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Lecturing/PhD Interview
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
in Work & Study
I have an interview a week today for a lecturing/PhD position at a college. I've never been to an academic interview before so I don't really know what to expect (they've put papers in the post today so I expect I'll know more when they arrive). Can anyone give me some tips and pointers because I'm kind of in the deep end here? It would be appreciated!
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I would have thought finding a group on LinkedIn for academics in your field and asking. I've seen great advice for people going forward to Chartership on the IMechE group. Also, google the shit out of interview questions and techniques and get your friends to drill you into the ground.
Good luck.
Tizzys can be over come, deep end ? well you've got an interview so i'm assuming you had to apply, C.V. and all that stuff and then they ask you to come for an interview so you MUST have something ?
AND you'll be Dr. Ballerina :thumb:
Exactly. These aren't your average employer, they're smart peope who want (as you'll be teaching) the best for their students. You're a smart young woman and this could be the thing that opens up a world of opportunity for you. I dropped out of my A-Levels and didn't end up going to uni. I'd be doing a job i'd of loved and maybe curing the worlds ills (i was going into biochemistry/pharmacology) if i'd stuck to it, where as im now just some sad fat twat on benefits.
Don't pass this opportunity and regret it later like i have
BTW what's your PhD in ?
Have you tried ringing up? I'm sure if they haven't sent you a request for a presentation they don't need one but it's always worth checking.
Good luck!
It wouldn't harm you to prepare an outline of one related to the subject area you will be lecturing in. But the main thing will be your interview, breathe in and out and take your time to consider your reply. Don't feel you have to fill any dead air that you get.
How intensive the interview will be will undoubtedly depend on which university you are applying to teach at. A big part of your research and preparation should be on how that institution operates: what are the strategic goals for the organisation, for the faculty, for the department. What changes are forthcoming, what changes will teaching staff be expected to deliver? Pay attention to how you can work within the institution to, as an example, increase the number of ABB students they attract (they are the cash cows). As an example, my institution's strategic goal is to increase research quality and output across the board, in order to increase RAE scores and therefore secure new income streams in addition to tuition fees. This is what Exeter expect from their associate fellows.
They knew about your lack of experience before the interview so that can't be a huge issue if you stormed the interview. But even if you don't get the position, think of it as experience because if you apply for other jobs in this field then you will know what to expect.
Yeah the ad never asked for experience, they just wanted a masters in the area (which I'm about to finish) and willingness to teach and live on site. I was probably one of the more willing ones as I know 1 girl was getting married in 3 months so didn't want to live apart from her husband (they don't let partners live with you) and another one had a long term partner so she was a bit iffy. My relationship is long distance anyway so it doesn't really make a difference to me. We'll see, but I'm not hopeful.
Were there any individuals involved in the process you could maybe ask directly rather than going through the recruitment people? They might be more amenable.