Well, dear reader, I got the job! This most exciting news hasn’t quite sunk in yet and I am not sure of the details of my future role, but I will be lecturing at Manchester Met from September! Now that I am a successful academic jobseeker, I can share my advice on performing well at interview.
These all day interviews are tremendously gruelling, so on a purely practical note, make sure you are well-rested going into the day. Also, make sure that your transport and accommodation arrangements are straightforward and foolproof: you don’t want to risk turning up late because of a delayed train or a traffic jam.
My presentation to the department came first, I had prepared a Powerpoint, but had everything in hard copy too, just in case the technology failed. Try to relax. The staff want to see that you could fit in well and that you are a normal human being!
In the afternoon came the formal interview. Three areas were covered: research interests (including RAE submission and future funding bids), teaching expertise and innovation, and the dreaded administration. Make sure you emphasize that you are willing to take part in all three aspects.
And then it’s over, and all you can do is wait to hear whether your hard work has paid off.
Do you have any interview tips to share? How about any interview horror stories?
Congratulations Catherine, see it didn’t really take that long at all! All the hard work paid off, but the real hard work will hit in September! Well done you. Joan
Hi Joan,
Thanks for your comments, it’s all very exciting and a little daunting! I have heard so many nightmare stories about the problems of getting a permanent job in academia, including people who took 7 or 8 years after finishing their PhD to get a ‘proper’ job and during that time put off getting married, having a family etc! It’s a tough one and you have to be really committed (should that be ‘committed to a mental institution’?!).
Catherine
Hi Catherine
I was interested in your story and would lalso ike to congratulate you on getting the post. I was successful on interview for an academic post around three years ago and accepting the post was the best thing I ever did. Its hard work and never far from the mind but it’s also stimulating and interesting. Well done I wish you every success
Norma
Hi Norma!
Thanks very much for your comments. I think it is good to remember how lucky we are to do a job that we love, so many people get stuck with something just okay, or even worse, that they loathe. It’d be interesting to hear your thoughts (and those of others) on the next stage in an academic career. You say you got your job three years ago, are you in line for a promotion soon? Do you think you’d have to move institutions to really progress? Or is the slow and steady approach better than chopping and changing jobs every five minutes?