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[systeme_d_]

Back when I was interviewing for grad schools, I interviewed at a school that facied itself quite the progressive department.  Someone asked me "Can you address the extent to which your research addresses questions of homosexuality?".  Ok, I study children under the age of 5.  Clearly they had not actually read my CV.

If they actually used the term "homosexuality," their imagined progressiveness was quite the delusion.

[macaroon]

Would you like a glass of wine or a beer before your job talk?

Would I like one?  Oh, hell yes!
Am I going to have one?  Hell no.

[spork]

[. . .]

On a recent interview, a dean made comments about how important he thought humor was...He asked me:

Dean: Do you think humor is important?
Me: Yes
Dean: Do you think you're funny?
Me: Sure
Dean: Prove it.
 

[. . . ]

My answer to this question would have involved discussion of an inflatable sex doll, vaseline, and a trip wire.

[seniorscholar]

SC: I think that your research topic is irrational. Why would you bother with this?
Me: Well .. erm .. (internally - then why did you invite me here?)

(later)

SC: I don't like any of your referees. They seem like strange choices to me.
Me: Well .. erm ..

Well, when the DGS recruits people from the department to be the "search committee" for the practice interviews for people on the market (and wants to draw people the candidate does not know well, preferably people whose courses they have not taken), one of the friendliest men in the department generally answers "I'll do it if I get to be the one who asks why on earth they wrote their dissertation on such a stupid topic." Since this faculty member is retiring this year, I suspect that there may well be a very long/old tradition behind this question.

And yes, a couple of generations of our PhDs have faced that question in their practice interview. And others on the practice search committees have learned that it's a decent way to find out what the victim does when challenged and flustered (as they will often be when teaching undergraduates, by the way).

[onestep]

And yes, a couple of generations of our PhDs have faced that question in their practice interview. And others on the practice search committees have learned that it's a decent way to find out what the victim does when challenged and flustered (as they will often be when teaching undergraduates, by the way).

Exactly.  In grad school, some faculty would ask odd questions during the defense for this same reason.  As an example, a policy candidate could get something like, "how do you know that blood actually flows through the body?"  We learned to mentally prepare for these oddball questions.  My field is transdisciplinary and we really need to be prepared to work with people with divergent assumptions and worldviews. 

SCs want to know if someone can take feedback and answer random questions because it foreshadows not only one's ability to interact with students, but one's ability to withstand the criticism inherent in peer review.  We all get strange feedback and questions on our grants and papers.  Someone who calls the reviewer a jerk will not get very far compared to the person who answers even the harshest critic with grace and composure.  And as we all know, well-meaning and neutral feedback can be misinterpreted.  Who wants to work with someone who gets bent with the mildest provocation or who can't distinguish true criticism from simple suggestions?  But  heck, I'd bet my money on someone who gives a witty and intelligent answer, as with the "illegal question" example. 

[watermarkup]

After the "Where will you be in 5 years" question, one SC member then asked: "What adjectives would your colleagues use to describe you."

Me: "Well, I'm not privy to their letters of recommendation, but, uh, [insert incoherent rambling here]."

[santommaso]

Interviewer: You mentioned you have a brother.

Me: Yes, he's my twin brother, and he is a physician.

Interviewer: How old is he?

Me: Uh..well, ah, he's five minutes younger than I am.

[doctor_torrseal]

Two different interviews:
-"What does your work have to do with pirates?" (Asked twice. My work doesn't have anything to do with pirates, not even close).

I think all SCs, in all disciplines, should ask this question.  Gotta liven things up.  Plus, it would be good for each department to have a faculty member who knows something about pirates, in case a crew of brigands should appear and attempt an assault on the department, grappling-hooks and all.

[bacardiandlime]

Two different interviews:
-"What does your work have to do with pirates?" (Asked twice. My work doesn't have anything to do with pirates, not even close).

I think all SCs, in all disciplines, should ask this question.  Gotta liven things up.  Plus, it would be good for each department to have a faculty member who knows something about pirates, in case a crew of brigands should appear and attempt an assault on the department, grappling-hooks and all.

Can someone please ask me that question? My work does relate to pirates (I'm a historian).

[daurousseau]

Guy said "I want to find out what you are all about, what makes you tick. What is really important to you?"

I said "Nothing." And that was pretty much the end of the candidacy.

[profxfiles]

Context: Interviewing at a very small, not very selective LAC.

Dean: So, you do political science
Me: Yes, I do
Dean: Does academia run in the family?
Me: Well, my dad is a historian.
Dean: Great--we need someone to cover some US history sections on occasion as well, and I'm betting you are as good as anyone... heck you can always call dad and ask him for notes...

I am so glad he did not ask me about the rest of my family (mom=psychologist; brother=anthropologist; cousin=economist)--based on the dean's "If You Are Related To Someone In The Field You Are Qualified To Teach It Too" rule, I might have ended up a one-person College of Social Sciences!

[prof_smartypants]

"What peaked your interest in Lincoln, Nebraska?"

Uh. You had a job opening? I like corn? Mountains make me nervous? It's near Iowa?

[zhimbo]

Dean: Do you think humor is important?
Me: Yes
Dean: Do you think you're funny?
Me: Sure
Dean: Prove it.

[...]The Aristocrats!

[bacardiandlime]

"What peaked your interest in Lincoln, Nebraska?"

Uh. You had a job opening? I like corn? Mountains make me nervous? It's near Iowa?

Did he say 'peaked' or 'piqued'? Because your answer could be 'My interest peaked about 10 seconds ago...'

[lackademia]

Hey bacardi,

How does your work relate to pirates?

Best,
lackademia