untitled

A good analogy is dating behavior. People

generally like to be pursued, but not too

aggressively. Don’t devalue yourself or

appear desperate.

It is typical for an interview to be sched-

uled by an administrative or clerical person.

Be respectful, accommodating and profes-

sional with anyone who contacts you. Bear in

mind that sometimes interviews must be

rescheduled or there can be other inconven-

iences or annoyances in the logistical

arrangements. All it takes is for a trusted sup-

port person to comment to the principal,

“Boy, he sounds like such a jerk!” for your

candidacy to end, even for an otherwise

strong candidate.

The Interview

The most important possible thing you

can do is your homework. Go to the orga-

nization’s website and spend some time

there. You should be aware of the general

parameters of the organization: its prod-

ucts and services, its corporate goals, the

size of its staff, and its revenues. If it’s a

start-up, learn how it is financed: through

venture capital? Is it publicly traded? If

it’s a nonprofit, where does it get its rev-

enues? Publications? Membership dues?

All this information is available on the

organization’s site.

Be on time for the interview, which means

you should allow enough travel time to be

early (this does notfollow dating protocol!).

Prepare questions in your mind but don’t

read them. Many questions may be answered

in the course of the conversation: don’t repeat

them. When you ask a question, listen to the

answer, and ask follow-up questions to

demonstrate that you are engaged in the con-

versation, not just reeling off a list of pre-

pared questions. Don’t take exhaustive notes

at an interview because it can inhibit the

interviewer and make you appear distrustful.

The interview should feel like a conversation,

not an interrogation—the candidate has to

contribute to making the interviewer relaxed,

not just the other way around. It is essential

to ask intelligent questions about the organi-

zation, but don’t wear out your welcome: be

sensitive to the other person’s answers

becoming briefer and glances at their watch.

If you find yourself asking about Casual

Friday policy, you have prolonged the inter-

view too long. The interviewer should like

you more at the end of an interview than at

the beginning.

182 CAREER ADVICE FOR LIFE SCIENTISTS II

All it takes is for a trusted

support person to comment to

the principal, “Boy, he sounds

like such a jerk!” for your

candidacy to end, even for an

otherwise strong candidate.

The interview should feel

like a conversation, not an

interrogation—the candidate

has to contribute to making the

interviewer relaxed, not just the

other way around.

The most important possible

thing you can do is your

homework.