Lectureship Applications - Motivate me? Cheer me on?

[SarahAndQuack]

I have an application to write for a permanent post. It's a good fit; I've written them before and been shortlisted. I know broadly what (I think) I should be doing. But I am at the end of a week of being not very well, with a toddler who is ill and just wants to be cuddled all the time, when she's not in tears, and I have lost some of my motivation.

Could anyone lend me theirs?

If you are in a position where you assess applications at this level, and you fancy sharing your most-hated omissions/failures/phrases, that would be most welcome. I do scour all the usual sources of info, but I'm sure there are many things I've missed. I have my five-year plan, my possible REF submission, my speculations towards the next REF, my impact/outreach etc. etc.

Thank you!

Most hated phrase : “passionate “
Research :Most important, for me, is that you show you’ve done your homework on the department or group’s research. Obviously at interview , but if there’s a way to get across that you’re a good fit, that’s good.
Teaching: make it clear if you’ve any teaching qualifications. Describe range of teaching experience.

If you get to interview and are asked to present, stick to the brief. Stick to the time allotted.

Good luck. It really is so competitive that even getting an interview is good going.

Thank you. I can confirm I am not, nor do I claim to be, 'passionate'.

Thanks also for the good luck. I know I will be lucky to get as far as interview, TBH - it's a good department. But I want to do my best with the application as it's such a good fit. I do hope I've done my homework on the department. Currently trying to make sure it comes across!

I wish I had teaching quals. Annoyingly, although I have taught a lot, I didn't have departmental support to go for a HEA fellowship while I was teaching, and then I've been doing short-term contracts that have made it impractical (or so I am told). I don't know how common this is. It does worry me, that I should have it already.

Ugh, sorry, I am so incoherent (I didn't sleep much last night as the toddler was waking up crying). I should have written, I didn't have support to pursue a HEA fellowship during a longish teaching postdoc. Since then I've been teaching, too, but shorter term.

Ok, then see if you can present your teaching experience as comprehensive, so you’re in a good position to move swiftly through training.

One of the best interviews I’ve conducted was with an experi egg need teaching fellow who was able to bat back the toughest questions (e.g. how do you manage assessing group work when someone’s underperforming?). She demonstrated she could hit the ground running, so we weren’t concerned about lack of qualifications so long as she was willing to take them.

I don’t have the excuse of a toddler. Just long day of writing. Above should have read “experienced teaching fellow”!