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[hopepage]

I also have another question that when you are having lunch with some faculty, are you supposed to be more relaxed and go along with their chat which has no relevance at all to your job search, or you should still keep in mind you are looking for a job and try to guide the conversation to about yourself? What is a good balance?

[latis]

yes/no
You are their guest. This is your opportunity to demonstrate how charming you are.

[ptprof]

From the moment they pick you up at the airport till the moment they drop you off again, you are "on".  You should keep your mind on the fact you are interviewing at all times, but that doesn't mean you have to talk about yourself at that time.  I've found it's a great opportunity to learn alot of the department/school and what else is going on.  Who's recently got published?  Who's got a big grant?  Who's getting a new lab? etc.  It can also be a useful time to pick-up small clues about the position you are applying for.

[athena1]

At a meal, I think it's appropriate to allow the conversation to go the way it will. After all, people tend to like others who are good listeners and interested in what they have to say.

[mrhistory]

I also have another question that when you are having lunch with some faculty, are you supposed to be more relaxed and go along with their chat which has no relevance at all to your job search, or you should still keep in mind you are looking for a job and try to guide the conversation to about yourself? What is a good balance?

Believe me, even if you are terminally egotistical, you will be so *sick* of talking about yourself you will be wild to change the topic. My advice is this:  if they venture off onto other topics and still include you? They see you as one of them.  \

Let them lead the conversation in terms of topics. They know you are interviewing.

[brunhilde]

In my (admittedly brief) experience, they will be interested in you for the topic of lunch conversation, especially if this is the first time meeting with these individuals. You are not just joining an existing group for a regular lunch out of the office. Or they will tell you to ask them questions about the department, tenure, etc. They may just start talking about the support they get. There will be times during lunch when the conversation veers off into other subjects and you can follow their lead. It was only during dinner when I ate with people I already talked to earlier in the day that the conversation really turned to other matters.

One thing in your question that got me thinking is that the conversation does not have to be about you to make it relevant to your job search. It can also be about the department. Or about the town and living there.

[trabb]

One thing to be on guard about - expect wild changes in conversation.  I remember one lunch last year where we were talking about the school's football team when out of nowhere I got something like "So, in the sample syllabus you sent, why did you choose text A over text B?"  Then on to discussion about the weather.  You may get more normal conversation, but don't let yourself get blindsided by a hard question about your teaching or research.

[hopepage]

Thanks to you all. This is all quite helpful!

[eugenides]

A good topic, supposed to include all at table, is:

"Have you seen any good arthouse movie/foreign movie recently? Such as VOLVER?"

A friend of mine got this question twice on 2 different post-MLA campus visits. During dinners.
On both occasions, my friend confessed that he was too busy with applications in MLA fields that he did not go out and watch any movie.

---
I think my friend's confession was also evaluated.
What would the SCs think?
"This guy is concerned with work
but not interested in arthouse movies? An MLA person???"

I am afraid that this friend appeared to be boring because of his confessions. He was not hired by either school.
In fact he usually goes to arthouse movie theaters....

[iomhaigh]

Oh gracious -- you need to crave those moments when the people you are eating with decide to start talking about the school's March Madness chances and shovel food into your mouth.  Shovel it.  You may never get another moment to eat.

Smile, nod, and chew quickly. 

[fiona]

Usually you get very little chance to eat, as people throw questions and comments at you.

Eat as quickly as you can, and smile a lot.

The Fiona

[eugenides]

Mm, which eau de toilette should I wear for such an occasion?
I am male.

[infopri]

I also have another question that when you are having lunch with some faculty, are you supposed to be more relaxed and go along with their chat which has no relevance at all to your job search, or you should still keep in mind you are looking for a job and try to guide the conversation to about yourself? What is a good balance?

Yes.  And yes.  Go along with their chat, wherever it leads.  Don't forget that you're a candidate.  Enjoy yourself, but don't forget yourself.  Follow all (and I mean all) of the advice posted in this thread thus far.  When you're done shoveling food, be sure to excuse yourself and hit the rest room, before they whisk you off to another meeting.  It may be your only chance.  (Besides, you want to make sure there's no spinach stuck in your teeth.  Bring dental floss.) 

By the way, your meal companions may encourage you to drink.  "Oh, go ahead, it's just a glass of wine."  Don't.  If they are so insistent that refusing becomes an issue, order it and take no more than a couple of sips.  Seriously.  It's not their future on the line.  They have a job.

[busyslinky]

Most of the faculty who go to lunch with you go for the free meal.  Maybe the only one who will ask you questions is the one who didn't or will not meet with you in another setting. 

This is where a little research into the community, school, etc. will be good before going.  Local sports teams are usually a safe discussion point.  Also art movies are critical, you should see every art movie that is out there, if not, you are doomed.

[rattusdomesticus]

This is a great time to try to glean any differences or splits within the department. Watch which professors sits with which; and ones who sit opposite with lots of eye contact. These are good signs. Find out who buddies up at lunch, and who gets into it with others...

Be polite but not so much that your face hurts from smiling. Like others have said, you'll still be "on," so don't talk your old u. down or discuss controversial stuff ("So, I've heard funding for your xxx program is disappearing... so what are they going to do with those professors?")