How did it go? Talk about your general impressions of the process? What kind of mistakes were made? Strangest question you were asked? Strangest answer you gave...etc...etc....
43 comments:
Anonymous
said...
In most of my interviews I had the feeling there was a genuine good conversation going on that both sides enjoyed. I think the key to achieving that is, if you're a confident, natural speaker, to not get over-rehearsed. Think of your research pitch in bullet points, rather than complete sentences. I've had indications of continued interest (but no actual flyouts yet, due to procedural requirements) from two places.
It may only be my experience, but I've found that there is only a slight correlation between interviews that I thought went really well (easy conversatio, jovial, etc.), and those where I got flybacks.
Also, IMHO, there's more updating of priors for the demanders than for the suppliers.
It may not be optimal for lower-ranked departments to fly out the people who interviewed best. Good interviewees are more likely to be targeted by the better departments.
For future generations, I'd suggest doing a practice interview or two while seated in a very soft armchair. It is harder to look animated and active when the chair wants you to slouch.
To concur with 9:04's comment, a friend heard through an advisor that some of the places where he gave his best interviews were so impressed they figured he would get better offers. As a result, they were considering not bothering to fly him out. Back-channel communication through his advisor will be crucial to convey to these places that he is as good as they thought, but won't necessarily receive or accept a higher-ranked offer.
I think it makes sense to keep updating your interviewers about any flyouts or offers you get, (or not get). That might just solve the above problem. Some of my interviewers told me to keep them updated, whenever there is any development.
11:51 - lol. I wish someone had told me the chairs would be like Mama Bear's. I thought one was literally about to eat me because it was both huge and like a giant cotton ball.
1:11 - so you think it's appropriate to notify schools about flyouts? I know I should keep them in the loop about offers, but I didn't think I should necessarily about flyouts. The one exception was if two schools were near one another, and I received a flyout to one of them. Then, it's a good idea to try and arrange something with the other school, since by doing so, you're lowering the marginal cost of them flying you out. That might even get you an flyout, actually, if you were at the margin beforehand.
During one of my interviews, without a doubt, one of the interviewers must have farted and all of us knew it but didn't say a thing. If I ever get the job I'll get to the bottom of this.
Rule of thumb: keep schools in the loop about flyouts if they are in proximity to one of your flyouts. If you are a "cheap date" b/c of cost sharing, then they may be more likely to have you for a campus visit.
Re good interviews: I don't think lower tier schools are wowed by good interviews per se. In fact liberal arts schools are looking for the good communicators more than upper tier schools. This all depends on what we mean by a "good" interview. Do we mean they asked you tough questions and you nailed them? Or do we mean that it was relaxed and jocular?
to January 8, 2007 3:16 PM, Was it on Palmer Hilton? Same thing happened to me and I didn't know what to do!!! Some of them told me that it might take 2 weeks but if I start hearing from others, I should call them.
10:14 - what was he watching? A football game? Was he watching it the whole time?
I was told beforehand that sometimes a committee member will actively try to sabotage an interviewer by purposely being belligerent, asking strange questions, and feigning an inability to understand an interviewee's questions the entire time. The person who told me this said it might happen in part because the interviewer really likes an earlier candidate, and so wants to ruin subsequent people's chances. Did anything like that happen?
I'm on the market on the supply side unbeknownst to my current department (who was also hiring at the suites). It was ridiculous. I was hiding in the corners behind the pillars so that my department wouldn't see me.
Most of my interviews went well with a few exceptions. In one case, I didn't notice that my zipper was broken so that my fly was essentially open. I thought my folder would have hidden the matter but I just don't know. Nevertheless, I get a flyout on Tuesday morning. Maybe it made me more memorable.
I see that University of the Pacific in CA has made their flyback decisions. Since I’m not one of them, I have a question to anyone else who interviewed with them in Chicago. Out of curiosity, did anyone feel they didn’t get enough time to talk about what they could offer? The dominant interviewer took up over half the time, and I’d bet the other doesn’t yet have tenure because she was so passive. It’s clear she is not from the south, more like NY! I didn’t know how to interrupt to get back to things I wanted to let them know. It was frustrating. Just curious if anyone else felt this way.
8:00am - I had an interview with them. I can see why you say that. I think the successful interview with them required taking control of the interview immediately, which I did (and have a flyout). One person was very passive and one had a strong personality, though.
I am sure there is more info out there than there is in the wiki page. Why do you think people who got a flyout are so reluctant to make the info public? Shouldn't one want to advertise he/she is doing well in the market???
I have deleted a few post here that belong under the Government header. Please try to keep post under the correct heading. Don't cross post either...it's rude!
Same thing with the Cal State campuses. Unionized professors means starting in the low $60's. It's killing their chances of turning the econ depts into something better.
Campus visit: I thought this would be a series of gruelling interviews, but it turned out that these sessions were more chatty and friendly than even the AEA sessions. Basically we talked about academic and career stuff other than research. Pretty cool - but that makes it all the more difficult to guess how it went.
43 comments:
In most of my interviews I had the feeling there was a genuine good conversation going on that both sides enjoyed. I think the key to achieving that is, if you're a confident, natural speaker, to not get over-rehearsed. Think of your research pitch in bullet points, rather than complete sentences. I've had indications of continued interest (but no actual flyouts yet, due to procedural requirements) from two places.
It may only be my experience, but I've found that there is only a slight correlation between interviews that I thought went really well (easy conversatio, jovial, etc.), and those where I got flybacks.
Also, IMHO, there's more updating of priors for the demanders than for the suppliers.
It may not be optimal for lower-ranked departments to fly out the people who interviewed best. Good interviewees are more likely to be targeted by the better departments.
I concur wholly with 12:35 - that was entirely my experience too.
For future generations, I'd suggest doing a practice interview or two while seated in a very soft armchair. It is harder to look animated and active when the chair wants you to slouch.
To concur with 9:04's comment, a friend heard through an advisor that some of the places where he gave his best interviews were so impressed they figured he would get better offers. As a result, they were considering not bothering to fly him out. Back-channel communication through his advisor will be crucial to convey to these places that he is as good as they thought, but won't necessarily receive or accept a higher-ranked offer.
I think it makes sense to keep updating your interviewers about any flyouts or offers you get, (or not get). That might just solve the above problem. Some of my interviewers told me to keep them updated, whenever there is any development.
do people send out thank you notes to interviewers?
11:51 - lol. I wish someone had told me the chairs would be like Mama Bear's. I thought one was literally about to eat me because it was both huge and like a giant cotton ball.
1:11 - so you think it's appropriate to notify schools about flyouts? I know I should keep them in the loop about offers, but I didn't think I should necessarily about flyouts. The one exception was if two schools were near one another, and I received a flyout to one of them. Then, it's a good idea to try and arrange something with the other school, since by doing so, you're lowering the marginal cost of them flying you out. That might even get you an flyout, actually, if you were at the margin beforehand.
I always send brief thank you e-mails. I also usually mention one thing that stood out in the interview for me.
I think it's a good way to show continued interest.
During one of my interviews, without a doubt, one of the interviewers must have farted and all of us knew it but didn't say a thing. If I ever get the job I'll get to the bottom of this.
Rule of thumb: keep schools in the loop about flyouts if they are in proximity to one of your flyouts. If you are a "cheap date" b/c of cost sharing, then they may be more likely to have you for a campus visit.
Re good interviews: I don't think lower tier schools are wowed by good interviews per se. In fact liberal arts schools are looking for the good communicators more than upper tier schools. This all depends on what we mean by a "good" interview. Do we mean they asked you tough questions and you nailed them? Or do we mean that it was relaxed and jocular?
here's a tip: look up your interviewers on ratemyprofessor.com. hilarious!
Anyone can share Vassar College interview experience? For my case, I just describe my job market paper and then chat with the interviewer.
to January 8, 2007 3:16 PM,
Was it on Palmer Hilton? Same thing happened to me and I didn't know what to do!!!
Some of them told me that it might take 2 weeks but if I start hearing from others, I should call them.
I had one interview where the interviewer (only one) kept the TV on the whole time. At least it was on mute. I was not impressed.
10:14 - what was he watching? A football game? Was he watching it the whole time?
I was told beforehand that sometimes a committee member will actively try to sabotage an interviewer by purposely being belligerent, asking strange questions, and feigning an inability to understand an interviewee's questions the entire time. The person who told me this said it might happen in part because the interviewer really likes an earlier candidate, and so wants to ruin subsequent people's chances. Did anything like that happen?
10:14 - what you are describing would be unprofessional on SO many levels. I find it really hard to believe something like that might actually happen
sorry - the previous message was directed to 10:47, not 10:14
Yeah, the TV thing I can totally believe. I haven't actually seen it though.
I did have one interviewer fall asleep. yea me. warm room. end of the day. uninteresting research??
Anyone else take photos? Here is one I took while waiting at the Embassy Suites for an interview:
http://www.bluwiki.com/go/Image:Embassy.jpg
Hilarious pic! What a fishbowl that was!
I'm on the market on the supply side unbeknownst to my current department (who was also hiring at the suites). It was ridiculous. I was hiding in the corners behind the pillars so that my department wouldn't see me.
That picture is bloody brilliant!
Most of my interviews went well with a few exceptions. In one case, I didn't notice that my zipper was broken so that my fly was essentially open. I thought my folder would have hidden the matter but I just don't know. Nevertheless, I get a flyout on Tuesday morning. Maybe it made me more memorable.
When does the campus visit exactly take place? Within 2 weeks after the call?
What was the longest interview you have? I had one scheduled for 45min and it took 1 hr 13 min! Still didn't hear from them though ?!?
I see that University of the Pacific in CA has made their flyback decisions. Since I’m not one of them, I have a question to anyone else who interviewed with them in Chicago. Out of curiosity, did anyone feel they didn’t get enough time to talk about what they could offer? The dominant interviewer took up over half the time, and I’d bet the other doesn’t yet have tenure because she was so passive. It’s clear she is not from the south, more like NY! I didn’t know how to interrupt to get back to things I wanted to let them know. It was frustrating. Just curious if anyone else felt this way.
I had one interview that went about an hour. Most were 30-40 minutes.
8:00am - I had an interview with them. I can see why you say that. I think the successful interview with them required taking control of the interview immediately, which I did (and have a flyout). One person was very passive and one had a strong personality, though.
5:56 - I had a 45 minute one what went for 1 hour 15 minutes, and I think of that 1 hour and 15 minutes, I spoke a total of 15 minutes.
I am sure there is more info out there than there is in the wiki page. Why do you think people who got a flyout are so reluctant to make the info public? Shouldn't one want to advertise he/she is doing well in the market???
Maybe people are worried that it would look bad to the employer that they posted the info here?
I have deleted a few post here that belong under the Government header. Please try to keep post under the correct heading. Don't cross post either...it's rude!
Same thing with the Cal State campuses. Unionized professors means starting in the low $60's. It's killing their chances of turning the econ depts into something better.
It's all in the name of "equity." Equity in salaries, not quality.
Thanks, Thanks, Thanks
Can we have a section where people can discuss their experience from campus visits?
Campus visit: I thought this would be a series of gruelling interviews, but it turned out that these sessions were more chatty and friendly than even the AEA sessions. Basically we talked about academic and career stuff other than research. Pretty cool - but that makes it all the more difficult to guess how it went.
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