Interviewing is a skill. Job candidates who go into interviews with the attitude that they will simply respond to questions off the cuff are taking a passive, unprepared approach that impresses no one, especially in this day and age, when markets are tough. You should prepare yourself thoroughly for every interview and identify your purpose in advance. What do you want the employer to remember about you? What messages will you send, and how? Taking some ownership in the process will enhance your performance while also reducing angst and feelings of powerlessness.
| Academic Interviewing | Interviewing Beyond Academe |
|---|---|
| Somewhat predictable | Less predictable |
| Generally speaking, longer—more time to make a good impression | Generally speaking, shorter—more pressure to make a good impression quickly |
| You know the language, culture, and people of academe | You are venturing into new and perhaps unknown territory |
While interviewing beyond academe is somewhat less predictable, the essence of the process is similar, and your purpose going in should be the same. Above all, you want to show those on the hiring side that you are “job ready,” that you are a forward-thinking professional whose future is compatible with theirs. Let them see how invested you are in the opportunity and what you find interesting about their job opening. GSAS Career Services offers programs annually on interviewing beyond academe. Check our Current Events for a schedule of upcoming programs.
A job interview is an exchange of information between an employer and a potential employee. Generally speaking, if you have been invited to an interview, the employer assumes you can do the job. The interview allows the employer to evaluate your potential “fit.” Thus, in addition to your qualifications, the employer will judge you on your personal qualities, such as your interest in the job, your enthusiasm and commitment, and your ability to get along with others and adapt to the organizational culture.
Your job in the interview is to get your messages across and to gather information in order to decide whether or not to accept an offer if one is made. You play a major role in keeping the conversation flowing and engaging. You must be able to make an argument for your fit in a short period of time.
While the academic job search has the advantage of relatively established customary protocols, in job markets beyond academe, procedures are less standardized. After you have applied for a position, you may or may not receive an acknowledgement of your application. You may or may not receive word when the position has been filled by another applicant. You may hear nothing initially from the employer only to receive a call months later requesting an interview. Be prepared for all of these scenarios, do not take silence personally, and keep your expectations realistic.
If you wish to enter a field that is not heavily populated by PhDs—regardless of the level of the position for which you are applying—avoid academic language and jargon that may be inaccessible to interviewers. Sometimes people with advanced degrees are perceived by others as too abstract to be able to solve real-world problems, lacking in people skills, and unable to meet short deadlines. You may want to provide information in the interview to dispel such (sometimes secretly harbored) notions. Dust off your social skills and send the message that you are focused on outcomes and easy to work with.
Graduate students who apply for entry-level positions often compete with younger job candidates. Older candidates with advanced degrees have the advantage of their greater maturity and more highly refined skills and training. Be careful, though, not to come across as too critical, demanding, or rigid. You must show that you are flexible, since most employers seek entry-level employees whom they can train and mold.