as people ask questions Recognize there are different norms around Q&A in different departments Reframe questions in your own language before answering Don’t be defensive! If you get the same question again and again, time to address the issue head on Try to look like you’re having fun
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The Hidden Interview Remember you are always being interviewed, even when being driven here or there, or waiting between appointments Never say critical things about anyone inside or outside the department Be gracious to everyone you meet Recognize that those you meet may be stereotyping you, and address those stereotypes (without calling attention to them explicitly!)
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Practice Ask advisors, colleagues, and friends to allow you to practice: Job talk Q&A Interviews Practice to yourself as well!
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More Information? Contact me at misra@soc.umass.edu
Google “Joya Misra”, go to my “teaching page” and click on the Google Drive materials regarding the academic job market This powerpoint is there under “Interviews & Negotiation,” Subfolder “Interviewing,” Subfolder “Core Readings”
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