Interview Etiquette

Sorry, I never posted a follow-up, I'm still trying to digest everything. I think it went well. And ladies, I looked fabulous in my sheer nylons and closed-toed shoes. ;)

I went in for what was supposed to be 2 hours of interviewing, ended up staying for lunch and being there for a total of 5 hours, talking with different people. I was surprised that I didn't get too many of the typical interview questions. In fact, I didn't get many questions at all, aside from why do you want to come here, what is your background, blah blah. I was bracing myself for my most hated interview question "what is your biggest weakness?" and it never came up. But it was odd that the interviewers did more of the talking. I had a few questions for them about working in a small company, but across the board it seemed to be them talking the whole time, which struck me as a little strange. But then again, these are scientists and (being a scientist myself) I know we're not known for our great social skills.

I got the impression from my friend that they really liked me and want me for the job and judging by my discussions with the pres of the company, depending on how the salary negotiations go, they're prepared to make me an offer. It's a really big decision and there are a lot of pros and cons to weigh. The good thing is, I'm not desperate, I have a job that I somewhat like, right now. That gives me a great advantage in being able to take my time and think about this decision. Though not too much time, I need to have this wrapped up in the next few weeks because I'm going away for a whole month (!!), which they are aware of. I will keep you all updated as things progress.

Thank you all for your suggestions, advice and humor!

Sounds like you rocked the casbah!

Waytago cyclechick! What with the suit, the hose, the shoes ... and of course your skills, experience and personality ;) ... you really wow'ed 'em. I think it sounds like they'd decided already on the basis of your cv and were just calling you in for the "interview" to see if they could convince you to take the job. Scientists are used to focusing on the evidence rather than on anything as subjective as impressions, or at least we like to think we are.

One with options is one to be envied.

You can go or you can stay...that's a good place to be.

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Originally Posted by pooks

Sounds like you rocked the casbah!

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Now that song is stuck in my head!!!

Well done on having what sounds like a successful day there.

I doubt you would have been invited to hang around for five hours meeting and greeting unless you have at least made the short short list.

Congrats, sounds like you felt and looked confident and handled yourself professionally

I'm getting a little nervous now. After I first met with them I heard back in hours. After this second meeting on Tuesday, they said I'd hear from the probably later on in the week, and it's later on in the week and I'm starting to get nervous since I haven't heard back yet. Ugh, maybe I was being overly confident in assuming I'd get an offer, but the discussions I had with them seemed to be moving in that direction. Or maybe this is a negotiation tactic. He has me sweat it out a little bit as he tries to get the upper hand in the situation.

Or maybe I"m just over analyzing this. He's probably busy, he does have a business to run, afterall!

sounds like you blitzed it! :D

i have been reading this thread with great interest cos i have my first academic interview on mon :eek:

I hope i go as well as you did cyclechic!. I'm kind of nervous. I've been for a lot of interviews in my time, but never for an academic position (i'm doing my phd now). So i'm terrified about what they are going to ask :eek: :eek:

I am so nervous they are going to expect me to come up with a whole bunch of hugely interesting and inspiring topics i will offer any students i supervise.... but right now i'm so engrossed in writing up i cant see beyond my topic :( . I know i will come back from the SARMAC conference in July with heaps of ideas, so maybe i'll just have to give them that line :o

Am heading into supervision this morning, and my supervisor is going to help me prepare. I will be so glad when it's over :o

I keep telling myself, i'll be fine and if i dont get the job that's ok. I'll at least know what to expect next time :p

I know there are some academics out there in TE land... if you have any advice ... feel free to put it out. I didnt want to ask earlier cos i didnt want to hijack this thread...

Good luck, thistle! I wish I could give you advice for an academic position, but I know it's a very very different world. I used to work in academia, but as a lab tech.

I'm sure you'll do great! Let me know how it goes.

And oh yeah, remember to wear panty hose and closed toed shoes with your suit ;)

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Originally Posted by CycleChic06

Good luck, thistle! I wish I could give you advice for an academic position, but I know it's a very very different world. I used to work in academia, but as a lab tech.

I'm sure you'll do great! Let me know how it goes.

And oh yeah, remember to wear panty hose and closed toed shoes with your suit ;)

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Thanks Cyclechic!

I will wear closed toe shoes but i'm not going the panty hose. it's 39 degrees here today (102.2F)... i'd just expire :o

they are going to have to love me sans pantyhose :p

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Originally Posted by Thistle

i have been reading this thread with great interest cos i have my first academic interview on mon :eek: ...
I am so nervous they are going to expect me to come up with a whole bunch of hugely interesting and inspiring topics i will offer any students i supervise.... but right now i'm so engrossed in writing up i cant see beyond my topic :( . I know i will come back from the SARMAC conference in July with heaps of ideas, so maybe i'll just have to give them that line :o .

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There isn't a lot of time between now and monday, but I would say that saying you hope to have some ideas after a conference is not the best idea. You should have a big picture plan in your head now of your research goals. Maybe this weekend you could make an outline, and then before the *next* interview flesh it out. When we hire faculty colleagues, the first thing we look at is passed research productivity, and the second thing is the significance, soundness, depth, and fundablity of the future research plan. Clothes don't matter. Good luck, and let us know how it goes!

p.s. If you are going to be giving a formal research presentation, that too is important since it is the best indicator they will have of your oral comm. skills, i.e. teaching ability.

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Originally Posted by Triskeliongirl

There isn't a lot of time between now and monday, but I would say that saying you hope to have some ideas after a conference is not the best idea. You should have a big picture plan in your head now of your research goals. Maybe this weekend you could make an outline, and then before the *next* interview flesh it out. When we hire faculty colleagues, the first thing we look at is passed research productivity, and the second thing is the significance, soundness, depth, and fundablity of the future research plan. Clothes don't matter. Good luck, and let us know how it goes!

p.s. If you are going to be giving a formal research presentation, that too is important since it is the best indicator they will have of your oral comm. skills, i.e. teaching ability.

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Thanks Triskeliongirl. I'll spend the weekend doing that, and hopefully will be more inspired the next time round :o

I kind of wish they did have "job talks" cos i'd like to do a presentation on my research and i know if i'd had to prepare one i'd have had to come up with some decent ideas for future projects :o

my supervisor did a mock interview with me this morning, felt like hell, but at least it made me think about some things I didnt even know would come up :o :o

yikes i'm not looking forward to this :eek:

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Originally Posted by Thistle

...my supervisor did a mock interview with me this morning, felt like hell, but at least it made me think about some things I didnt even know would come up :o :o

yikes i'm not looking forward to this :eek:

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Look do the best you can but don't sweat it. It sounds like maybe this interview is just a little bit premature, but use it to learn and better prepare for the next one. And who knows, depending on circumstances you could still get the job so don't give up before you start, just make the most of the short time you have to think through your future goals a little more clearly.