PREPARING FOR ACADEMIC INTERVIEWS: SCREENING, …

1 University of Pennsylvania Career ServicesPREPARING FOR ACADEMIC INTERVIEWS: SCREENING, CONFERENCE AND ON-CAMPUSD ianne Hull, Associate of Pennsylvania Career ServicesThe ACADEMIC job cycle2 Readiness for the job marketPreparing and applyingScreening/conference & campus interviewsNegotiating offers and acceptingExpanded career optionsUniversity of Pennsylvania Career ServicesWhat we re going to cover Introduction to ACADEMIC job interview types Preparation Research the institution Research your qualifications and fit Interview Practice Examples Speaking about yourself Common questions Setting up the Interview During the Interview First steps in negotiating/Interview Follow-up3 University of Pennsylvania Career ServicesApplication materials sentScreening interviewsCampus interviewsFinal decision made on candidatesThe job market cycle -candidate selection4 Job opening created and search committee formedApplications selected for preliminary interviewsCandidates selected/notified for

2 Campus interviewThis process can be months long from 4-12 months or moreOffer madeUniversity of Pennsylvania Career ServicesWhat happens to the application? Your application materials must be complete, and then each search committee member will be given a copy and will review your materials They will initially view in terms of who to eliminate, then who will be part of a short list5 They will discuss who to invite to the first round interviews factoring in the position, the needs of the department, and your profile The references are weighed heavily in later roundsUniversity of Pennsylvania Career ServicesInterviewing6 Readiness for the job marketPreparing and applyingScreening/conference & campus interviewsNegotiating offers and acceptingPlan A again or going with Plan BUniversity of Pennsylvania Career ServicesPreparing for interviewsBASIC: Attend job talks in your department or related department Chat with advisor about their thoughts on the talkINTERMEDIATE.

3 Research each institution you will be interviewed by What is their mission? Who are their students and faculty? How does the new position fit into the ACADEMIC landscape? With whom will you be talking?ADVANCED: Practice how you would answer questions about Your current research, research goals and your teaching Think about your answers from the search committee s view7 University of Pennsylvania Career ServicesScreening interviews Phone interviews Video interviews ( , Skype) Conference interviews8 Applications submitted ~200 Candidates for screening interview ~15-20 Candidates for campus interview ~3-5 University of Pennsylvania Career ServicesIntro to screening interviews They are short (30-60 minutes), preliminary assessments Conference interviews = screening interviews held at a professional ACADEMIC conference Telephone interviews or video conferencing = remote interviews with 1 or more interviewers with minimal cost/fuss At a screening interview, you can get an initial idea if there seems to be a fit between you and the department By inviting you, they are already expressing interest in you9 University of Pennsylvania Career ServicesYour prepare to present your qualifications succinctly and in an interesting way.

4 While expressing knowledge of the institution At a conference interview you have a limited time to stand out among a group of candidates in what might be a rushed and stressful environment You need to be able to establish rapport during a phone or Skype interview while dealing with technology issues 10 University of Pennsylvania Career ServicesScreening interviews general advice You may only have 30 minutes for your interview Answers must be concise, and relevant to search committee Committees may be evaluating your English skills You MUST have good, concise answers to basic questions: Why do you want this position? Why are you interested in our institution? Tell us about yourself. Tell us about your research where will you take it next? What is your teaching experience? Ask about the timeline for the rest of the interview process11 University of Pennsylvania Career ServicesPreparation: Research the institution Learn about the institution, school, and department Where is it?

5 Who are the students? What is their mission? What resources, facilities, or related institutions do they have? What have been recent developments? Any Penn alums who work there? Q. Why do you want to work here?12 University of Pennsylvania Career ServicesPreparation: Research the institution Learn about the institution, school, and department Become familiar with your interviewers work It is OK to ask who you will be talking to during the interview ahead of time Q. What do you know about our institution?13 University of Pennsylvania Career ServicesPreparation: Research the institution Learn about the institution, school, and department Become familiar with your interviewers work Brush up on general trends in your field (in addition to your specific area of research), pedagogy and higher education Chronicle of Higher Education Inside Higher Ed Professional ACADEMIC Associations Q.

6 Why is your research important to your field? Q. How would you teach our students?14 University of Pennsylvania Career ServicesPreparation: Research qualifications & fit Go over the materialsyou ve submitted Know what examples about your scholarship you want to talk about before the interview Identify talking points about yourself, your research and your teaching. Areas you will need to be able to discuss: Your dissertation/postdoctoral research Your future research interests Teaching Your interest in the institution15 University of Pennsylvania Career ServicesPractice interviewing Take advantage of resources in your department Practice questions There are sample questions on the Career Services Website and in the ACADEMIC Job Search Handbook Do a mock interview Set up a 1-hour mock interview with a career advisor (schedule through Handshake or call 215-898-7530) Utilize Interviewstream it is a great way to practice a video-conference interview ( )16 University of Pennsylvania Career Services17 University of Pennsylvania Career Services18 University of Pennsylvania Career Services19 The 5 Questions you will get in every job are you?

7 Tell me about do you know about our organization? do you want this position? do you bring to this role? What are your greatest strengths? What can you contribute to the work we do? you have any questions for us?University of Pennsylvania Career Services20 The 7 Questions you will get in ACADEMIC are you? Tell me about do you know about our organization? do you want this position? do you bring to this role? What are your greatest strengths? What can you contribute to the work we do? you have any questions for us? me about your research? me about your teaching experienceUniversity of Pennsylvania Career ServicesTips on answering questions Understand the so what of your research it s good to be engaged by, excited and/or enthusiastic about your contributions to the field Connect your accomplishments to what you know about the position, institution and department needs and goals.

8 Don t be afraid to ask clarifying questions interviewers are interested in people who are confident and candid, not always right Provide concrete examples and tie in your answers to specific experiences you have had: For example, illustrate your description of your teaching philosophy by sharing real classroom approaches you have taken, and the outcome21 University of Pennsylvania Career ServicesSetting up the interview Make sure you ve been fully informed of interview arrangements beforehand. Get a contact number in case of emergency or technical issues. Provide yours to the department. Get name and title of each person you will meet if you can. Find out where you need to be and when. At conference interviews, you may be in a hotel room or in a space provided by the association for interviews don t over schedule yourself For phone or video interviews, test the technology before the actual interview Find out how long each interview will last.

9 They can be 30 minutes, 45 minutes or an of Pennsylvania Career Services23 Phone and Video InterviewsUniversity of Pennsylvania Career ServicesHow to prepare Who and how long? Who will call whom? The technical aspects Quiet room Access to alternative means of communication Numbers if connection is lost Other phones on mute There will be silence do not try to fill the space Learn to stop , , , so , your sentences don t sort of end like , so , this is the , of the , Ok?University of Pennsylvania Career ServicesThey can t see what you are looking they can still hear of Pennsylvania Career ServicesTelephone interviews You can surround yourself with notes and supporting materials Requires extra effort to establish rapport Make sure your preparation includes securing a quiet location where you will not be interrupted, and have a GOOD phone of Pennsylvania Career ServicesDRESS THE PARTWhat to wearNOT RECOMMENDEDU niversity of Pennsylvania Career , and moreUniversity of Pennsylvania Career ServicesWebcam interviews Find a quiet place with a good connection if you don t have such a space at home, try a library or department conference room.

10 You can reserve the CS video conference room Be aware of lighting issues test the visual beforehand Use a professional sounding Skype username Add the institution address to your contacts ahead of time (and make sure they have yours) Watch this: of Pennsylvania Career ServicesHow to prepare Who and how long? The technical aspects Quiet room Close all other programs and scheduled back-ups Turn off phone Access to alternative means of communication Numbers if connection is lost Think about your surroundingsUniversity of Pennsylvania Career ServicesDon t be DougalOr Dougal sfriendUniversity of Pennsylvania Career Services32 What is wrong with this picture? Glowing lamp behind head Chin in hand Looking at myself and not the camera SlouchingUniversity of Pennsylvania Career ServicesIf you are looking at people on the screen, you aren t looking at the , so they ll see you looking down.