Think of the job interview as a conversation among colleagues. You want to present yourself as a professional, so try hard not to act like a graduate student being grilled in an oral defense. Remember that non-verbal cues and body language will be scrutinized as much as what you say. Greet everyone with a firm handshake and make good eye contact. Keep nervous habits under control, such as tapping your pen, twirling your hair, looking away or looking down. Maintain good posture. Below are more general interviewing tips to follow:
When answering questions and when communicating generally in an interview, be succinct and do not ramble. You want to show people on the hiring side that you can listen, focus, and organize your thoughts quickly. Also be careful not to speak too rapidly, which some are prone to do when nervous.
A very effective technique for communicating information in an interview is to cite a specific example or story to illustrate a point. Interviewers have a great deal of information to process, and stories are often easier to remember than general statements or platitudes, because they are more vivid and accessible. Consequently, they can also persuade effectively. You can apply this technique in discussing any accomplishment (research, teaching, etc.).
In using examples/stories, it is very important to structure them tightly so as not to lose your listener’s attention. Strip away all unnecessary information. Focus concretely on:
Always be sure to address the results of your efforts. Remember that in a job interview you are being assessed on your potential to make contributions. Outcomes are very important. An example of a general point one might wish to make is:
“I took a creative approach to my research.”
In addition to making this general statement, one might add:
Situation/problem: In June 1940 the Nazis seized all of the archives of the organization I wanted to research. Because of this obstacle, no history of the movement had ever been written. A preeminent French scholar had recently given up his plans to tackle the subject because he could not overcome this problem.
Action: I decided to rise to this historiographical challenge by seeking other, extra-institutional sources. The task was difficult but very rewarding. I obtained unprecedented access to secret freemasonic records and major archival collections held in private hands. I found massive amounts of valuable material in attics, barns, closets, and basements of government buildings, not to mention material in the National Archives that had never before been scrutinized by scholars.
Result: The problem of sources ultimately pushed me to employ methods I had not originally intended to use. By remaining flexible and open to where leads took me, I was able to tell the story of the largest left-wing movement in France in the first half of the 20th century and argue for its central role in fashioning the collective memory of the French left, which still stands fast today.
After the campus visit, interviewers may not remember a general statement about a candidate’s “creative approach,” but they would probably recall images of Nazis seizing documents, the candidate uncovering historical treasures in attics and barns, making innovative strides in the field.
This technique takes practice. Before your interview, think of a few stories/examples that illustrate your strengths and achievements, and rehearse them.
Be careful not to underestimate the value of good interpersonal skills in interviewing for academic jobs. Recent studies reveal that search committees consider the personalities and interpersonal skills of job candidates as important factors in the final decision-making process. If you are invited to a campus interview, the committee assumes you can do the job. The interview allows people to evaluate you as a potential colleague. Often the top 2 or 3 candidates are relatively equally qualified, and in those cases a winning personality can tip the scale. While personality certainly does not compensate for lacking qualifications, at times when the market is saturated with brilliant job seekers, even if you are one of them, remember your manners and smile.