Nuts and Bolts of a Postdoc Interview
Interviews are sometimes nerve-racking, and we all can ace them with proper preparation.
Interviews are an essential part of our lives. We all face interviews, whether we seek a job, apply for graduate school, or join a student club. Sometimes they are formal, sometimes informal. Interestingly, not all of us come out victorious from interviews. In reality, one of the primary purposes of interviews is to distill the best one(s) among many. Nevertheless, we all can excel at facing the interviews with confidence only if we have sound preparation and understanding.
Not long ago, I had the opportunity to go through four different postdoc interviews as a part of the Chicagoland postdoctoral recruitment event. Though all were virtual, they left a distinct impression on me. Later, when I recalled them, I could draw a few identical features that can lead to a successful interview if we can instill them in us.
When I Am in an Interviewee’s Shoes
Regardless of my scientific and training background, I had to make sure a few compulsory things were up-to-date and well prepared during those interviews.
Give a presentation even if not asked: Only one out of four faculties specifically asked me to present my current work in about 20 minutes in PowerPoint. It was a bit intimidating to me at first since that was my first interview. However, I took it as an avenue to let him know about me and my research. Eventually, it turned out that that interview prepared me for the next ones very well.
After all the interviews, what I realized was that even though your interviewer doesn’t ask you to present, you should present because of two reasons:
It positively surprised them, and I could see that on their face. And as I am writing this line, it reminds me of a quote from Larry Page, one of the Google founders- “Always deliver more than what is expected.”
It gives you the flexibility to control the interview.
Customize your experience to their needs: While you present your work, you better customize your work and expertise to their demands. For instance, among those labs, one lab deals with stem cell maintenance and cellular differentiation, and another focuses on mRNA translational regulation. Though I have experience in both fields, I did not present all at once; instead, I tailored my presentation accordingly to fit into their labs.
Wear a smile, maintain direct eye contact, and it’s okay not to know everything: Surely, you must study the prospective lab and their science well. Yet given a situation with an unexpected, challenging question, you can still save yourself from downfall by acknowledging your limitation, wearing a smile, and being humble.
Pre-interview tips: Dress professionally, keep your devices updated if virtual and your phone silent, keep a pen and paper close to your hand, and utilize your body language and relax.
Post-interview tips: Follow up with a thank-you email, inform them when you publish something even if you don’t end up getting into that lab, and follow their science.
When I Am in an Interviewer’s Shoes
All the labs I was interviewed by were unique regarding their science, lab size and age, and overall identity. Nonetheless, according to their questions, I can assume a few shared things that all the labs expected from me and wanted to secure.
How do you fit into our lab?
Every lab asked me this question, and I had to clearly explain how I fit into their lab with specific examples. That’s where it comes to the point where you must know their science very well and mingle it with your expertise. The interviewer expects you to precisely clarify how your expertise will contribute to their science and, in doing so, how it will benefit you and your career.
What are your career aspirations?
A postdoc position is an advanced training period that prepares you to launch your career. Therefore, there is no way around this question, and you must have your own devised plan in mind for your career. Otherwise, postdoc training might become exhausting and a trap.
How can we help you?
This question is simple yet profound. You must articulate what your intention in joining that lab is. I realized that all labs welcome learning new techniques, leading independent projects, and publishing papers and they are all ready to help you with these.
Certainly, any kinds of interview require long-term planning, extensive preparation, and confidence.
However, as an interviewee, by presenting ourselves professionally, having a solid knowledge of our expertise and aspirations, and being humble, we can successfully land ourselves in our desired lab as a postdoc.
So I have read your Newsletter and I have got many informations from this. I had seen a video on this topic for that it became very easy for me to understand.. it's useful.
Good job mama 👍🏼
I love to read your Newsletters
And I'm waiting for your next Newsletter
Take care
@Prachi 💜
Thank you for writing on a nerve-wracking topic! It was an insightful good read and got some great straightforward suggestions. Hoping for more writings on concurrent topics.