How to answer: What was the most interesting article you read this morning in The New York Times?

Posted on 13 Dec 2013 by Catherine de Lange

We recently asked you what your most hated interview questions were. Here we share our tips on how to answer them. For answers to the other questions, check out the series links at the bottom of this post.

5. What was the most interesting article you read this morning in The New York Times?

Our readers told us they felt this question was particularly unfair, because they were so busy preparing for the interview that they didn’t have time to read the paper. As one reader put it: “to be honest, I don’t read the New York Times. I’m overwhelmed by conference papers and peer-reviewed journals. I don’t know what the target audience for the New York Times is but it’s definitely not scientists. Besides, it took me two hours to get here for the interview. I didn’t exactly have time to read the newspaper in the morning.”

For questions like this one, you are expected to think laterally – of course you can’t answer the question directly if you don’t read that paper or you didn’t read anything that morning because you were preparing for the interview*.

When it comes to science roles,the interviewer might be wanting to find out what you are interested in outside of your field, how aware you are of how what you do fits in to public interest and current affairs, or whether you are so involved in your work that these issues pass you by. If you genuinely have been too busy with work recently to stay abreast of current affairs, then explain why. For instance, “over the last four weeks I have given three conference presentations and submitted a grant proposal, so I have been unusually busy with my own work, but normally I read…” and list the media you normally consume.

If applicable, this question could be a good way to talk about how technologically savvy you are – do you gather your news and information from social media and blogs at all? Do you use on and offline technologies (such as pocket or evernote) to organise yourself and share content with your colleagues and peers?

Of course, if you did read something you found really interesting this morning (and all the better if it ties in to your work) go ahead and talk about it – it’s a great opportunity to go off-topic and share your enthusiasm for something that really gets you going.

Whatever you do, turn this question into a positive about what it is that you do do, rather than what you don’t read or what you don’t like about the publication, or the the state of science which means that you are too busy to do anything but your work – you will come across as a grump and unable to manage your own time effectively.

Good luck with the interview – and let us know how you get on.

*Needless to say, this does not count if you are applying for a job at the New York Times…

How to answer: Why does a PhD want an admin based job?

Posted on 06 Dec 2013 by Catherine de Lange

4. Why does a PhD want an admin based job?

To be fair, this is a very good question. Why are you applying for a job you are overqualified for, or which is far from your area of study?

It may be that you are desperate for work, that you see this as a stop-gap whilst you look for something that you really want to do, or you just can’t find anything else. This is certainly not what the interviewer wants to hear, so if this is the case you need to come up with something better.

Of course you might genuinely want this job, in which case the employer wants to hear that you are not going to get bored, that you understand it’s not an academic role, and that you have a good sense of the direction it will lead you in. Convey to the interviewer what it is that you are excited about with this job, and why you think the skills you already have can be applied to the role. They might be worried for instance, that you are too analytical in your thinking and not practical enough, so give them examples of projects you have managed and how good you are at time management.

If the reason for applying for the job falls into the first of these two categories, it really is work considering whether you have any options elsewhere. Doing a job because it will teach you new skills and experiences, and boost your CV, even if it’s not your dream ambition is fine – but if you really are despondent about the idea, it is unlikely you will get the job in the first place, and even if you do, it might make you miserable.

Tips for chemists on succeeding in academia

Posted on 31 Aug 2011 by Rachel Bowden

Are you applying for faculty positions in academia, or new in your role at a university? Speaking yesterday at the American Chemical Society (ACS) career fair, three US academics representing different types of institutions shared their advice on job applications, interviews and how to succeed in your first two years.

Applying for a position

The composition of your application package will vary between institutions. For a faculty position at a research-intensive (R1) university, Jason Ritchie, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Mississippi, recommends formatting the research proposals that you submit as if they are mini grant proposals. “You want to show the committee that you’re going to write grant proposals that are going to get funded,” he says.

When applying for a role at a primarily undergraduate institution (PUI), where there is more emphasis on teaching, it’s still important to show your commitment to securing funding, says Laurel Goj, a tenure-track faculty member at Rollins College in Florida. “It may not be that gigantic NIH [National Institutes of Health] grant but we do expect that you are going to obtain some funding.”

For a community college vacancy, teaching experience is key. When describing your teaching philosophy, Christine Gaudinski, chemistry professor and chair of the science department at Aims Community College in Colorado, recommends making clear how your approach will serve the college’s mission and vision. She also suggests emphasizing your commitment to community service, and your experiences of working with diversity — which covers more than just race, gender or disability — in the classroom.

You may be applying for several positions at once, so keep a copy of the job adverts and your applications for reference. “It’s often a long time between the time you apply and the time you hear back,” says David Harwell, assistant director for career management and development at ACS. “You don’t want to look like you don’t remember [what you’ve applied for].”

The interview

If you get invited for interview at an R1 university, be prepared for a long campus visit that may last two days. “You’re going to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner with the committee,” says Ritchie. Interviews at a PUI can also be two days long, with the second day often reserved for a teaching demonstration. “We’ll have you in a classroom with an assigned topic and students,” says Goj. Gaudinski says the process is generally shorter and simpler at a community college; the campus visit may only last a couple of hours, for example.

When discussing your start-up package, make sure you’ve considered the minimum that you would be prepared to accept, but remember that there are often other resources available once you’re in position. “I was able to get everything I needed with less than I thought was necessary,” says Ritchie. “I was able to find that money [from elsewhere].” Also think carefully about the top end of what you ask for, as the university will expect to see a return on its investment in you. “The benchmark is you should be able to earn back enough money [through grants] to cover your start-up before you get to tenure,” Ritchie explains. “The more you ask for, the bigger the expectation is.” Start-up packages are generally smaller at PUIs — expect to use departmental instruments — and basically non-existent at community colleges, says Gaudinski.

Your first two years

Ritchie says it’s important to obtain early research results in your first two years at an R1 university, and try to teach a graduate class in your first semester. “Demonstrate purpose,” he recommends. Also remember that your existing graduate students will pass on their opinions of you to new or prospective students, who will be working for you during the critical time when you apply for tenure. “The graduate students that you recruit in your first two years are going to do the research that makes up your tenure package,” he says.

At a PUI, Goj recommends spending your first year preparing for new classes and labs, recruiting interesting students for summer research and setting up your research lab. In your second year you should start to contribute towards the development of courses.

Share your tips

Do you have any advice to add? Let us know below.

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How to answer: What was the most interesting article you read this morning in The New York Times?

5. What was the most interesting article you read this morning in The New York Times?

How to answer: Why does a PhD want an admin based job?

4. Why does a PhD want an admin based job?

Top 5 most hated interview questions

“What’s the most difficult question you were asked in an interview?”

1. What’s a weakness of yours that has been mentioned by your colleagues?

2. Tell me something unusual about yourself?

3. What other jobs have you applied for?

4. Why does a PhD want an admin based job? Continue reading →

Tips for chemists on succeeding in academia