Practice your job talk in front of friends and faculty advisers and have them ask you difficult questions, so you won't be fazed when your interviewers interrogate you after your presentation. Sit in on the talks of others whenever possible. Find out in advance how long your talk should be and who your target audience is. Don't assume you'll only be addressing faculty members in the department or scholars in your discipline. Your talk should explain why your work is significant and how it relates to your broader discipline. Keep in mind, too, that your audience will rate you not only on your scholarship but on your performance. Be sure to leave time for questions at the end. If you're using technological aids, have a backup plan in case of a malfunction.
Links to previous discussions:Job talk prep (11/22/2005)
Question about the job talk (11/20/2005)
Last-minute job talk (3/5/2006)
Job talk at a teaching university (3/15/2004)
What not to do during the job talk (10/30/2006)
Links to related columns:"Giving a Job Talk in the Sciences" (3/30/2001)
"Advice From Your Peers" (7/15/2004)
