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[hopepage]

On my last campus visit, I found it was hard to find opportunies to sell myself and get across my messages, because besides the presentations, there were only these informal lunches, dinners, and meeting with faculty in a group, a meet and greet kind of reception setting. As a result I probably appeared too relaxed and not proactive enough. So I am wondering how I can find opportunities to do that in my next visit. How to find ways to get your messages out if they seem not intense on asking you questions but only talk about casual stuff?

[offthemarket]

Perhaps these informal settings were designed to find out whether candidates were nice and interesting enough to be colleagues.  If they want you to sell yourself, they'll provide an opportunity, I would think.  The casual stuff is a way to sell your wit and charm, and your ability to not take yourself too seriously.

[philoctetes]

On my last campus visit, I found it was hard to find opportunies to sell myself and get across my messages, because besides the presentations, there were only these informal lunches, dinners, and meeting with faculty in a group, a meet and greet kind of reception setting. As a result I probably appeared too relaxed and not proactive enough. So I am wondering how I can find opportunities to do that in my next visit. How to find ways to get your messages out if they seem not intense on asking you questions but only talk about casual stuff?

I have to agree with onthemarket, the whole point of the informal lunches is to see if they like you. They are deciding if they want you to be a colleague for the next 35 years. What you plan to write in the next five is less important than whether or not you are a bore.

Frankly if you made to the campus visit, you are already good enough. As long as you didn't blow the job talk, it is all about whether or not they like you.

[trabb]

Skimpy clothes, lots of makeup, and a street corner; the opportunities will find you.

But seriously, the previous two posters have pretty much hit the nail on the head.  In fact, I'd think that if you're approaching the informal parts of the visit as a chance to "sell your message" and if by "message" you mean the general thrust of your research, then you're probably doing yourself more harm than good.  There probably will be questions about your work, but let them develop naturally.  Probably the last thing your future colleagues want is someone who takes every possible opportunity to talk about the brilliance of his/her work.

I would want to qualify the idea that at the campus visit stage it's all about whether they like you.  Certainly if they don't like you, you won't get the job.  But it's also possible that they will like you very much, and you still won't get the job.  It may be that Candidate A fits everything perfectly and that you fit reasonably well.  The committee views you as a potential colleague, someone with whom they'd be perfectly happy.  Nevertheless, provided A doesn't tank the job talk or come across as a boorish lout, candidate A probably will get the offer.  Sometimes decisions are based on things that are entirely beyond your control, and I think it's important to recognize that and not to end up obsessing over why they don't like you should you not get the offer.

[hopepage]

Thanks very much, guys. I guess I was obsessing because I didn't get an offer on my last campus visit, and then I realized that I was too relaxed and forgot I was interviewing for jobs. I guess this is a tricky balance to master.

[larryc]

Use the "informal" occasions to ask the committee members about themselves and their work.  Nothing impresses me about a junior colleague more than an interest in my work.  It is highly perceptive them to realize my importance.  That is just the kind of bright person we need in my department.

[infopri]

I agree with all the posts above, especially onthemarket's and larryc's.  Also, in addition to impressing the faculty with your interest in their fascinating work (especially if you're familiar either with their work or their general area), this tactic may also provide natural opportunities for discussion of your own work to arise.  But don't force it, and don't dwell on yourself; if they don't ask, don't insist on telling.  If, for example, you volunteer some nugget about your work (as part of the conversation about their work), and they don't pursue it, don't press it.

Part of seeing whether they like you might be to see whether you're a good listener (which doesn't mean a silent listener, though), whether you can keep up your side of the conversation, whether you have anything interesting to say on random topics as they arise in conversation, and whether you have any annoying habits, like curling your hair around your finger or stroking your beard (or some other body part) whenever you're speaking.

Relax, go with the flow, and enjoy yourself--but don't forget that you're still "on." 

[lucilla]

Use the "informal" occasions to ask the committee members about themselves and their work.  Nothing impresses me about a junior colleague more than an interest in my work.  It is highly perceptive them to realize my importance.  That is just the kind of bright person we need in my department.

LarryC, I must make sure that you know that your message made me LOL.  Thank you for this bright little spot in syllabus-creation hell.

Lucilla

[athena1]

Yeah, I figure they've already read (or skimmed) my CV, so what else is there to know besides how well I can speak about and defend my research and my personality?

[untenured]

I hereby pigpile on the collective wisdom offered here.  You've reached the interview stage.  They know your bonafides.  Now, they want to know about you.  Be the kind and considerate person you are and they will endear themselves to the kind and considerate colleague you want to be.

Just don't pick food out of your teeth with a fork.  Yuck.

Untenured

[dr_crankypants]

Just don't pick food out of your teeth with a fork.  Yuck.

Or spew food across the table.

I agree with what the other posters have said.  One of the important things that we're looking at in these lunches and other gatherings is whether you're the kind of person we want to have at our lunches and gatherings in the future.  A person who only wants to talk about him or herself, and is always looking to bring the conversation back to him/herself is going to be a big bore.  Go with the flow of conversations, ask questions, answer questions, and don't try to dominate the conversation.