Preparing for Academic Interviews
Whether you are preparing for the conference interview, the on-campus interview, or the telephone interview, there are many resources available for you to consult. Highly recommended is the Academic Job Search Handbook by Julie Miller Vick and Jennifer S. Furlong, University of Pennsylvania Press, 4th edition, 2008. For Science and Engineering students, Tomorrow's Professor by Richard Reis, IEEE Press, 1997.
Mary Corbin Sies, Professor of American Studies at the University of Maryland, provides some helpful tips and suggestions on interviewing on her webpage, Academic Job Interview Advice. These resources will give you guidance in the types of questions you might encounter and the process involved.
Mary Corbin Sies, Professor of American Studies at the University of Maryland, provides some helpful tips and suggestions on interviewing on her webpage, Academic Job Interview Advice. These resources will give you guidance in the types of questions you might encounter and the process involved.
For general preparation for interviews, consult Interviewing Outside the Academy.
Typical Academic Interview Questions
- Tell us about your dissertation.
- How did you get interested in this subject?
- How does your research relate or compare to what's been written on this subject? Or what contribution does your work make to the field?
- What is the most interesting thing about your work so far?
- What's been the most difficult challenge you have faced?
- If you were going to begin again, what changes would you have made in your dissertation?
- Why did it take you so long to finish your dissertation?
- When do you expect to complete?
- What are your future research plans? What resources do you need to conduct that research?
- What is your most important publication? Do you have plans for others? Why don't you have any publications?
- Tell us about your teaching. Are you a good teacher? How do you know?
- What about your teaching was challenging? What did you enjoy?
- How would you teach a survey course in your field? How do you feel about teaching introductory courses?
- What special seminars could you offer?
- What graduate courses would you like to offer?
- We see that you have never taught a large lecture course. How would you do that?
- What is your teaching philosophy?
- What would be your favorite course to teach?
- If you could choose your course load, what would be your preference?
- Would you involve undergraduates in your research?
- What are your strengths outside of the classroom, in volunteer/community service projects?
- In what campus activities would you like to become involved?
- What contribution can you make to the department?
- Why are you interested in this school?
- If you have more than one job offer, how will you decide?
- What, if any, limitations do you have in your selection process?
- With which other colleges are you interviewing? When will you hear from them?
- What are your salary requirements?
- What do you like to do for fun in your personal time?
- What questions do you have for us?