How do I get that next job? Start with these steps! | Academia et al: S03E03

Dr Keri Wong, Associate Professor of Developmental Psychology and Dr Alina Pelikh, Senior Research Fellow in Demography

Prior to this episode we reached out to our community of academics. Here’s what they said:

• Tell me about an interesting scientific finding you read about recently (not related to your own subject). Similar to: Tell me what you’re reading these days (a friend was asked by a sociologist).
• Teach us a complex concept in two minutes. Pretend we are undergrads with little background knowledge.
• What is your greatest weakness? (They just want you to talk about how you turned your weakness into strength).
• What do you bring to the table? (Alina: I answered “Joy and positive attitude”. Everyone laughed. I got the job.)
• Questions about how to deal with difficult team members – that doesn't really set good expectations!
• I was asked if I could explain how it is possible to feel lonely in a crowd, relevant to the post but it took me by surprise.
• If you’re interviewing straight after your PhD, the panel will be testing how much of your PhD is you and how much of it is your supervisor. Be prepared for detailed questions on methodology, coding, who wrote up which parts.