Hope this video gives you some insights into how faculty interviews typically work, and what you shouldn't be too worried about. Let me know if I forgot something - and good luck with your interview!
I think all candidates can do the job and can fit. The interview is purposefully to rank personalities, and choose the one who scores highest. Treat it as test you need to pass, not only pass but beat the others.😊
Thanks for this nice video. It is very useful. I will have a (virtual) interview for a lecturer position in applied math on Mon at an Irish Uni. They requested to prepare a 5 min long research presentation followed by a 5 min long teaching presentation. What general advice one can have for such short presentations? What should the first impression generally look like when being interviewed virtually? Thank you!
I guess the exact same points apply when the times are altogether shorter, even though this really is very short. For virtual presentations I would make sure I have a good video and audio, and you'd dress like if you were there in person (whatever the standard in your field is). Good luck!
Thanks for this great video! It is really helpful as i am preparing my first onsite interview coming in two weeks. Do you happen to have any advice to a candidate (me) who is applying for a position in the department where I got my phd (after 3-year postdoc in a different continent)?
Thanks! I also interviewed in the same department where I got my PhD, about 25 years ago. I do remember it was a strange experience, at the same time familiar and very different. My advice: just stay professional, behave like you would during an interview anywhere else, don't assume too much; you're there now in a totally different role.
Thank you so much for sharing! Applied for two UK lecturer jobs and got both interviews coming up next month, "think of it as a date" is genius, love it! But it's a very tiring date haha, a lot to prepare, esp for an international candidate like me who has never studied in UK or US.
Thanks! Yes, the comment about the date was a bit tongue-in-cheek, it is a very stressful appointment for sure; you are absolutely right. But it is also in the end a lot about mutual fit, and it's not a prolonged test of your knowledge and abilities. This is where the analogy maybe holds. 🙂
@@mrillig No I totally agree, especially in UK academia it seems the interviews are much shorter (less than a hr for both presentation and panel interview) so I am guessing it is not going to be about details of my performance.
@@xyz4704 Right. Of course, questions after your presentation can at times also be about detailed aspect of what you did. The interview will very likely be about general things, such as the impact your work had, where you are going with your research, and what your experience is in supervising people or managing grant money, etc. Perhaps there is also time for some social interactions....
@@mrillig Good to know, I hope it will go smoothly, I am doing a lot of preparation for various possible questions and feel like it's actually really helpful for preparing myself for the job as well, if I get it, fingers crossed.
This was very helpful and I used it for my recent job interview! Unfortunately, it felt like the search committee was generally not interested. I received almost no questions during the "interview" section, but rather some awkward small talk. I tried myself to steer the conversation in the direction, talking about the research I would like to do and how I would add to teaching. But no matter what I said, there were never any follow questions, and everything was countered with a bored "okay". I don't feel I did a lot wrong, but maybe I did. Or maybe there was already another candidate on which they set their sights. Be that as it may, it was a very disappointing experience, and a felt even a little disrespected.
Sorry you did not have a good experience. There are a lot of things going on in search committees, try not to take it personally. I hope your next interview will be better!
heck, my lab assistant interview is next Wednesday as it has been 6 months since i graduated with blank brain i really hope i don't end up with an ok interviewers (literally 6 ppl gonna interview me xD).
As always💚, it's a very helpful video. 🤍 Prof, I just want to ask … Is it possible to be accepted as a PhD student by a prospective supervisor when you don't have a relative experience in his/her research group?
It depends, but I would say it is very, very difficult. You would need to make a case that your experience, which is different from the main research of the prospective host lab, is in some ways relevant, in the sense that it could bring a new angle to the research. But I would say most people won't accept students if the background doesn't match.
Hope this video gives you some insights into how faculty interviews typically work, and what you shouldn't be too worried about. Let me know if I forgot something - and good luck with your interview!
I think all candidates can do the job and can fit. The interview is purposefully to rank personalities, and choose the one who scores highest. Treat it as test you need to pass, not only pass but beat the others.😊
Personality plays an important role, but not the only one. Fit to the program is also important, for example.
I have participated on several interviews, some I was succeed some not. But I think you gave a perspective of what is like a prof job interview.
Thanks! best of luck with your next interview!
Indeed very useful!! Many thanks
thanks!
My stomach has a swarm of locusts in it atm. I hope All goes well in tomorrow’s demo teach and interview. 😢
All the best for your interview!
How did the interview go? Going for mine tomorrow.
Sincere thanks.
You're welcome! :)
Wonderful..
Thank you!
Thanks for this nice video. It is very useful. I will have a (virtual) interview for a lecturer position in applied math on Mon at an Irish Uni. They requested to prepare a 5 min long research presentation followed by a 5 min long teaching presentation. What general advice one can have for such short presentations? What should the first impression generally look like when being interviewed virtually? Thank you!
I guess the exact same points apply when the times are altogether shorter, even though this really is very short. For virtual presentations I would make sure I have a good video and audio, and you'd dress like if you were there in person (whatever the standard in your field is). Good luck!
Thanks for this great video! It is really helpful as i am preparing my first onsite interview coming in two weeks. Do you happen to have any advice to a candidate (me) who is applying for a position in the department where I got my phd (after 3-year postdoc in a different continent)?
Thanks!
I also interviewed in the same department where I got my PhD, about 25 years ago. I do remember it was a strange experience, at the same time familiar and very different. My advice: just stay professional, behave like you would during an interview anywhere else, don't assume too much; you're there now in a totally different role.
Thanks for the advice!@@mrillig
@@mrillig I just received the offer for this position, which is definitely my dream job! Thanks for your advice.
Having been on all sides of this process, this is by far the best and most informed video on this topic that I’ve seen! Thanks for creating it
Oh thanks very much!!! that is great to hear.
Thank you so much for sharing! Applied for two UK lecturer jobs and got both interviews coming up next month, "think of it as a date" is genius, love it! But it's a very tiring date haha, a lot to prepare, esp for an international candidate like me who has never studied in UK or US.
Thanks! Yes, the comment about the date was a bit tongue-in-cheek, it is a very stressful appointment for sure; you are absolutely right. But it is also in the end a lot about mutual fit, and it's not a prolonged test of your knowledge and abilities. This is where the analogy maybe holds. 🙂
@@mrillig No I totally agree, especially in UK academia it seems the interviews are much shorter (less than a hr for both presentation and panel interview) so I am guessing it is not going to be about details of my performance.
@@xyz4704 Right. Of course, questions after your presentation can at times also be about detailed aspect of what you did. The interview will very likely be about general things, such as the impact your work had, where you are going with your research, and what your experience is in supervising people or managing grant money, etc. Perhaps there is also time for some social interactions....
@@mrillig Good to know, I hope it will go smoothly, I am doing a lot of preparation for various possible questions and feel like it's actually really helpful for preparing myself for the job as well, if I get it, fingers crossed.
This was very helpful and I used it for my recent job interview! Unfortunately, it felt like the search committee was generally not interested. I received almost no questions during the "interview" section, but rather some awkward small talk. I tried myself to steer the conversation in the direction, talking about the research I would like to do and how I would add to teaching. But no matter what I said, there were never any follow questions, and everything was countered with a bored "okay". I don't feel I did a lot wrong, but maybe I did. Or maybe there was already another candidate on which they set their sights. Be that as it may, it was a very disappointing experience, and a felt even a little disrespected.
Sorry you did not have a good experience. There are a lot of things going on in search committees, try not to take it personally. I hope your next interview will be better!
heck, my lab assistant interview is next Wednesday as it has been 6 months since i graduated with blank brain i really hope i don't end up with an ok interviewers (literally 6 ppl gonna interview me xD).
Thank you so much for sharing your input and perspective!
Thanks, glad you liked it.
Thanks a million!
thanks!!
As always💚, it's a very helpful video. 🤍
Prof, I just want to ask … Is it possible to be accepted as a PhD student by a prospective supervisor when you don't have a relative experience in his/her research group?
It depends, but I would say it is very, very difficult. You would need to make a case that your experience, which is different from the main research of the prospective host lab, is in some ways relevant, in the sense that it could bring a new angle to the research. But I would say most people won't accept students if the background doesn't match.
Really thankful for your comment🤍🤍🤍🙌🏽, I will work more on myself rather looking for st not guaranteed..