04-16-2017, 06:20 AM
Tips on the Interview Process
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Pre-Interview: Dos and Don ts
Do your homework.
Practice your job talk (at least) twice.
Make up a list of questions to ask (more later ).
Be prepared.
To explain your work to different audiences (more later ).
To answer some tough questions from them (more later ).
Bring a notebook (paper or electronic).
Pack some presentable clothes and shoes you feel
comfortable walking and talking in. Think about the
location of the place.
More General Dos and Don ts
Show conviction, passion about something.
Have an inner voice, a rudder that steers you. Know yourself.
Show an interest in what people are saying, but
Don t try too hard to please.
Don t be too agreeable. Don t be spineless. Stand up for what you
believe in.
Listen carefully to what people are asking or saying before
answering questions or responding to comments.
Don t say anything stupid.
If you don t know anything about something don t pretend that you do.
Don t talk off the cuff.
Don t be glib, especially with people you don t know.
Keep detailed notes (people s names, impressions, etc.).
Dress neatly.
Multiple Talks
Have multiple versions of the talk in your head, for
different audiences and different durations.
The one-hour job talk version.
The technical one-on-one version.
The dean/department head version.
The elevator version(s)
The waiting for the Wean Hall elevator version.
The ride up/down the elevator version.
Refresh your job talk from time to time. It s going to
get stale.
With the Department Head (or Dean)
Statistics, financial matters, and procedures.
Find out about
Facts about the place
Evaluation and promotion processes
How faculty are funded for research
Any special research support for junior faculty
Role of junior faculty in getting research money (NSF,
DARPA)
View on collaboration
Teaching load
Computing facilities support: who buys, who maintains
Benefits (health, dental, retirement, tuition exemption, etc.)
With respect to you:
How are hiring decisions made? (So you know when to
expect to hear from someone.)
Post-Interview
Keep in touch with your host or department head.
The chance to write a formal thank you is in the cover letter
when sending back your receipts for a reimbursement check.
Use peoples names.
Don t pester people about status, but don t let too much time go
by. (Show that you re still interested, a live candidate.)