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[job_hunter]

Hello all,
I have a few interviews coming up at the huge disciplinary conference, and while I have had interviews in the past, I always feel a bit stiff and awkward when it comes to asking the SC questions at the end of the interview.  So what are some of the most fruitful questions that you have asked a search committee?  Or for those on the other end, what are the best questions that have been asked of you?
I though this might be useful to many of us on the market this year.
Thanks,
J_H

[hegemony]

Ask questions that tell you something about the university, and ideally make you look energetic and industrious in the process.  What kind of students major in X at the university?  What kinds of research support does the university offer?  What are the requirements for tenure?  What courses would the department ask me to teach?  How much scope is there for the development of new courses?  Etc.

Questions not to ask: How soon do I get a sabbatical?  You don't have any regulations against dating students, do you?  Even if they really, really like me?  Do you check police records before hiring?

[melba_frilkins]

When I'm on a search committee, my part of the interview is always panel style and we way overbook ourselves and end up with interviews back to back. So I'm always grateful for the candidate who says, "Thank you. I don't have any questions right now....[insert other pleasantries]....". 

(Do keep in mind this is after a panel interview, not a one-on-one.)

[watermarkup]

Don't ask generic questions off of interview preparation lists. In my first-ever MLA interview, I actually asked about opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration. I probably even pronounced each word distinctly, like a 4-year old using big words whose meanings are not totally unclear: "Can I have big opp-or-tun-ities for inter-dis-ci-plinary col-lab-oration?" If there was a secret blacklist for loser candidates, I would have nominated myself.

Ask questions that show you have informed yourself about the department. One strategy that's worked well for me is to ask about the most unglamorous thing that the new hire would likely end up doing. For example: "How does your department handle the intro sequence? Do you have an active Estonian Club? Do many students come to the Estonian Conversation Hour?" It communicates that you're willing to help out with the usual departmental drudgery, and is more dignified than casting yourself at the SC's feet and begging.

[hegemony]

But be careful how naively you refer to the mission statement.  If you say, "How can I best help the department establish student-centered learning communities in your atmosphere of interdisciplinary excellence?" we'll just roll our eyes.  If you talk about the details of what we actually teach and specialize in, as opposed to the obvious PR guff on the website, that will go better.

[post_functional]

Don't ask generic questions off of interview preparation lists. In my first-ever MLA interview, I actually asked about opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration. I probably even pronounced each word distinctly, like a 4-year old using big words whose meanings are not totally unclear: "Can I have big opp-or-tun-ities for inter-dis-ci-plinary col-lab-oration?" If there was a secret blacklist for loser candidates, I would have nominated myself.

That question may be a moldie oldie, but for me it's a question I'd be genuinely interested in knowing the answer to at all places I'd interview.  In order not to make the question sound like it's generic, I might include a real example of what it is I'm fishing for.  "So I understand this school has a vibrant [vaguely but not directly related] department" or something.

[spork]

Are pants required?

[periodically]

The last question I have asked in interviews, unless the topic has been addressed, is about the SC timeline.

Although you'll get a lot of disclaimers about the possible delays, you might get information that can assuage your anxiety, at least temporarily.  If you know up front that because of x, y, and z factors they won't even have their short list until mid-March, you might be less likely to have panic attacks starting a week from now.

There is a potential trade-off, because if they say "in two weeks", and those two weeks come and go...

As someone recently on a SC for the first time, I have to admit that I wondered about candidates who didn't ask about the timeline.  My experience may be coloring my perception on this one, so YMMV.

[airball]

The last question I have asked in interviews, unless the topic has been addressed, is about the SC timeline.

Although you'll get a lot of disclaimers about the possible delays, you might get information that can assuage your anxiety, at least temporarily.  If you know up front that because of x, y, and z factors they won't even have their short list until mid-March, you might be less likely to have panic attacks starting a week from now.

There is a potential trade-off, because if they say "in two weeks", and those two weeks come and go...

As someone recently on a SC for the first time, I have to admit that I wondered about candidates who didn't ask about the timeline.  My experience may be coloring my perception on this one, so YMMV.

And  write this down. As soon as the interview ends, your brain will ctrl-alt-del itself, and you will forget what they said.

I like, "What do you like best about teaching at X? What is the hardest thing?"

airball

[cgfunmathguy]

I like, "What do you like best about teaching at X? What is the hardest thing?"

airball

Timeline questions are indeed necessary, if they are not addressed by the interviewer(s) during the interview. I was asked a variant of Airball's question once in a phone interview. I stumbled briefly in answering it because I was not expecting it. I do like it (and use it when I'm on the other side of the table) as it gives me a chance to sell my school.

[allicat39]

Where do you see the department going in the next 5 or so years? Or, "what kind of growth opportunities do you have for junior faculty/what opportunities are there for junior faculty to contribute to the growth of the department?" 

Alternatively, "what directions do you see the department going in the next five years?"

These can be tailored to the audience and how the interview is going--some committees may be very open about positive/negative changes down the road. In most cases, it gives you a glimpse into their worries, or, their hopes/what they are looking forward to.

[losemygrip]

If you REALLY want to "wow" them, look up the university's fact book and dig up statistical information.  Then formulate a question such as, "I notice that the proportion of basket-weavers in your program is growing far faster than the god's-eye-makers.  Will you be expanding the curriculum in that area soon?"

Or,
"The growth in your department is outpacing that of the university by about 20%.  Have resources been forthcoming to deal with this?" 

A lot of times the search committee members aren't even aware of this kind of info, and you'll blow them away.  Of course, make sure that the questions you devise ARE actually relevant to your field and the job. 

[ironproffen]

How does your department and your University support new faculty members? Is there a new faculty orientation or mentoring program?

[canadatourismguy]

I noticed on the department website that...

I see looking at the CVs of the faculty members that...

This is a chance to demonstrate that you've done research on the program.  Use it.

CTG