Friday, November 13, 1998

Career Talk: How To Get the Most Out of Conventions

Question: "The big convention in my field is coming up in December. It's scary, because this feels like my best shot at the job market for a whole year. How can I make the most of it?"

Julie: Start by getting organized. First of all, send your applications by the deadlines and indicate in your cover letter that you will be attending the convention. Secondly, when you get a call to set up an interview find out where it will be held, how long it will be, and who might be doing the interviewing. Thirdly, if you get more than one interview, be careful to schedule them so you can get from one to another with plenty of time in between.

Mary: Consider your interview plans as you book a hotel room. If it's a huge convention with multiple hotels and you expect to have many interviews, choose the hotel that is as close to the interviews as your budget allows. When you decide whether to share a room and with how many people, consider whether you're in greater need of privacy or social contact as you prepare for and decompress from an interview.

Julie: Other important preparations include what to pack. Of course you'll want to bring several copies of your vita, as well as your dissertation abstract, statement of research interest, and statement of teaching philosophy. You might also bring copies of syllabi and articles.

Then, be sure you have whatever clothing and accessories you need to wear to interviews as well as whatever you need for relaxation, such as running shoes or a swim suit.

Finally, if you are flying, take anything you can't live without as carry-on luggage. We once knew a student who got to his convention in plenty of time, while his clothes and written materials went to another city.

Mary: As you deal with the easy items, like luggage, think about how you'll handle your interviews. Convention interviews are short, but you need to be prepared to address the essentials -- your research, your teaching, and your reasons for being interested in the position. (We'll talk more about interviewing in a future column.)

As time permits, also learn something about the institutions with which you'll interview. It will be very helpful to have a general idea of the nature of the institution (highly selective? religiously affiliated? large numbers of older students?) and the department (growing or declining? national reputation?). What courses does the department offer and who teaches them?

You can usually get answers to such questions quickly by consulting the institution's Web site. You'll find a nice collection of links to colleges and universities at http://www.clas.ufl.edu/CLAS/american-universities.html

How much you should try to learn about individuals in the department depends on the number of interviews you have and your time constraints. However, a quick look at the list of departmental members may remind you that you already know or know of someone in a department.

Julie: When you get to an actual interview you may be surprised to find it held in someone's bedroom. Some institutions rent hotel suites and use the living room for the interview, but others may not have the budget for that. While it may be a little off-putting to see a partially made bed or a half-eaten breakfast tray, try to ignore the surroundings and concentrate on the interview.

Keep in mind that the interviewers may have a list of questions to ask each candidate and, with limited time per interview, it's important to keep your responses from getting too lengthy. At the same time, however, you want to be sure to convey what you think is most important about your work, yourself, and how hiring you would enhance the department.

Mary: Now that we've talked a bit about the easy part, let's also consider the amorphous part of a convention, the chances to meet with other people, whether at a coffee break, a formal reception, or a conversation after a paper is given. You'll be surrounded by people who might be potential employers, reviewers, and collaborators, but how do you take advantage of this potential?

Julie: A favorite quotation of career counselors, Louis Pasteur's "Chance favors the prepared mind," comes to mind. If there are people you'd particularly like to talk to, either because they have (or might have) a job opening or because their work is of great interest to you, don't be shy about striking up a conversation if you encounter them in or outside a session.

If you are at a reception, see if one of your faculty members can introduce you to the person you'd like to meet. To establish rapport, state why you want to talk with this person and show what it is you have in common. Then tell or ask about whatever it is you want to know. Mary and I will demonstrate such a scenario:

Mary: Okay, Julie, here goes. Dr. Learned is the national authority in my field of research and a faculty member in the department in which I hear an opening will be announced in a few months. I asked a faculty member what she's like and have learned that she's brilliant, but often quite brusque. Further research tells me she's giving a talk at the convention at a time I can attend.

Julie: Attend her talk and note questions you'd like to discuss with her. After the talk, make your way to her, take a deep breath and say something like, "Your talk was very interesting. I'm also working on ... and would like to ask you some questions about what you just presented."

Mary: I could add, "Do you have a few minutes now, or is there a more convenient time for you?" If at this point, I meet with an icy stare, I'll try to take it in stride and move on. However, it's more likely that Dr. Learned will be pleased that I've taken an interest in her research and a conversation will ensue.

It's almost inevitable that conversation flows more easily with some people than with others. If you push yourself to meet a reasonable number of people, you increase the odds that you establish good connections with several. If you'd like to stay in touch with someone, a brief e-mail after the meeting is a good idea.

Julie: In spite of the pressures of interviews, presentations, and potential meetings, try to view the convention as an opportunity for you not only to learn about opportunities for jobs, collaboration, and so on, but also as a chance to present yourself as a colleague, not as a student. Be positive, don't beat yourself up if things don't go the way you hope, and always remember to take advantage of whatever great foods are the specialty of the city you're visiting.

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