Interview advice

[Lules]

I have an interview for a permanent lectureship. I'm in the humanities. Does anyone have any advice? It's my first one since I got my current job a couple of years ago and I'm on mat leave so I feel a bit out of the loop.

[Foginthehills]

I do a lot of interviewing. For a research-led University/department, you'll be expected to focus on research, obviously.

• Be clear about your research plans & trajectory
  
• Know where you are in the REF cycle; show you are sensible about your publication timetable
  
• Know what you'd contribute to the REF, and know how you'd stand re maternity leaves & mitigation of publication numbers
  
• Be prepared to give some indications about what sort of grade you think your publications would achieve in the REF
  
• Have some ideas about research grant possibilities in your current or future research
  
• Have a good grasp of what grant schemes would be suitable for your research
  
• Be as specific & realistic as you can be with all of these things
  
• Be ready to talk about the way your research informs your teaching (and vice versa if relevant)
  
• Be ready to talk about innovations in your teaching
  
• Be ready to talk about impact and engagement
  
  Know what all these things are!

[Lules]

Thank you. My current job is at a non-research focused university (although it is starting to put a lot more focus on it) and this would be my first permanent job so it's really useful to know what they would be looking for. I'm trying not to be too terrified about the whole thing. Even if it's a disaster the interview will be good experience!

[Foginthehills]

Is it a post at a research-intensive university? If so, and you're currently at a teaching-led university, good for you! they must have seen actual and potential in your CV.

But really even this early in the REF cycle, they'll be looking at REF and research trajectory.

[Lules]

Yes it is. I started my current job straight after my PhD. I think I can say sensible things about my research. Wish I had a bit more time to prepare but there we are

[fluffikins]

Make sure you look up the people in the department and are clear how your research would fit in. E.g. "I can see that my researh compliments X's work so there may be scope for collaboration there" particularly if there is a theme amongst the researchers or if they have a specific focus in their research/ teaching.

Also check out modules and which ones you could teach - nothing worse than someone shrugging when we ask where they could contribute.

Don't be afraid to have some personality too!

[Foginthehills]

Yes, good tips.

But try not to sound smarmy - I hate it when people in interview do contortions with their research to say to me "And I'd be excited to work with you, Professor Fog, because of your work in X" when X is miles away from their research specialism. Try not to sound like you've gone through the staff list and ticked each of us off on a 'How I will work with -- '

In interviews, flattery really doesn't work (well on me at any rate).

[Lules]

So I've now had the interview. I think I gabbled a bit and didn't sell myself as well as I could have done but it was nowhere near as bad I thought it would be. Don't think I've got it but will have to wait til next week to hear