What will I get asked in an interview for a lecturing job?

[hatwoman]

As far as I know I'm being interviewed by someone whose specialism is different to mine, but they teach broadly the same subject. Any ideas what kinds of things they'll ask? How academic are they likely to get? or will it be more about practical skills? Also - will they be all formal about it and ask me the same structured questions they ask everyone? It's for an American university.

Response from DH: Typically, there will be a set of questions that they ask everybody, because that is more or less universal employment law. Expect one person to ask you some research type questions, another to ask you teaching type questions, and somebody else to ask you how you see your career developing. After that, it will become less structured as people pick up on the answers you have givenso far. If it's a tenure post, you can expect questions about long-term commitment to the department. If it's a short-term thing, they'll just want to know how much work they can get out of you for the time you're there.

Have you looked at the university's website to see what its institutional priorities are? You might be able to get some clues from that (eg my uni is very keen on diversity so candidates often get asked questions about how they would make their teaching suit a diverse range of students).

thanks both. CD when he says teaching type questions do you know if he means "how would you structure this course? what are the key issues you'd like to cover? what are the key sources you'd use? type questions and similar re research - eg what are your interests (although this truly is a purely teaching job, as it's for a US university one semester in London thing) or could it start getting substantive - what do you think of x's position on issue y?

How you can contribute to the department, which means that they will want to know whether you are aware of who is already there. For example, how will your research integrate with others in the department, how your teaching will complement what is already going on there. Means you need to demonstrate an knowledge of current staff and show enthusiasm for working with them.

They will also want to know your research plans and plans for applying for research funding.

It's a temporary job for one term - a US university that sends some of their students to London for one term -so I won't be joining the department in any meaningful way - do you think they might still ask about research plans?

Well they will probably want to know whether you do research because that will show your commitment to an academic career, but you are right, for that job it won't be a big issue.
Will want to know about previous experience. Difficult situations you have handled. I was once asked about how I had been innovative in my teaching. Went on and on about distance learning and how I showed cultural understanding.

I was once asked what new module/course I would create if I was given a free hand. Otherwise I was asked exclusively about research and grant-getting potential as far as I remember, so not much help, sorry.

hmmmm. I have no previous experience. the person interviewing me said in an email that my cv was "impressive" but there's not a dot of teaching in there! I have relevant professional experience, part of whihc involves training sessions on what I do, so I guess that's a good one to make sound the same as lectures? Also, when I did my masters recently we did a lot of peer assisted learning (I didn;t at the time know it was called that!) - to me I worry that sounds a bit noddy - but I did prepare hand outs and lead sessions - is that worth mentioning?

A good one is: 'How do you see (the subject area) developing in the next few years? What are the challenges that we face?'

Talk about how much you enjoy facilitating learning. We don't teach, we facilitate others' learning.

excellent - thanks! I think I can say that with some integrity - I do find my subject exciting and it would be good to get others excited about it. I do also believe in the benefits of independent study/learning. never ever been a fan of spoon-feeding.

Yes, I would- you could say it had given you some insight into how to present information and how to get people talking, at least.

Also mention how you would be able to bring real-life scenarios into your teaching and up-to-date experience from the real world.
How you would be able to understand the challenges of part-time learners and see the need to expand the student base from 18 year-olds to returners to education.

thanks - i really appreciate this. It's a slightly new direction for me and a bit scarey. But it's an ideal job for dipping my toe in the waters, whilst staying in my current one 3 days/week. I managed to speak today to my predecessor today - not really about the interview but the job in general so that was good.

As an incomer from industry to academia, I would definitely say 'go for it'. I get a lot of satisfaction in seeing my postgrads going off every year and finding jobs in industry. It is an intellectually satisfying career where you can work very much as you want to.
Although the marking is crap, obviously.

Which reminds me, you might be asked about innovative ways of assessment.

What's your best experience of doing XYZ; what is your worst?

How did you deal with your worst experience?

What have you taken from your best? Can you replicate that into another situation?

What would your colleagues say was your key strength? What do you think it is? How do you optimise the use of these strengths? How do you build them into your day to day working life?

Well, those are the kind of questions I ask - but nowt to do with lecturing

I think I will be asked about assessment - because it'll be up to me how I do it.

Then consider mentioning things like an element of peer assesment, for example when a student gives a seminar paper and then 10% of her mark comes from her peers. Or team-working projects with an element of the mark coming from the rest of the team commenting on how much input that student gave to the final product.

Am going to watch Robert Maxwell thing now. Good luck!