Informal interview advice?

[aspiringhistorian]

I contacted a potential POI who responded saying that he was going to be retiring soon but felt I was an "ideal candidate" and could recommend me. I'm going to be meeting with him this week, but because interviews aren't a formal part of the process of a History PhD application, I'm a little unsure about what this meeting is exactly.

I'm sure it's going to be an interview on both sides, but I was wondering if anyone has survived one of these ambiguous meetings and had any recommendations? I know this is vague, but I'm nervous about walking in there and blowing my shot at my number one school.

[Sigaba]

First, congratulations on earning for yourself this wonderful opportunity. Clearly, the hard work you've done is bearing fruit.

The answer to your question is "Yes." I was asked to come to a school and to talk to a professor or two. Due to reasons unrelated to my candidacy, I was a bit tone deaf to what I was being told. So I was a bit more anxious than the situation warranted.

I recommend that you do what you can to relax. Relax and relax some more. It sounds like you're in the catbird seat. Do what you can to use that vantage point to show your strengths. A part of this process requires you to focus a bit less on your perceived shortcomings. (Bluntly, from where I sit, you're about ten feet tall and you don't realize it.)

In terms of preparing for your interview, I suggest that you revisit your research on the POI and other members of the department. Take a third look at information that gives you insight regarding the departmental dynamics. Determine if faculty members a relatively collegial group or if the department show indications of infighting. (A quick way to answer some of these questions is to look closely at the acknowledgements of historians' recent works.) Concurrently, figure out how your proposed areas of specialization fit into the department's vision of the profession. If you're not sure how your sensibilities will fit in, develop a provisional view and discuss it as such.

If you put together notes/talking points based upon the information described above--or any other path of preparation--I suggest that you keep things very simple. That is, no more than seven talking points and that the talking points and supporting notes take up less than one page of paper, double spaced.

HTH.

[aspiringhistorian]

Thank you so much! I'm taking all the advice I can get and this was very helpful.

[Amir Ahmed]

The Human Resources people will probably interview you at some point. Even if they don't you can bet that they're talking to the other interviewers behind the scenes. Understanding what they're looking for gives you competitive edge.

-Do your research. Make sure you know about the company you're interviewing with.

-Take a couple of copies of your CV with you - even a skills sheet, so you can leave it if necessary. You might think you're 'being green' by re-using your Tesco carriers, but splash out on a nice folder to take your documents in - it gives a much better impression, and the paper won't get crumpled.

-Listen to your Human Resources interviewer and to yourself. Don't just say the first thing that comes into your head.

-Don't try and close the interview by asking for feedback. Even if you've got great vibes from yourr Human Resource interviewer .

-Remember - an interview is a time to sell yourself. You need to get ther Human Resource interviewer to buy into your brand, by convincing them that you can do the job, you will do the job well, and you're a great culture fit.

-Excellent communication skills help you deliver great personal impact. You need to impact on ther Human Resource interviewer by stirring up their emotions like no other candidate before you.

These are some common questions in the interviews

You must save their answers (may be the Human Resource interview you by telephone and you will not be able to think)

1. TELL ME A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF.

2. WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION?

3. WHY DO YOU WANT TO WORK FOR US?

4. WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR US THAT SOMEONE ELSE CAN’T?

5. WHAT DO YOU FIND MOST ATTRACTIVE ABOUT THIS POSITION? WHAT SEEMS LEAST ATTRACTIVE ABOUT IT?

6. WHY SHOULD WE HIRE YOU?

7. WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A JOB?

8. PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR DEFINITON OF THE POSITION FOR WHICH YOU ARE BEING INTERVIEWED.

9. HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE YOU TO MAKE A MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTION TO OUR FIRM?

10. HOW LONG WOULD YOU STAY WITH US?

11. YOUR RESUME SUGGESTS THAT YOU MAY BE OVERQUALIFIED OR TOO EXPERIENCED FOR THIS POSITON. WHAT DO YOU THINK?

12. WHAT IS YOUR MANAGEMENT STYLE?

13. ARE YOU A GOOD MANAGER? CAN YOU GIVE ME SOME EXAMPLES? DO YOU FEEL THAT YOU HAVE TOP-MANAGEMENT POTENTIAL?

14. WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR WHEN YOU HIRE PEOPLE?

15. HAVE YOU EVER HAD TO FIRE PEOPLE? WHAT WERE THE REASONS, AND HOW DID YOU HANDLE THE SITUATION?

16. WHAT IMPORTANT TRENDS DO YOU SEE IN OUR INDUSTRY?

17. WHAT ARE THE FRONTIERS OR CUTTING EDGE ISSUES IN OUR INDUSTRY?

18. WHY ARE YOU LEAVING (DIDYOU LEAVE) YOUR PRESENT (LAST) POSITION?

19. IN YOUR CURRENT (LAST) POSITION, WHAT FEATURES DO (DID) YOU

LIKE THE MOST? LIKE THE LEAST?

20. IN YOUR CURRENT (LAST) POSITION, WHAT HAVE BEEN (WERE) YOUR FIVE MOST SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS?

21. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR (FORMER) BOSS?

22. WOULD YOU DESCRIBE A FEW SITUATIONS IN WHICH YOUR WORK WAS CRITICIZED?

23. IF I SPOKE WITH YOUR (FORMER) BOSS, WHAT WOULD HE OR SHE SAY ARE YOUR GREATEST STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES?

24. CAN YOU WORK UNDER PRESSURE AND DEAL WITH DEADLINES?

You can send your CV to all the sites you know and famous

http://linkusgroup.com/ Such as

Or you can search the Google search engine