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[prepping like mad]

I have a campus visit scheduled in the next two weeks (yay!).  But I'm absolutely terrified.  There are seven formal events scheduled for the single day, including the main interview, a presentation, a luncheon, and additional meetings with four groups of people from the department other than those on the interview committee.  Then, in addition to these seven events, there is a dinner in the evening with the initial search committee again.

I've never had a flyback and this terrifies me.  How am I going to hold up? I've heard the proverbial "bring granola bars and wear comfortable shoes" but I need some more advice that has less to do with physical comfort than how to keep your brain quick, how to stay mentally energized, how to remember what questions you are supposed to ask, etc.

[Beyond Hope]

I am not the one to give advice since I have had three flesh interviews and no offers to date, but here is my advice: Practice interview questons on paper. Reherse your presentations. The attention you get (You are going to be the center of it!) should keep you going for the day. You are likely to feel let down, sick, and destroyed afterward. I know because that is how I felt once I woke up from the plane ride home yesterday. As I say, I am no one to give advice.

[anon]

LOL...such is the nature of the campus interview.  Stressful and busy.  In all likelihood, no one will quiz you to find out how much you know about your subject area.  They are mainly trying to get a feel for what kind of colleague you'll be, how well you'll fit in, etc.  My advice is to focus mostly on being likable and congenial.  All of your competitors will be highly qualified, so you should strive to come across as the most likable and the one who will make the best colleague.  

Another tip from personal experience -- take some sort of acid-reducing OTC medication.  A very common problem among interviewees is nausea.  When I was looking for a position, I took Zantac to prevent my stomach from getting upset (from the sheer stress and anxiety of the interview process).  Nothing will hurt your ability to be in top form more than constant nausea.  Also, you'll be treated to some meals, so it'd be nice if you could actually enjoy them.

[piglet]

I've always found that the adrenaline takes over, and if I like the department, the conversations will flow effortlessly, developing out of things people tell you.  Remember that if you've made it to this stage, they're courting you, too: you're interviewing them just as much (well, maybe not) as they're interviewing you.

This is not to say that you should wing it.  I tend to make sure I know my job talk very well--meaning that I could recite it by heart if I had to.  I've also heard that the question-and-answer section afterwards is crucial because, rightly or wrongly, it gives the committee and anyone else sitting in a sense of what kind of teacher you'd be.

Finally, make sure you have breath mints.

[%sig%]

[tamiam]

Also remember that if you are in a different group, you can ask the same questions to the different group. You don't need to worry so much about repeating yourself; they might compare note on what you said but that's OK.

Good luck!!!

[WE]

Other things to consider -

It is OK to take notes - Although usually it is polite to ask if it is ok for you to take notes.

It is ok to repeat questions - especially about resources or why one group likes the school.  You may get a different answer from a non-tenured prof than from a dean.

Don't be shy about asking for a bathroom break. No one ever schedules these, and interviews often run late.
Likewise, if anyone offers coffee, water, bathroom, whatever take it - you don't know when your next shot will be, you can check to see if you have spinach in your teeth from lunch, and interestingly enough - it makes them feel good about themselves.

If they are having you meet in several groups - you might do some research on who you will be meeting ahead of time. This may help you keep the conversation centered on you.  Maybe one is a potential collaborator?

As an aside - this meeting in groups - is the most stressful way to do interviews, because if there is 3 or more of them it can seem like a machine gun full of questions. You may be at a meal and not have a chance to put a stick of food in your mouth. Recognizing this may be a problem ahead of time though can help - especially if you can find a way in some cases to politely interuppt.

Finally - remember you are the expert in your field, so don't let them get to you. Although if you were going to give a talk on particle physics it is good to check and see if Einstein will be in the audience before you go on the interview. Still, there is always 1 guy that is going to be a jerk. The one guy with questions from left field or wants to see how you handle stress, you know, "that guy." Try to see if you could see yourself long term in the department - will you have to deal with that guy daily?  Are there other good qualities to "that guy?"

[anon]

Your adrenaline will definitely carry you through the day, then most likely you'll crash hard once it's over. When I was on the market I had three campus visits in less than two weeks, in different parts of the country. And I was teaching three classes at the time! Whew, it was crazy. But I got two offers (and a close runner-up with the third place) out of the whole thing.

Definitely practice, practice, practice your job talk. I knew how long I had at each place and practiced it at home until I had it down to the minute. I had practiced it so much that I had it basically memorized, so I wasn't reading from the power point slides or my notes. At every place, I received compliments on my job talk in terms of both my research and my delivery.

Do the best you can to appear energetic and enthusiastic about your work. Try to be genuinley warm and nice to everyone you talk with, including the support staff. Some people are more outgoing and naturally energetic than others, so this can be tough, but really do everything you can to convey enthusiasm about your work and their program.

Don't get freaked out by cranky, go-for-the-jugular-for-fun types at your job talk and your meetings with the faculty. Expect that at least one person will go after you and be ready with an I'm-collegial-but-can-stand-up-for-myself response. Be prepared for sneak attacks. I found that at each place I interviewed, a few faculty members would miss my job talk, then take the opportunity at another meeting (say, the group meeting in which you talk about your substantive teaching area) to go after me about the contents of my job talk (my hand-outs and/or cv were sitting in piles on the conference table so people could just pick them up and start asking me questions). Stay calm and friendly but defend your work!

Good luck!

[%sig%]

[Elizabeth]

Prepping-

Don't worry - you will be too busy to realize how tired you are until it's all over.  As other posters have said, adrenaline kicks in big time during the visit and it will carry you through the interview.  The essential thing is to make sure that you don't get SO worked up over the interview that you can't sleep or you are stressed out and uncomfortable during the interview.  I think that the key is to do what you're doing now, which is preparing.  If you work on your talk and prepare to meet with those who are on your schedule, you should be in good shape.

Good luck!

[Been There]

Spend a great deal of time listening and interviewing them. Ask them meaningful questions about themselves. When they bring up hobbies (like gardening), ask follow up questions. Talk to them like human beings and equals. Once you do that with the easy stuff, you will be able to talk about your own teaching and research as a human would. Also, even if you know everything about them from their webpages, ask them anyway. I always feel like I have been stalked when someone says, "Oh, you are so-and-so and I enjoyed your article in journal such-and-such that is so far out of my field that the only reason that I could have read it was because of this interview."

[another tip]

For my first visiting-prof interview, I wrote down a list of questions and when I went blank once, I just yanked it out and refreshed my memory. If they are human, they will understand. (I got that job, and no one was offended that I had needed to remind myself to ask about library resources).
Also, you are probably not keeping up with current events since you are prepping so hard. Get a newspaper to read on the plane, just in case they open with headline- news- type small talk and you have no idea what they are talking about.

Tell your friends that the time to start prepping is the moment you get to grad school, when you have the chance to go to the job talks of candidates for your dept and find out from the other side what works and what doesn't.

[anonymous tipster]

If this applies, get a copy of the student newspaper on-line before the visit or pick one up on campus--very good for smalltalk and getting a feel of the place--looks like you care about "fit"

[fellow interviewee]

You should be taking notes during each meeting so that you remember what you talked about with everyone once the interview is over, why not use the same notebook to record notes for yourself?  Organize it so that you have a few pages set aside for each topic and/or for each person you will be meeting with (teaching, research, students, dean, chair, senior faculty, junior faculty, etc).  Then, write down both key questions for each of these people (leaving space for their responses naturally) as well as some key points/ specific phrases/amusing annecdotes about yourself that you want to include in the conversation.  Don't write everything out, just a key word to two to remind you of what you wanted to emphasize.  Preparation is key!

[hmm]

go read the Tao and relax, learn to let go and be you, be prepared, not over-prepared, and be you.

[ymmv]

I know it's wierd to think so, but try to enjoy yourself.  You're being courted by people who are interested in the things that you are.  What could be more fun?  I'm being serious.  It is a nerve-wracking experience, but it can also be fun.

[%sig%]

[arty]

Look good.

Do those nice rituals that make you feel special before you go - I usually get a haircut, a new pair of hose, a discreet amout of makeup that makes me feel attractive, go to the trouble to make sure the shoes are shiny. I bring a nice shampoo that smells familiar . The interview is a really long date, so I try to look good, be myself, be charming, and show enthusiasm for my work, and for my date (the University).