Interview Tips for Academic Position

When a scientific group is hiring, they usually have a set of requirements such as three years of experience in the field or a degree in a relevant area. They use this information to discover the best candidates. If you are shortlisted for an interview, find out as much as you can about the University and the group, its publication, projects, etc.

If you can, request a colleague to do a trial run with you. This will help increase your confidence. Generally, the academic interview will be conducted by a panel of professors and administrators. Don’t forget to make eye contact with all the interviewers while you are speaking. As you arrive for the interview, body language is crucial. Give a firm handshake and talk up. This will serve to build a great first impression.

Preparing for an academic position interview can be a daunting task, but with proper planning and preparation, you can make a good impression and increase your chances of landing the job. Here are some interview tips for academic positions:

Interview Tips: Your Mindset for the Interview

When you go for an interview for an academic position, you will have the opportunity to shine! So you should do your best to convince the panel that you are the right person for that position. The panel is sometimes composed of only the host professor who advertised the post but can be up to 5 persons. Although it is very likely that the interviewer(s) has already gone through your track records and publication, it is not necessarily the case. Because university professors are generally too busy to dig through your application before the interview. That is why is important to mention your accomplishments during the interview. Make sure to do that even if the interviewer does not ask any related questions.

That sounds very surprising, but it is a fact. In most cases, the panel will select the candidate based on some general merits. The top of the list is the institute where the candidate comes from, track records of publication and reputation of the study advisor of the candidate. Above all, they want to make sure if the candidate has got the related experience to the position applying. In short, for the Academic interview, you might expect some direct or indirect questions which address the following headings:

Interview Tips: Language proficiency in Interview

Most academics are expected to do research and write papers and grants in English. As a result, language proficiency is an important and essential factor. It is very rare if you need to have an IELTS or TOELF certificate for a postdoc position. However, you can expect that the interviewer wants to explore your language proficiency during the interview! However, that doesn’t mean you should answer a grammar-related question! Good command of English is the general expectation. Note that the level of expected proficiency depends on the country where you applying and the competition level. In general, a strong track record is the top and major factor. Poor communication in English can be overlooked if you have an outstanding CV with a list of high-impact publications!

Interview Tips: How should Related Experience (Independency) notice in the Interview?

Most academics are expected to do research and write papers and grants in English. As a result, language proficiency is an important and essential factor. It is very rare if you need to have an IELTS or TOELF certificate for a postdoc position. However, you can expect that the interviewer wants to explore your language proficiency during the interview! However, that doesn’t mean you should answer a grammar-related question! Good command of English is the general expectation. Note that the level of expected proficiency depends on the country where you applying and the competition level. In general, a strong track record is a top and major factor. If you have an outstanding CV with a list of high-impact publications, poor English can often be overlooked.

If the project is related to working with some special piece of equipment or software, make sure that you know typical bugs of the software or common failure of the instrument. Even if you were not asked any detailed questions about those topics, make sure to mention that indirectly. For example, to give the impression that you are a master of certain software, you could say, “Sometimes the X software crashes during Y calculation is annoying, but I am used to that.”

Interview Tips: Experience in supervision

It is a common practice that the academic will (co)supervise graduate students (MSc and PhD). Therefore, the interview panel expects you have some experience in supervision. Even if you have no engagement in the supervision of undergraduate students during your PhD, you can mention any tutorial experience you had in the past.

Interview Tips: Research the institution and the department

Before your interview, research the institution and the department you are applying to. Look for information on their mission, values, and areas of research. Familiarize yourself with their academic programs, faculty members, and any recent publications or research initiatives. This will help you to demonstrate your interest and enthusiasm for the institution and make a good impression on the interview panel.

Interview Tips: Practice your responses

Prepare for common interview questions and practice your responses. This will help you to feel more confident and articulate during the interview. Some common interview questions for academic positions include: What are your research interests? What is your teaching philosophy? What are your strengths and weaknesses as a teacher and researcher?

Interview Tips: Prepare your own questions

Prepare your own questions to ask during the interview. This will demonstrate your interest in the institution and the department and help you to gather more information about the position. Some examples of questions you might ask include: What are the opportunities for research collaboration within the department? What is the typical teaching load for this position? What resources are available to support faculty members in their research and teaching?

Interview Tips: Dress professionally

Dress professionally for your interview. This will help you to make a good first impression and demonstrate your professionalism and seriousness about the job.

Interview Tips: Bring your CV and other relevant documents

Bring copies of your CV, cover letter, and any other relevant documents to the interview. This will help you to provide detailed and accurate information about your qualifications and experience, and demonstrate your preparedness and attention to detail.

Interview Tips: Be on time

Arrive on time for your interview. This will help you to demonstrate your punctuality and reliability and avoid unnecessary stress or delays.

Interview Tips: Be confident and enthusiastic

During the interview, be confident, and enthusiastic. Demonstrate your passion for teaching and research, and your willingness to contribute to the institution and the department. Be articulate, concise, and focused, and avoid rambling or digressing from the topic.