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[abdbcb]

Hi, so last round I had a number of phone interviews and a campus visit, but this is my first year on the market where I am going to conference interviews. A number of the place I am interviewing have sent ahead relatively specific questions about courses I would propose, how I would interact with interdisciplinary this and that. So my question -
Does it look bad to refer to notes in a conference interview?
When I do phone interviews I spread notes all over my desk in different categories, etc. Here I was just thinking a folder for each school, with lists of classes, what they would cover, how they fit, etc. Or should I just commit it all to memory? Any thoughts? Thanks

[seniorscholar]

I've often been on search committees at MLA interviews, and almost never notice that candidates are using notes -- which probably means that they can glance at them inconspicuously enough that it doesn't attract my attention, or maybe they do it when I'm jotting down a note myself. I do remember the candidate who had a syllabus (or something like that) for one of the courses he'd almost certainly be asked to teach. When we asked what books he'd teach in "the literature of basketweaving" he shuffled through a lot of papers, fished out one, and read a list of the books. When we said he'd be offered a graduate class in the second semester and asked what he'd teach the graduate students, he again stared at the paper and recited the same list of books. Not good.

I think the best scheme is probably to have all the information you could possibly want in a folder, look at it before you go into the room, and have one page on top with a "cue card" for things they're likely to ask, like a cheat sheet for an exam, and glance briefly at that sheet if you need to.

[temporaryname]

I'd be disturbed by someone referring to notes in a face-to-face interview (and, in fact, by someone sounding like they were reading from notes in a phone interview). I see face-to-face interviews as having two important purposes that reading from notes would mess with:

• Get some sort of real (well, real given the confines of the situation) conversational give-and-take between the interviewers and candidates
• Find out how well the candidates can think on their feet

Notes would distract from the first, and would completely eliminate the second--so I'd say no to notes.

A folder of stuff to cram from just before the interview like SeniorScholar suggested, though? Excellent idea, I think.

[abdbcb]

Thanks to both of you. I am leaning towards a folder of stuff to review beforehand with a crib sheet on top with main points, as Seniorscholar suggested. I won't refer to it in the interview but will have it there if I get desperate, which will make me feel more comfortable if nothing else. I am with you, t_r_b on the 'think on your feet' thing, but was a little surprised at the specific requests I have been given in regards to preparation. Anyway thanks again.

[sibyl]

Your instinct is right.  If the folder is there to help you feel comfortable, fine, but I wouldn't want you to refer to it unless I asked a specific question.  ("Your class project on hats sounds interesting.  How did you describe it in your syllabus?  You don't happen to have a copy of the project description, do you?")  If you are always looking at notes, or if you walk in and start spreading out a sheaf of notes, I will suspect that you lack the smarts and humanness to reply to on-the-fly questions and answers.

Good luck.

[biop_grad]

What about writing notes at the interview?  Just wondering ...

[alleyoxenfree]

What about writing notes at the interview?  Just wondering ...

If the interview takes place around a conference table, I like to have a pad of paper and a pen in hand - it calms me down and helps me think.  Sometimes I write nothing.  Sometimes I write a few key words from a question.

Committee members can ask long-winded questions and it's helpful to jot a word or two so I make sure I answer the entire question.  I've never noticed any pattern that would prove this has cost me jobs.  And I know I've lost jobs when I flubbed the interview because my mind went blank, as it can do under stress (FI, once I couldn't remember the name of the text that I'd used for four years, nor the author).

[systeme_d_]

What about writing notes at the interview?  Just wondering ...

If taking notes is absolutely necessary (like jotting down keywords to help you through answering a detailed question), do it quickly and unobtrusively.  

Conference interviews go really quickly, so don't waste time that could be used more productively conversing with the committee.

Back when I was doing conference interviews, I had a dozen over the course of three days, and I always took a very small notepad in with me.  There were a couple of times when it was appropriate to jot down an email address, a timeline, or a note about courseload.

But do take such notes sparingly.

[barred_owl]

What about writing notes at the interview?  Just wondering ...

Writing quick notes shouldn't be a problem.  For example, in the panel Q&A session, I've found it helpful to have a blank sheet of paper to jot key phrases from long-winded questions so that I'll remember to address all of the points I'll need to make in reply.  Similarly, I usually bring a written set of questions of my own (to avoid that awkward pause after the SC asks "do you have any questions for us?"), and can make quick notation--check mark, yes/no, etc.--of the answers I receive.  The important skill, though, is to be able to remain focused on the committee and not on the notes.

On preview--alley and systeme_d and I appear to concur!

[alleyoxenfree]

What about writing notes at the interview?  Just wondering ...

Writing quick notes shouldn't be a problem.  For example, in the panel Q&A session, I've found it helpful to have a blank sheet of paper to jot key phrases from long-winded questions so that I'll remember to address all of the points I'll need to make in reply.  Similarly, I usually bring a written set of questions of my own (to avoid that awkward pause after the SC asks "do you have any questions for us?"), and can make quick notation--check mark, yes/no, etc.--of the answers I receive.  The important skill, though, is to be able to remain focused on the committee and not on the notes.

On preview--alley and systeme_d and I appear to concur!

Ah, yes, a reminder of my own questions, which I also tend to blank out on!

[david_perlmutter]

Taking notes is good. Don't bring out the court reporter machine and try to create a transcript, but an SC will like it  if you care enough to write down points. Maybe there is a generational factor here. Middle aged folk like me are not pleased when a student comes by and asks some complicated questions about the classwork but takes no notes. Photographic memory is just not that common. Likewise with the young job candidate. As others have said short jots are fine. You don't want them interviewing the top of your head!

[cat_p]

Agree with all of the above. I take quick, notes during short, 30-min conference interviews and during longer, on-campus committee interviews--I might jot down a word or two or a short phrase if I need to consider the question for a moment, I don't want to forget part of the question, or I don't want to forget to make a particular point. As long as you make consistent eye contact with the committee and/or talk while you're jotting something down quickly, I think it demonstrates that you're engaged and thinking (and I do it for these reasons).

Ditto when referring to notes or syllabi or materials during an interview (see below). If you can do it quickly, infrequently, and it makes sense within the context, I don't think it detracts. You could keep a crib sheet, but you really can't anticipate or include everything they might possibly ask. Better to make a long list of possible questions and practice your answers several times, and to carefully consider your approach when preparing new syllabi for classes you have never taught (but could teach that are either listed in the job description or that the committee may ask you about). I also like to include tough questions and follow-up questions so that I feel more prepared: "Describe a difficult student situation and how you handled it." And then what will I say if they ask me if I felt like I handled it well or if the outcome was successful or what I might do differently.

Don't pull out a syllabus for every course the committee asks you about. You should be able to talk without hesitation about the courses you can teach (particularly those listed in the job posting), the general approach you take, what you want students to learn, and the primary texts, because you've already prepared (and brought with you) short syllabi for each of these. If the discussion centers around a particular course and/or assignments related to that course, it may make sense to give the committee a copy of that course syllabus with a sample assignment WHILE you're discussing it. Don't put your sample syllabi, CV, etc, in a folder in the bottom of your bag; get a 3-ring binder, make copies of each item (double-sided as needed to save space) and use dividers to organize your materials. Have the binder easily accessible in your bag. Then when the committee wants to discuss course x in detail, you can find it quickly.

[tutor]

Can anybody send me a link that allow me a free access to Demonstration or Demolition?