Nurturing the Next Generation of Scholars

Dr. Stephanie Mitchem

Professor and Chair, Department of Religious Studies, University of South Carolina

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August 24, 2010

The Job Interview and You

We are entering the season of job searches, interviews, and (hopefully) offers.  Here are a few interview tips for the newly and nearly minted academics on the market.

When deciding to accept the invitation for an interview:

First, be as clear as possible about your own career goals: do you want to teach at a seminary? a university or college? aiming for research and writing or administration? So you are invited for an interview.  If you accept, think about the school and the fit first. For instance, is the school in your own religious tradition? Is the school too liberal or too conservative?  After you accept the invitation, realize that an interview is an opportunity for the hiring unit and the candidate (you) to discover whether they can work well together.  So, your preparation for the interview is very important.

When accepting the invitation:

Be gracious.  They did not have to invite you, event if you did invent sliced bread! On the other hand, be confident.  They see something in you that is intriguing.

Read your invitation letter closely for clues to determine what kind of candidate the school is seeking, above and beyond the position description. Sometimes the invitation gives clues about questions that may be asked in the interview. So this leads to…

When you are preparing for the interview:

The school’s web pages are your friends. Study the school the department, the people. How is the department or unit structured? How many faculty? In what areas? With whom are you interested in working? What do you contribute to build up the school? Will you thrive in this environment?

The Chronicle of Higher Education publishes annual lists of salaries, both for the general entry level (such as assistant professor) and another list of salaries for the school.  While you won’t be at the point of negotiating salary when you arrive for the interview, this is still good information to have in mind while you’re there. You want to know if the pay is equal to the work!

If the school is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools, look on line for the best practices and standards. While you don’t need to know these by heart, you should know what the school is supposed to look like.

Now, for the Interview:

You want information. You are not going to argue or challenge anyone, but do think about excellent ways to get the information you want!

Dress professionally. You probably already knew that, but if you are not sure about what constitutes professional dress, ask somebody.

Some questions you will get are basic: What is your teaching philosophy? What kind of courses do you want to teach? What kind can you teach? What kind of research do you want to do? What have you published?

Then remember your study of the school and be prepared for some questions related to the school.  Also, showing that you have studies the literature and websites of the school, especially pertaining to the department that is interviewing you, demonstrates your interest in the school.

After it’s over:

Send thank you notes to your could-be-future-colleagues. If you met with deans or the president, don’t forget to send a note to them.

For more advice and information on the job search process take a look online at the American Academy of Religion’s Career Guide for Racial and Ethnic Minorities in the Profession.