Nailing the Campus Visit & Job Talk: What to Do and What Not to Do

1. Nailing the Campus Visit & Job Talk: What to Do and What Not to Do La Verne Hairston Higgins, GPHR, SPHR Associate Dean, College of Business Eastern Michigan University Cynthia Kay Stevens Associate Professor, R H Smith School of Business University of Maryland MDSA Conference2 August 2012

2. Background Preparation • Generally, what do you want from your next job? • What type of job do you want (research, teaching, or some blend) & why? • Where do you want to live? • What family constraints are negotiable versus non-negotiable? • How does this opportunity fit with what you want? • What do you know about the location & institution? • What do you know about the faculty & programs?

3. Taking Care of Business . . . . • Know what you want • Due diligence – • Research the institution, department, and key faculty • Leverage your social & professional network to learn the “inside scoop” • Realistic job preview • Peruse faculty publications • Review internal processes • Contract renewal and tenure requirements • Tenure process: tenure clock, • Get to know the website!!

4. Institutional Website Information • Mission, vision, strategic plan, organizational structure • Faculty governance • Faculty demographics vs. student demographics • Overall student profile • Faculty credentials and organizational memberships • Campus faculty support • Budget Raises over the past 3-5 years • % of faculty achieving tenure, annual average

5. Negotiating the Campus Visit • Thoroughly examine the position description • What is required for the position? In what ways are you a match? • Ask about details of your trip • Who will be your contact person on site? Who will handle logistics? • With whom will you be meeting? • What are key constraints on timing? • What sort of presentation(s) should you prepare? • Research • Teaching

6. Critical Dos & Don’ts • Know the career you want/you don’t want • Have at least a cursory knowledge of the: • Department • Institution • Faculty • Academic program • Clarify all details of the visit: timing, payment & scheduling, activities • Accept campus invitation if there is no chance you would accept a job offer • Schedule too many visits closely together • Interview schedules are physically demanding • You need to be well-rested & alert to make the best impression Do: Don’t:

7. During the Campus Visit • Meetings & interviews • Interview slots with: dean(s), search committee members, department chair(s), faculty, students • Presentations • Research • Teaching • Social & informal interactions • May include breakfast, lunch & dinner; cocktail parties; sporting events • Be an interviewer

8. In Meetings & Interviews… • Use opportunity to learn about people • What is their background & experience? • What changes have they seen at the school? • What are they most excited about for future? • Look for commonalities • Do you share interests or perspectives? • Use preparation to your advantage • Ask about current state & vision for key programs • Clarify questions about degree programs, student enrollments, majors • Think & ask broad questions • How does the school fit within the larger institution? Within the state or region? Learn about the people Learn about the place

9. The Job Talk

10. Research Presentation • Anticipate your audience • Departmental faculty, search committee, School of Business faculty, students, members of campus community • Carefully choose & prepare your talk • Show how dissertation fits within larger research stream & what you plan to do afterward • Explain what sort of scholar you are—what are your theoretical & methodological biases? • Be prepared to handle questions reflecting different perspectives • Understand nuances both theoretically & • methodologically to defend your approach

11. Critical Dos & Don’ts • Rehearse the full presentation in front of an audience BEFORE your visit • Have multiple strong lines of reasoning to defend theory, method & analysis • Ask for 10-15 minutes to set up & prepare • Ask for water • Assume that you have to be “THE Expert” • “That’s an interesting point--I hadn’t thought about it. Maybe we could discuss it further later?” • Respond quickly with a lame answer • Indicate irritation or condescension with audience questions Do: Don’t:

12. The Job Talk

13. Teaching Demonstration • Find out who will be attending the talk • Faculty members, students or both • Find out the specifics of course • Level of students • Fit with curriculum—required or elective course? • Syllabus – previous content coverage • Usual instructor(s) & their research interests • Textbook & methods typically used in course • Be prepared to talk about your teaching philosophy • How does your talk demonstrate your approach?

14. Critical Dos & Don’ts • Ask for 10-15 minutes to set up all technology & materials in room • Use teaching methods that you are most comfortable with • Be thoroughly versed in the content area • Some questions may step outside those in typical classroom • Choose a lesson or case that takes >45 minutes to complete • Plan a lesson or use an exercise that you have never before taught • Rely on overly common teaching materials • Showcase your own originality & personality Do: Don’t:

15. Social & Informal Interactions • Meals • Provide opportunities for more relaxed interactions • Highlight intangible aspects of location • Key question: would you enjoy interacting with each other at work on a social or interpersonal dimension? • Parties & sporting events • Showcase intangible institutional & departmental “assets:” pleasant work environment, school spirit, sports teams

16. Critical Dos & Don’ts • Let hosts know in advance about any food allergies or requirements (e.g., vegetarian, kosher) • Use proper etiquette • Avoid “messy” foods such as spaghetti • Ask about local amenities • Send prompt thank-you notes to everyone • Assume any informal comments you make will be “off the record” • Order the most expensive item on the menu • Drink more than 1 glass of alcohol, generally Do: Don’t:

17. REMEMBER • Use your time wisely • Social events are part of the evaluation/selection process • Not everyone will like you • Not every interview will go well • Some people may ask illegal questions • You will not like everyone you meet • You are also interviewing the School & Department as your potential career partner!

18. Decision Making: Yours & Theirs • Understanding your decision process • How well does this position fit with what you want professionally? • How well does it fit more broadly—geographically, family considerations? • To what extent can you negotiate aspects that don’t fit? • Understanding their decision process • How do you fit program-wise & interpersonally? • How well do the other applicants fit? • What is the larger internal & external political environment?

19. Your Evaluation Criteria • Is this really what you want? • Thoroughly review job specifications • What is the success rate for recent/previous hires? • If this is a replacement position– why? • Are there student organizations in your field of interest? • Examine the salary – review AACSB, published information, university system, if applicable • Follow-up with search committee and others

20. Understanding their Decision Process • Typically, search committees offer recommendations & faculty members vote • Even if you fit well & make a good impression, someone else may be seen as a better fit • Deans can overrule faculty decisions • Institutional priorities can change rapidly • Funding & lines can disappear as other goals take precedence • Other candidates’ decisions can affect your prospects • If the first offer is turned down, you may have • another chance

21. Job Offer Process • Typical sequence of events • Offer extended verbally with key details: salary, course load, additional support & timeline • Follow-up letter with key details with request to accept terms in writing • Negotiable features • Salary & research support (summer funding, spending account) • Course load & number of new preps • House-hunting trip & relocation costs • Technology & travel to be reimbursed/covered • Start date for tenure clock

22. Negotiating Advantages • Rare commodity • Prestigious school • Outstanding research • Well connected • Interviewing Institution • Broader academic community – journal editor, mentor, major conference program chair, etc. • Grant/funding sources

23. Questions & Comments

24. AOM Conference Resources • The Academic Job Search: Workshop for Applicants • Boston Marriott Copley Square, Salon E • Friday, 3 August, 5:30 - 7:00 pm • AOM Placement Services • Boston Marriott Copley Square, Third Floor Atrium • Friday, noon – 5:00 pm • Saturday, Sunday & Monday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm [interviews until 8:00 pm] • Tuesday, 8:00am - noon