Help please lovely MNetters for Lecturer interview!

[PhysiologicalResponse]

Regular poster but NC for obvious reasons.

I've landed myself an interview of a Lecturer position, i'm very excited about this but I'm so scared! Having been through the process badly unsuccessfully elsewhere I know the challenge ahead - I don't interview very well, but I do look good on paper.

I have to give a 20 minute talk then the interview.

The talk is about how I'd add to the teaching and research at X (post-'92) university. I'm absolutely fine talking about the research part (I think!) - I'm just not sure what to put with regards to teaching. Can any experienced MNetters help me, please?

Since my work has been purely research, I've minimal formal teaching experience (delivered the odd lecture) but have done lots of supervision. I've identified the courses/modules they run that fits with my previous research experience. I've done my PGCert so know a bit about teaching & learning and can waffle abit about flipped classrooms etc... is that the kind of thing they'd be after? I feel like anyone can list those sort of things in a talk and that I won't stand out.

Finally, does anyone have any good tips for preparing for the interview? I know the sort of questions to prepare for, but struggle with preparing 'strong' answers, and to top it off in the interview itself and under pressure my mind goes blank, and I have a tendency to waffle uncontrollably. Previous feedback was that this distracted from the minutiae of what I was trying to say

Sorry this is so long. I'd be so grateful for any help and advise you can give me! TIA

Crossed fingers for you, these things are often down to REF profiles/grants and internal candidates/other factors, you've done all you can. The stuff on this thread will be useful either way.

Thank you Summer

Yes you're right... I'm trying to have a "whatever will be, will be" attitude about it... Doesn't mean the rejection won't sting though!

Sorry for not updating this sooner!

I found out whilst I was on holiday that I didn't get the job. I'm understandably disappointed. Haven't had feedback yet - but I should get this next week.

However, since academics are terrible gossips, I've since heard (from a trustworthy source) that they thought I was too good for them. Although initiall flattered this has left me feeling surprisingly shit!! If I'm not good enough for some places yet too good for others, where does this leave me? Confused, frustrated, fed-up... it doesn't feel fair.

Do they think you will be on your way pretty sharpish? Sorry about the job...so annoying.

I don't know Summer... they didn't even give me the opportunity

OP that is gutting. I remember getting feedback from one place that I had come second as I was "too professionalised". I mean, wtf does that even mean?

Imo stuff like that says more about their insecurities than your performance.

"too professionalised"??!

Johnny you are absolutely spot on about their insecurities.

I have since spoken to them to get feedback. Apparently I was second choice and it was an extremely hard decision to make with much to-ing and fro-ing (don't they always say that, though?!). They thought my research trajectory was excellent but their concern was that I'd "get bored" - their words! Unfortunately, the truth is that im not even sure how much I want to play the research game anyway, but I guess they didn't know that. I do know who got the job instead of me and they're Ref submission is not a patch on mine, so I think it's a bit short-sighted of them, but then again they have lots more teaching experience than me so can jump straight into the millions of hours of lectures probably better than me. They were very positive about applying again when another position comes up though - but I've heard that one before (and didn't even get shortlisted the second time!) so I take these things with a pinch of salt. On a positive it's been a good learning experience though and I no longer feel quite so shit about myself.