The panelists included Dennis Luciano, Western New England College; Jackie Jensen, Sam Houston State University; and Christopher Teixeira, Rhode Island College.

Dennis Luciano: INTERVIEWING AT THE JOINT MEETINGS

There are three modes of interviewing at the Joint Meetings. For general information about the Employment Center, which constitutes the first two modes, visit http://www.ams.org/emp-reg/

First, there is the computer-scheduled Employment Register. These are 15 minute interviews. In the 1990s when the job market was very tight this was kind of like a "meat market" for employers. This is also the most historic option and was the only type of official interviewing offered at the Joint Meetings until relativly recently. Interviewees and employers fill out scan-tron forms indicating which employers (or candidates) you are interested in interviewing with as well as your availability (there are eight blocks where during which these 15 minute interviews take place). Then the computer produces a schedule for these interviews.

Second, there is the employer-scheduled Interview Center. These interviews are set up by the individual schools, often prior to the meetings (e.g. schools who are interviewing will email those applicants whom they are interested in who have indicated they will be at the joint meetings). These interviews are typically a bit longer (30 minutes or more).

Third, there are many interviews conducted outside of the Employment Center. These informal interviews are similar to the employer-scheduled interview center, but rather than taking place at the "official" employment center, schools will often contact applicants that are planning on attending the joint meetings and arrange to meet several people from their school for an interview at some other venue, e.g. somewhere in their hotel lobby, at a cafe, at the message boards, etc.

Here are some data from the 2004 Joint Meetings in Phoenix:

• 120 employers (96 in winter list of employers)
• 504 applicants (381 in winter list of applicants) NOTE: If you plan on participating in the employment center, it is very important to fill out and turn in your application material before the advance registration deadline (so that your Employment Center forms can appear in the Winter List) which is October 25, 2004.
• 10.4 to 1 applicant/employer ratio in computer-scheduled sessions (there were only 36 employers)
• Mean number of employers interviews was 31 (computer scheduled)
• Mean number of applicant interviews was 3 (computer scheduled)

Here are some tips for success. Prior to the meetings, focus your search. Do not use the shotgun approach! Apply early and only to those positions in which you are realistically interested. By applying early your application will get more attention because the bulk of applications come in late. Make sure your candidate file is complete (letter of intent, resume, 3-4 letters of reference, teaching statement, research statement). Make sure your file gives a sense of who you are as a person; one suggestion is to indicate your interests outside of mathematics. Register for the Employment Center early and inform the institutions to which you apply that this is the case. Participate in both modes of the Employment Center to maximize your exposure. Above all, become knowledgeable about the institutions which interest you.

Once at the meetings, you need to be seen. Give a talk at the meetings and invite employers to see it. Make the most of the message center: put messages in employers' folders and copies of your cv in your folder. Don't hesitate to stop by a table (but don't interrupt an interview in progress!). Sometimes employers may have time to talk over lunch. I once squeezed in time for an interview by inviting a candidate to join me and a colleague for a run. Follow up on a successful interview by leaving a thank-you note in the employer's folder.

During the interview, be prepared. Know something about the institution and in particular the department. Expect the employer to ask you if you have any questions for them. Relax and enjoy the experience: be articulate, friendly, and funny. Make sure the interviewers get to know you as a professional and, equally important, as a person. Remember that the next stage is the campus interview! In 2003, 2/3 of the applicants had campus visits, and 1/2 got an offer

Jackie Jensen: THE CAMPUS INTERVIEW

I will make an analogy between the preparation for and conduct of the on-campus interview and training for a race. The book "The Complete Guide of Running for Women" by Claire Kowalchik serves as my guide. Overall, remember that in interviewing it is very important to make personal connections.

First, you must get into gear. You need a good pair of shoes. You will be on your feet all day! For clothing it is better to be overdressed than underdressed. At an on-campus interview you may meet faculty in the department, the department chair, the Dean of the college, the academic vice president, the president of the institution, and maybe faculty members from other departments. You need to know background information about the institution. You need to have your prepared talk(s). It is also a good idea to bring such practical items as small snacks and breath mints.

You must train for the race. To warm up, find out as much information about the institution as you can. Prepare one or two questions for each of the potential people that you will meet. However, do not over-reach and cause injury! Ask appropriate questions. Be prepared to turn your weaknesses into strengths. For example, enthusiastically offer to teach that course that you have no experience with but which is important to the department. Be prepared to ask the same questions of multiple people to get different perspectives. Go with your gut: be engaged in the discussion when talking to someone and let your instincts guide you. When I interviewed at Sam Houston, I knew it billed itself as the most diverse campus in Texas. I asked the Dean about this at the interview.

Find out the length of your research talk and who the audience is. Prepare your research talk as well as material for a class you might be teaching. Preview material on the institution to understand its mission and scope. Anticipate and prepare for questions you might be asked. Two resources are http://www.merrimack.edu/~thull/job/jobint.html and the career advice links at http://www.ams.org/employment.

The on-campus interview is a marathon. Build up your fuel reserves: rest and relax beforehand! This is an all-day event - a steady pace is best! A typical day includes:

• Breakfast with faculty
• Meetings with department chair, dean, etc.
• Teaching a class
• Lunch with faculty
• Research presentation
• Interview with committee members
• Tour of town and/or campus
• Dinner with faculty

Christopher Teixeira: MORE ABOUT INTERVIEWING

While Dennis represents a small college and Jackie represents a large university, I represent a mid sized comprehensive school.

Before you arrive, find out as much about the school, department, and faculty members as you can. Bring this information with you so you can review it the night before. Make good use of the Internet to research school and department webpages. You can even use a college guide like Barron's or Peterson's, or contact the institution and ask for a catalogue.

If you have a phone interview, disable call waiting. Hang a "do not disturb" sign on your door. Have a notebook and pen handy to take down notes and names. Have some of your own notes handy on your teaching and research and anything else you want to be sure to mention.

For a typical on campus interview, you arrive the day before. You meet with the search committee and/or the department as a whole. You might also meet with students. You will certainly meet with one or more members of the administration. You will give at least one talk. You will generally have all your meals with faculty and possibly students.

When you meet with the search committee and/or department members, be prepared for some standard questions. If asked to tell a little about yourself, prepare a 30- to 60-second response; don't go on and on! Other questions to anticipate: What can you tell us of your research? How do you plan to keep it up? Can you involve undergraduates? What is your favorite or least favorite class to teach? (Remark: you don't want to have a least favorite class!) What is your teaching philosophy or style? What is your experience with technology in the classroom? How do your research interests apply to other departments? Do you have any questions for us? (Remark: your answer should be yes!) Why did you apply here? What sets your teaching apart from other applicants? What is your opinion of calculus reform or modified Moore methods? (Remark: it is generally good to take a middle-of-the-road approach to this.)

Some questions that you will want to know the answer to include: What is the teaching load? What balance between teaching and research is required? How many math majors do you have and what do they do when they graduate? What is the time frame for your search? What kind of research goes on in the department? (Remark: you should know this already.) What is the tenure and promotion process like? What kind of money is available for travel and research support? What is the availability of computers, library resources, and journals?

If you meet with students, YOU will probably do most of the talking. Things you can ask include: What are the classes like here? What is there to do around here for fun? Who is your favorite teacher or favorite class? What do you want to do when you graduate? You can also use this as an opportunity to sell your research.

When you meet with members of the administration, you can ask: What are the benefits, including retirement benefits, like? How is the school faring economically? What is your role in the tenure and promotion process? What is your impression of the math department? Keep in mind two things: one, if you interview at a small college then you will probably meet the president; two, some of the administration figures you meet will later be the people with which you negotiate your contract.

Your talk(s) is/are probably the most important part of the interview. You could be asked to teach a topic from an undergraduate math class, or to teach a class on your research that undergrads can follow. Be prepared and rehearsed! This is especially important if you plan on using technology. Always bring a low-tech backup of your talk in that case. Know your audience and how long you'll be speaking. Audience interaction is good! Make sure everyone can understand most of your talk. (Remark: it is good to have lots of examples in your talk.)

Here is some more practical advice. Bring breath mints! Bring a snack and water. You'll need a credit card. Buy refundable airline tickets. Always follow up your interview with a thank you note or email. After the interview, you'll want to practice full disclosure regarding offers you've been given and their timetables.

QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION

Q: Do research position interviews get conducted at the Joint Meetings?

A: Not really. If you have an interview for this type of position, your campus visit will probably include a meeting with the universities grant office. They will grill you.

REMARK: Regarding the the shotgun approach, don't mislead schools by overstating your interest in their position. But at the same time keep open mind and give yourself opportunity to discover jobs which you might not have considered at first.

AUDIENCE COMMENT: It is a good thing to look at the school and department websites to find out the research interests of the faculty.

Q: What philosophies of teaching have caught your eyes?