0.3 How to stand out in the interview

Interviews are a grueling process

• Hard for both interviewee and interviewers
  • Time, energy, interaction, evaluation on both sides
• Department wants to know if you are right for them
• You want to know if department is right for you

Short time frame

• Will interact with a number of people
  • Short, intense period
• Want to stand out — in a really positive way
• ALWAYS BE “ON”!!!
  • Even in casual meal sessions, you are being evaluated and judged
  • Do not “let down” at any time during the process

How do you present yourself?

• Handshake is important first impression
  • Firm, but real (really shake the hand!)
  • Not too firm — may hurt!
• Your level of interest and information is important
  • Gather information about the department (more later)
  • Gather information about the institution (more later)

The campus visit

• Most important step in determining whether interview becomes an offer
  • Remember that not everyone you meet will have “studied” your application
• Allows you to interact with those who will make the offer decision
  • Varies between institutions (full professors, entire department, role of dean/provost)

Before the visit

• Learn about the institution/department/faculty
  • Web pages are a wonderful resource, including family leave and P&T information
  • Ask colleagues who may know someone there
  • Ask for a copy of the department’s strategic plan (not having one tells you something!), the school or college’s plan, the institution’s plan
• Agenda for your visit
  • Ask for the agenda a little before your visit
  • Prepare for those people on the agenda, but realize that agendas change, so know something about the entire department
  • If you don’t get the agenda before you arrive, that tells you something!
  • Ask for 30 minutes of preparation before your seminar
  • Ask to meet with graduate students
• Think about what you will wear
  • Clothes should be comfortable for you (but not too informal) and make you feel like you look good
  • You will be wearing them for the entire day
  • Do not wear clothes that make you look like you are a graduate student or on a date
• Think about what you will carry with you
  • You’ll be lugging it with you for the entire visit

Talking points

You will want to meet with graduate students to assess the quality of the program.

What happens on the visit?

• Formal presentations: Exude confidence!
  • Departmental seminar
  • Presentation on your research plans
  • May vary among fields
• Visits one-on-one with faculty, chair, sometimes dean or provost
  • For these shorter visits, an “elevator” speech that summarizes your work is important
    • Practice this with friends before interviewing
  • Have questions prepared to fill the time

The visit

• Interview visits are a marathon event
  • Do your homework
    • Research area, role in the department
    • Ask Chair and others about research areas prioritized for the future
  • Ask individuals you see about their teaching, what the courses are and how the students are
    • Ask Chair about anticipated future teaching needs of the Department
• Ask the same questions, as appropriate, of everyone on your schedule
  • Consistency or lack thereof is information
• Ask about the promotion and tenure process and criteria
• Ask about expectations for generating extramural research support and supporting graduate students
• Ask about the teaching load