At some point in your professional career, you will be faced with a job interview.
This may range from visiting a graduate school where you already have a placement
should you want it, to interviewing for a very high-profile position in industry,
government, or academia where there is significant competition for that job. Thinking
both as a job applicant and a job interviewer about how I have approached job situations
over the years before, during, and after the interview and how those situations have
turned out, I can offer the following ten simple rules as you prepare. Where appropriate,
I conclude a rule with an illustrative scenario for a junior- and/or senior-level
position since while the general principles are universal, how they are applied depends
somewhat on the seniority of the position.
Rule 1: Really Want the Job
It is tempting to apply for a job even if you are not sure you want it. As an interviewer,
I can say that reading a very generic job application sends a message that the person
does not really want the job. This can waste a significant amount of your time as
the applicant and the time of those conducting the job search. Chances are you will
not get the position because that lack of want will be apparent during one or more
interviews—assuming you get as far as an interview. You will lack the passion that
the employers are looking for. Everyone, including you, will be disappointed. Be honest
with yourself from the outset. Imagine yourself in the job two years in. Is it exactly
where you want to be in your career—and life—in two years? Asking yourself whether
you really want the job is particularly important if you have been approached to apply
for the position. While this is gratifying, remember you are not the only one likely
to be asked, and the askers will likely themselves benefit from your application.
That benefit for them could be financial in the case of a headhunter approaching you,
or more subtle, through improving the asker's reputation if you get the job. Obviously
there is more to consider than just the job. A change of job is frequently a life-changing
event as well, for example, through relocation, financial change, stress on the family,
etc. Making plus and minus columns and discussing the potential job application with
all those that it will touch is something that works for me. Then, imagine your life
two years into the position and ask the appropriate questions of yourself. Imagine
the case of your first tenure-track position, although similar questions apply universally:
Am I being productive enough to get tenure? Do I like my work environment and my work
colleagues? Am I happy living in this place? What are my future career prospects here?
Rule 2: Wishful Thinking Is Not Enough—Be Qualified
It is tempting to apply for a position that you are not truly qualified for because
you really want it (you have obeyed Rule 1), but deep down you know you are not qualified
for it. Beyond the time wasting in applying for something which you have no hope of
getting, there is the mental anguish associated with applying for a job. Time is spent
wondering, “Will I get it, will I get it?” when that time could be used more productively.
Before applying for a job, it is always a good idea to talk to mentors who will give
you a candid opinion of your chances before you expend any effort. It may also be
helpful to review the qualifications of those in similar positions to determine whether
an application makes sense. Having said this, “being qualified” can be a qualitative
term. Yes, there will likely be minimal degree requirements, but other aspects of
the prerequisite requirements may not be so clear. Years of experience could substitute
for a higher degree, relevant experience in a different field might count for something,
and so on. Notwithstanding, deep down you will likely know whether you have a chance
at a position—be honest with yourself. Again, imagine your first tenure-track application.
Do I really have enough publications, grants or promise of grants, teaching experience,
and proven service to get this job? Having said all this, it is possible you have
a talent or experience that, while not identified in the job posting, really appeals
to your potential employer. This is an unusual situation. Be realistic, but at the
same time be ambitious—a balance that you will need to judge for yourself.
Rule 3: Understand and Work the Process
Getting a new job is a process. There is the written application—including cover letter,
CV, and possibly a vision or research interest statement of some kind—which you should
have someone proofread. Submitting these materials will likely lead to a prescreening,
and telephone and in-person interviews may follow. As a reviewer of many such applications,
I have to say two things impress me. First, how well the skill set of the applicant
maps to the position, and second, how much time the applicant has spent in tailoring
the application for the particular position—including their CV. In my opinion, it
counts for a lot if the applicant understands the work of the people they will be
collaborating with and lays out specifically what they hope to accomplish in working
with them. More obvious is the need for the applicant to conform to the process itself—if
the application asks for a specific set of skills, outline those skills; more on that
in the subsequent rules. You will likely be asked for references as the process progresses.
Choose these well. They will likely not be the people who will say the nicest things
about you, but people whose opinions are most respected and can provide a value judgment
against others in their network. Lastly, the selection process involves a very significant
human factor. If, on paper, two applicants appear similar, the one that appeals most
to the decision makers will invariably get the job. Think how you can best appeal
to the decision makers. Know who those decision makers are (see Rule 8), and as far
as possible, what they will be looking for in you as the applicant.
Rule 4: Be Prepared—Have Something in Writing and Practice the Interview
This works for me and I think would work for most job applicants. Beyond the required
documents, I like to map out in writing my thoughts about what I would contribute
to the position that is not brought out in the formal application materials. This
could be in the form of written answers to imaginary questions that are likely to
arise during the interview. By thinking answers through and writing things down ahead
of time, you will be less likely to give vague, trite, or at worst, wrong answers
to important questions. Questions to address cover the details of the job itself and
also questions that arise around many jobs relating to diversity, conflict of interest,
ethics, etc. Even better if you can practice the interview with a colleague, or better
still with an experienced interviewer. This gets you thinking on the spot and provides
instant feedback on how you did. I would even consider videoing the mock interview
for later review and diagnosis.
Rule 5: Do Not Oversell Yourself
This applies both to the written application and any interviews but is more likely
to be an issue in an interview situation when you are nervous and eager to impress.
Quite simply, do not waffle, fib, or lie (obviously true of the written application
too). If you do not know the answer to a question, or feel you do not have a particularly
good answer to a question, then say so. While admitting to not knowing something,
it is also a good time to indicate you are eager to learn and grow in the new position.
Also, if you can't answer a question, request an answer from the interviewer; that
will frequently lead to further discussion, which will likely readily indicate you
know more than was first conveyed and, again, that you are collegial and willing to
listen to the opinions of others.
Rule 6: Do Not Undersell Yourself
If you come out of the interview thinking, “Damn, I forgot to mention so and so,”
then you were likely underprepared and undersold yourself, unless you happen to be
well known to the interviewers. Rule 4 is helpful in this regard, since with proper
written preparation you will be more likely to give a complete picture of your capabilities.
So for example, be prepared to articulate exactly your contributions to your most
important and most recent papers. Notwithstanding, in this preparation do not try
and learn everything you will need for the job. Getting the job will not depend on
what you crammed for the interview, but what experience and knowledge you have acquired
over the proceeding years. Make sure that knowledge and experience comes across.
Rule 7: Understand Your Potential New Workplace
This is important not just by way of helping you decide whether you want to go and
work there—there is nothing worse than working in a toxic environment—but also in
getting a job offer in the first place. It is all part of doing your homework for
the position. This is more than just a web search. Use your network of colleagues
to get a sense of the workplace. However, if those colleagues are in the institution
to which you have applied, be careful not to put them in a compromising position.
Having said that, if the opportunity arises, it is valuable to visit your potential
new workplace and talk to people outside of the formal interview process. Let us use
two specific examples to give this rule some perspective. First, you have a job interview
as a new Assistant Professor in a university in a geographic region new to you. Visit
the institution and wander around a day early if you can. Understand the institution—what
is the student population, how is it distributed, what are the institutional strengths
and weaknesses, etc. Understand the department and/or school you would become part
of—what is the faculty to student ratio, what is the breadth of the syllabus taught,
what is the research strength, what is the organizational structure, etc. Understand
what you will be expected to contribute—suggested courses to teach, collaborative
research to undertake, etc. Second, you have a job interview as a software engineer
in a for-profit company. Be familiar with the products and services of the company,
understand the competition, have some ideas of what you can contribute towards improving
products or providing new products. Understand the management structure and how you
would fit in.
Rule 8: Understand Your New Colleagues
As an interviewer, I am impressed if the candidate knows something about what I do
and how it relates to their application—what can I say, beyond that I am human. I
have also seen this overdone, leaving me with the awful impression the job candidate
had been stalking me. Like all that is presented here, there is a balance between
overdoing and underdoing it; at least be familiar with the interviewer's latest papers.
As an interviewer, if the applicant can see how they would fit in with a couple of
specific examples, I will be pleased. Again using our Assistant Professor scenario,
that would mean what you would like to teach that would complement courses already
offered and a couple of specific research ideas that involve specific collaborations
with members of the department and/or school you would be entering. As an interviewee,
I ask myself, “Can I see myself working with these folks? How do their interactions
and body language bode for my own future in this environment?”
Rule 9: Be Both Assertive and Humble
This is another example of the need to achieve an imaginary balance that is hard to
learn except by experience. It's a component of that nebulous part of your personality
known as “people skills.” As you advance in your career, this becomes less of an issue,
as you by then have a reputation that is known to at least some of those interviewing
you, which got you to the interview stage in the first place. Earlier in your career,
you are more likely to be unknown and have got the interview on the strength of your
written application and CV. In this case, people skills are important. At the very
least, you need to leave the interviewer with the impression, “Yes I would like to
hire this person.” To me, that implies that the candidate is both gently assertive
and, at the same time, humble. I can't begin to describe how to achieve this.
Rule 10: Follow up
If there are outstanding issues from the application process, particularly the interview,
it is wise to follow up with the chair of the interview committee or the individual
interviewer. As an interviewer, this sends two messages to me. First, the candidate
would seem to really want the job, and second, I have got additional information that
will help in an informed decision. I do not like receiving gratuitous follow-up but
rather meaningful input into the decision-making process that I did not have thus
far. Others disagree, and believe any kind of follow-up thank you is appropriate.
These rules are just simple guides I have found useful. What should be clear is that
this is one person's view, and I invite you to add your own comments on what has worked
and not worked for you during the job interview process, either as a candidate or
interviewer. Consider it a challenge to crowdsource the perfect job application.