Academic Interviews
Interviews for academic jobs take many forms, from the relatively brief 45 minute interview at a major convention to the longer campus visit, which often entails meetings with deans and administrators as well as interviews with faculty members. Your dissertation advisor and faculty in your department can be an invaluable source in preparing for interviews. Successful interveiwing involves learning how to talk about your research and your particular field of interest that will appeal not only to specialists in your field, but to generalists in your discipline. Researching the institution and department to which you're applying will only strengthen your performance, as you demonstrate your knowledge of the department's teaching and research aims.
Conference & Convention Interviews
Many first-round academic interviews take place at large national conferences and professional gatherings. These interviews usually run 45 minutes to an hour. Search committees often use these interviews to narrow the pool of job candidates to a few people who will then be invited to campus for a more intensive series of interviews. As such, conference interviews usually focus on broad themes, like research and teaching. In all likelihood, you will be asked questions about the nature of your dissertation research, your plans for future research, and the kinds of courses you might teach at their school. They also offer you an opportunity to ask some preliminary questions about the institution and the department.
Featured Article: "A New View on Interviews" by Peter S. Cahn. The Chronicle of Higher Education.
One job candidate's advice on how to approach conference interviews
Campus Visits
After a first-round interview at a major conference, a department may call you back for a campus visit, which lasts for a full day or more. Campus visits often entail interviews with department faculty, deans, and university administrators, a teaching demonstration, a chance to chat with graduate students in the department, and informal meetings over lunch and dinner.
The hiring committee's perspective:
"The Campus Visit"by Dennis Baron, The Chronicle of Higher Education.
Sample Interview Questions
The following websites list questions you may be asked during an academic job interview. Although they are targeted to specific disciplines, they provide excellent insights into the kinds of questions to expect during convention interviews and campus visits.
"Interviewing for a Job in Academia" by Thomas Hull, Michael A. Jones, and Diana M. Thomas.
Three math professors give their tips on interviewing for an academic job. Includes a list of sample interview questions. (This is available only as a PDF file).
Mary Corbin Sies
A University of Maryland Professor explains what to expect during an interview for an academic teaching position. Includes a list of questions she was asked by search committees during her interviews.
UPenn English Department
Handout on the kinds of questions to expect in academic interviews. Geared toward English Graduate Students, but the questions may be useful for all Humanities students preparing for an academic interview.
Mock Interviews
Some departments offer mock interviews: check with a graduate advisor in your department.
The Job Talk
At some point during your campus visit, you will probably be asked to deliver a job talk to members of the faculty, graduate students, and some undergraduates. The job talk is your chance to present your research (and the way you think) in detail to your potential colleagues. It's often followed by a brief question and answer period that allows you to demonstrate your ability to think spontaneously. If you're interviewing with a small liberal arts school, you may be asked to give a teaching demonstration instead of a job talk. In either case, be sure to ask the department what kind of presentation you'll be asked to give, who your audience will be, and how long it should last.
Featured Article: "Giving a Job Talk in the Sciences" by Richard Reis. The Chronicle of Higher Education.
Giving a Practice Job Talk
If you're feeling a bit nervous about giving a job talk, rest assured you're not alone. Grad students who've gotten tenure-track jobs often say that practicing your talk in a formal or even semi-formal setting helps boost your confidence about giving a job talk and enables you to fine-tune your presentation skills.
Your Department
Some departments offer colloquia in which graduate students may present their work to other students and faculty in the department. Check with your graduate advisor to see if such programs are available in your department.
Sign up to have your job talk videotaped and critiqued by two Sheridan Center Fellows. This is a fantastic resource! For more information, visit the Sheridan Center website.