Interviewing for a Faculty Position

• Read our Academic Interview Tip Sheet.
• Try to gather information from the department. For the job talk, for example, who is the anticipated audience, how will the room be set up, etc.?
• Check out some sample interview questions at different types of institutions: 
  UCSF OCPD 2018 Example interview questions.pdf

Job talk

1. OCPD has resources and programs to help you prepare- access the resources to prepare for a job talk at a:
   • R1 institution
   • Primarily undergraduate Institution (PUI)
2. Read this detailed handout on Job Talks from the University of Washington’s Career Center.
3. Read this article for tips on the academic job talk from Nature Careers.
4. Read this article from American Society of Preventive Oncology Junior Members Interest Group on "Job talks and Interviews: How to stand out and fit in" 
5. Schedule a practice talk with your lab at least 1-2 weeks before the interview.
6. Also practice your talk with researchers who are outside your discipline, since it is critical that your work be easily understood by all members of the search committee and department. One way to do this is to register to attend one of our Practice your Talk workshops.  Fall 2017 practice talk workshops will be announced soon.
7. Watch a video: "How to Give an Effective Job Talk," a workshop offered by the NIH’s Office of Intramural Training & Education (2 hours). Complete listing of videos is found here (scroll down to "Academic Careers").
8. Avoid temptation. In the lead-up to a campus interview, it can be tempting to spend all your time obtaining that last piece of dazzling data to put in your formal job talk. But don’t neglect the other facets of your preparation, described below.

Chalk talk

1. Watch the recording of Michael Rape's Chalk Talk seminar at UCSF.
2. Watch the recording of Seemay Chou's Chalk Talk demonstration at UCSF.
3. Read some of the best resources for giving a chalk talk:
   • ASBMB gives a great overview of a chalk talk
   • This ASCB article talks about "Preparing your Academic Chalk Talk"
   • APS summarizes the different between  a chalk, science and teaching talk under the section 'Understand the Rules"
   • Wiley's Online Library has slides for a sample chalk talk
   • Istevison talks about why "chalk talks are a dreaded academic pastime"
4. The year before you go on the market, ask if you can attend chalk talks in your department to see what they are like.
5. Schedule a practice talk with your lab at least 1-2 weeks before the interview.

Teaching demonstration, if requested

• Read this handout explaining Teaching Demos, from the University of Washington’s Career Center.

Do your homework

Learn all you can about the department and the people you are likely to meet on campus. Read their research profiles, browse their lab websites, and perhaps skim a recent paper or two. Jot down a couple questions you could ask each of them, and note any possible opportunities for collaboration. Also understand when your talk(s) will be during the interview so you can adequately prepare. Below are two sample schedules for academic visits.

• Schedule for an academic interview visit: Sample for a Research-focused position, with two visits to the department
• Schedule for an academic interview visit: Sample for a Teaching-focused position, with one visit to the department

Look the part

Decide what you are going to wear and go shopping if necessary. Buy or borrow a professional-looking bag for your laptop and other materials, as well as an advancer/laser pointer, if you will use one during your talk, but make sure to practice with it so you are comfortable with it by the time you give your talk.

Preparing for an on-campus interview is exciting but also quite stressful, and is often done under intense time pressure. Interviews themselves require tremendous energy and endurance. Try to get enough sleep and exercise in the weeks before your interview, as these basics are the foundation of peak performance. Pack snacks that can be eaten quickly and won’t get stuck in your teeth or make a mess. You may also want to bring breath mints, kleenex, and a water bottle or a coffee cup.

As soon as you return from your interview, write thank yous to everyone you met with or who helped organize your visit. In the interest of speed, these can be sent by email; you may also send an additional handwritten note if you wish.