Claremont Graduate University
Career
Development
Academic Interviewing
Advice
General Advice
Have dissertation in hand or 3/4 done before you go on the market. Searching for a job is a fulltime job. The search will impact your dissertation work.
If possible, attend job talks or sit on committees for candidates interviewing in your current
department. Learn from their successes and failures.
Do as much as you can in advance. Have short and medium answers to common questions
prepared. Also, have a general job talk prepared. Be sure to ask your advisor about disciplinary
conventions. Practice job talk on campus within your department/school--ask for feedback!
Hand out evaluations with specific questions or leave time for audience to comment on general
strengths and weaknesses. Have sample syllabi for classes you might be asked to teach or could
teach. Have comfortable interview outfits and comfortable shoes.
Read "The Academic Job Search Handbook," By VIck, Furlong and Laurie
"You've Got an Interview" Preparation
Find out who is interviewing you.
Know the university: Institution type. student body characteristics, special characteristics,
other considerations, mission statement, priorities, history/background/future or strategic
plans, general education requirements; Department faculty backgrounds & research
interests, requirements for the major, courses offered, course websites/sample syllabi;
University newspaper and press releases, institution/department websites, outside
publications (i.e., Higher Education periodicals, U.S. News, and World Report), personal
resources (i.e., friends, colleagues, professors)
Prepare answers to common questions
Prepare your questions for the search committee!
Prepare your agenda. What do you want them to learn about you?
Study all information obtained about institution, department, and faculty as well as your
answers!
Practice, practice, practice. You want your presentations (job talk, teaching demonstration)
to be as smooth as possible--so practice everything you've prepared multiple times. Do a
practice presentation in your department, practice with your advisor, and come to the CDO
for a practice interview. Ask for feedback.
The Interview
During:
Show interest and enthusiasm.
Be positive and honest.
Make strong eye contact.
Pay attention to body language and
facial expressions.
Be a colleague, not a graduate
student. Imagine you are already a
faculty member, you are just
searching for the right institution.
Treat all interviews like
conversations.
Remember you are also
interviewing them. Will you be
happy in the position? (You don't
want to have to go through this
again in the next few years.)
Don't ask anything about
salary/benefits until you have an
offer.
Take notes.
Make sure you eat. Bring along
some snacks just in case.
Ask for a coffee or bathroom break
if you need one.
Save all receipts.
After:
Reaffirm your interest and summarize
your strengths
Determine the next steps in the
interview process/timeline
Convey what a pleasure it was to
interview
When you get home, be sure to write
a thank you note. Refer to the
"Writing a Thank You Note" handout
for guidelines.
Be patient! It may be weeks before
you hear any news.
Final Advice
Attend an Academic Interview workshop--see CDO calendar for time & place:
http://www.cgu.edu/careerdevelopment
Visit the Career Development Office for more information.
Visit: cgu-csm.symplicity.edu/students/ to request an appointment.
Stop by the Student Success Center to see us!
131 E. 10th St. Claremont, CA 91711 (909)621-8177