Job interview - questions from interviewee

[CityDweller]

I've been shortlisted for a job (hurrah) and I always struggle to come up with questions for the interview panel. Usually they've answered them all during the process of the interview (I say 'usually', I've been in my current post for ages, and have only been up for one other thing in the last 7 years). I'm wary of coming across ill-informed about the programme/dept/uni by asking obvious questions.

Any tips?

I think if you frame it in terms of your programme and trajectory, and ask how the Department/School/Faculty generally tries to balance these things, then it'll be seen as a serious question. If certainly think that anyone asking in that context was not looking to skive, but to try to balance different programmes and projects IYSWIM.

For an academic post involving both research and teaching:

Does the department have a work load allocation model?
Do they offer a lighter load the first year (usually 10% less but can vary)?
What is the expected teaching/admin/research balance?
Do they offer internal research leave and under what conditions?
What support they offer for putting together grant applications and applying for student fellowships?

Hmm Booboo - I've always been told not to ask about research leave. I'm not sure why, as it's such an integral part of us being able to fulfil our roles. But, apparently it can send off the wrong vibes, or something?

Great question about support for putting together grant applications.

How weird! Research income, in my discipline, is a much bigg deal than anything else, with departments being set targets of X amount of money to bring in every year. Research leave is crucial to supporting the development of that side of one's career.

I suppose maybe if you sit in an interview and ask 'what's the sabbatical policy' there's a subtext of 'how soon after I start this job can I have some time off'? Even though, of course we all know a sabbatical isn't 'time off'.

I think I can ask the same question but phrased differently, such as 'how does the department support individual research agendas and activities?'

I'd say don't feel you have to ask questions in the interview - most of these can be asked when you are offered the job. IME the panel has never even commented on whether an applicant asked questions or not though I am sure this will vary.

I would ask about teaching load etc after you are offered the job. There isn't really time in interview to discuss these topics in the detail you would wish.

What things would make you really keen on the job? What things would make you think, no way would I touch this? Make sure those things have been covered in the interview. Interviews are meant to be two-way, also about whether you want to work for them - though if you really need a new job (e.g. end of fixed-term contract), it's hard to remember this.