The Job Talk

Your thoughts, fears, hopes…

Overview1. Purpose

2. Relative Importance

3. Prepping

4. Before the talk…

5. Practical Rules

Purpose of the Job Talko RESEARCH fit

o TEACHING skill

o DEPTH of understanding

o PERSONALITY!

Relative ImportanceOnce at the interview…

o job talk ranked second in importance once on-site (Benson & Buskist, 2005; Sheehan et al., 1998)

o errors can be fatal -- most common occur during job talk (Sheehan et al., 1998)o quality, organization, dull, poorly

timed, lack of knowledge, etc.

o talk should be “nailed” (Benson & Buskist, 2005, p. 48).

Prepping the Talk o CLEAR and CLEAN; minimize

introductory comments (Campbell et al., 2000)

o GET to data or main scholarly contribution within 5 minutes

o PRACTICE!o Galen’s “mentor-therapist” modelo ask for candid if not brutal feedback

o KNOW your talko anticipate questionso have extra material prepared

Before the actual talk…o Know your audience and

their needso meet those needs!o this includes knowing TIME

limits!

o Take control (politely!)o check, double-check slideso check, double-check your pointso have multiple forms of talko rely on no one to cover for you!

Practical RulesFrom APA (2006):o Show confidence

o Know your audience and school

o Tailor talk to audience

o Keep talk “general and short”

o Answer questions! Or admit you don’t know but provide answer later.

Referenceso APA (2006): http://psyccareers.apa.org

o Benson, T. A., & Buskist, W. (2005). Understanding “excellence in teaching” as assessed by psychology faculty search committees. Teaching of Psychology, 32, 47-49.

o Campbell, R., Angelique, H., BootsMiller, B. J., & Davidson, III, W. S. (2000). Practicing what we preach: Integrating community psychology into the job search process. Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the Community, 19, 33-43.

o Sheehan, E. P., McDevitt, T. M., & Ross, H. C. (1998). Looking for a job as a psychology professor? Factors affecting applicant success. Teaching of Psychology, 25, 8-11.