gss 2006 presentation garcia

ON INTERVIEWING FOR AN ACADEMIC POSITION

Phil GarciaACEUniversity of Illinois

Introduction

Background Uncertainty about the process Heterogeneous opportunities and different

types of interviews Information Needs

– How do I get an interview?– What do interviews involve?– How will I be assessed?

How Do I Get the Interview?

Procedures– AAEA Employment Center– AAEA on-line– JOE

The Personal Touch — “stand out” Keep the CV current and accurate Use university career centers (CV, mock

interviews)

What do Interviews involve?

Convention Interview (structure and objective)– Structure

30 to 45 minutes (?) Components: position definition; questions about your

research, teaching, and other activities identified in CV that might relate to the position; and time for you to ask questions

– Learn about the position

Convention Interview

– Make a good impression (Be prepared) Research the position and department Anticipate questions/responses

– Research (“elevator story”)– Teaching– Service and Outreach – CV and position statement

Convention Interview

– Make a good impression Prepare questions primarily about the position and

related faculty Be Collegial (reasonably “upbeat but relaxed”) Answer questions in a direct but rather succinct manner Talk about your experiences

– A variant (phone interview) Identify who will participate and…

What do Interviews involve?

Campus Interview– Structure

2 days Components (variable): research seminar; meetings with the

Dean and/or Head of extension, department head, search committee, faculty and students; a teaching opportunity; social occasions, real estate tour

Obtain a schedule for the interview and ask the department head to identify expectations for the position

– Learn about the position and present yourself as a potential colleague. Let’s start with the position.

Campus Interview

Heighten your preparation– Learn about your institution– Search for information about the position and the

hiring institution– Learn about members of the search committee

and faculty you are scheduled to meet (particularly in your area)

Campus Interview

Preparation– Anticipate and think carefully about the

“inevitable” questions—Google “academic position interview”

U of Minnesota—Teaching and Learning Center (tutorials)

Darmouth College—Kathryn Cottingham (questions) U of Maryland—Mary Corbin (advice) Cornell—John Cawley “A Guide (and Advice) for

Economists on the US Junior Job Market”

Campus Interview

Preparation– Realize that your response to similar questions

may vary depending on the situation and/or individual

– Tailor and ask more detailed questions on the position, department, college, and university

– Don’t forget that Land Grant Institutions have a responsibility for service and outreach

Campus Interview

Develop carefully and practice the research seminar– An opportunity to show your “stuff”– Motivate and emphasize the importance of the

research question– Clearly and quickly identify the value of the work

and your contribution

Campus Interview

Research Seminar– Get the story straight (link problem, theory,

procedures and data, and institutions) – Don’t lose your audience with tedious derivations

or endless tables and figures– Anticipate questions (general and specific)

Campus Interview

Research Seminar– Anticipate how you will handle unexpected

questions and problematic questioners– When possible, at the end link your research to

the position– Allocate your time well– Remember academics want you to tell them

something they didn’t know so they can better understand a problem

Campus Interview

Teaching Opportunity– Identify your audience and preparation– Explore alternative topics — find “comfort zone” – Identify clearly what you are going to discuss– Present students with information (e.g. outline,

figures)– Use concrete examples (e.g. “put numbers on it”)

Campus Interview

Teaching– Keep the presentation short and focused – Use different procedures (ask questions, ppt

presentation, blackboard) to communicate your message, but be selective

– Summarize, answering the “so what?” question

Campus Interview

Present yourself as a potential colleague– Academics look for good colleagues

Engaged and enthusiastic about their work Contribute to the growth of knowledge and development

of the department– Resolve relevant problems– Communicate knowledge to audiences and decision

makers– Use the knowledge to inform and enhance the quality of

their instructional and outreach activities

Campus Interview

Potential colleague– The campus interview is an opportunity to show you can be

a good colleague Be engaged in your work Demonstrate your are connected with the literature and your

faculty Be informed and interested in the faculty and their work at the

hiring institution– In addition, it doesn’t hurt to be affable, initiate

conversations, and to follow “accepted” behavioral norms (you are a candidate) during and after the interview

Some Concluding Thoughts

Start early– Learn about your institution– Interact with your professors and study how they

interact with others– Find and involve yourself with research– Explore teaching opportunities and instructional

centers on campus Be prepared “Remember the Maine”

Other Slides

Inevitable questions Questions for you to ask

Some “Inevitable” Questions

Research– Generic: Tell me about your research (and/or your specific

papers in CV) and the contribution you are making? How did you get the idea for your work?

– Specific: In light of Sanders and Manfredo (2006), I question your assumption that markets are efficient? Is the procedure you used appropriate for the data? Is their independent evidence to support your claims? Why should we care about your findings?

Some “inevitable” Questions

Research– The Future: Where do you plan to publish your

work? Where do you plan to take this line of research? Are you going to look for research funding? How do you see your current research direction fitting into the position?


Teaching– General: What is your teaching experience and

how do you think it qualifies you for the position? What is your teaching philosophy?

– Specific: What courses would like to teach and what books would you use? How have you used technology in the class? How would you handle a situation where 50% of your class simply fails?


Other– How do you see yourself in this position in 5 or 10

years? What are your professional goals? Is there a match?

– What form of service or outreach do you see yourself providing to the university and/or outside community?

– In what ways do you see your research interests providing information to private and/or public decision makers?

Some “Inevitable” Questions

Other – Why this position? In this department? At this

university?– How do you think your research, teaching, and

other experiences uniquely prepare you for this position?

Interviewer Questions

Position– How does the position fit into the department’s

activities and direction? – What are T/R/O responsibilities and

expectations? (teaching load?) – Are there other faculty working on related issues?

Is there much professional interaction?


Position– What criteria will be used to assess performance?– How does the tenure process work? What is the

importance of T/R/O in promotion? What is the recent “track record” of the department in promoting junior faculty? What role does the college play in this process?


Position– In which journals are faculty expected to publish?– What resources are available? Are there “start

up” funds or instructional centers on campus to assist junior faculty? Are there funds to support research assistants for junior faculty?

– What are the grant writing expectations for junior faculty?

– Is there much mentoring of junior faculty?


Department, College, and University– How is the D/C/U organized?– How are decisions made and resources

allocated?– What are the plans for growth or hiring?– Is this a good place to work and develop a

career?


Department, College, and University– Tell me about the research environment?– Is there much professional interaction among

faculty, departments and/or colleges? – Tell me about the quality of the undergraduate

and graduate students? Where do they find jobs?– Tell me about the department’s seminar series?

Recent presenters? Attendance?


Department, College, and University– What contacts and programs do the department

and faculty maintain with agriculture, industry, and/or relevant public and private institutions and decision makers?

– In what direction is the college/university moving? How does the department fit into this picture?

– Is this a good place to live?

gss 2006 presentation garcia

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