Going on the academic job market is a funny thing. You are expected to make life-altering decisions after a short campus visit.
And campus visits can be a whirlwind. On one visit, I was given a hotel room with a lake view. Because I arrived late & left the hotel early, I did not know about the view, until asked about the lake at lunch.
For at least a year, maybe five years, maybe longer, if you take an offer, you will have to live with the people & the place.
So how do you learn about the place? Ask many questions.
And yet, because interviewers are assessing you for "fit," your questions could signal your concerns (and cost you a job offer).
To make sure they learn what they need to & don't offend anyone, I ask my Ph.D. students to prepare a script of questions for the interview – some for the Dean, some for faculty, & some for students.
So what questions are fair to ask? That won't destroy your shot at the job?
First, you need to ask questions. There should be no uncomfortable silences. Interviewers interpret silence as a lack of interest.
Second, give yourself permission to ask questions that matter to you. Your interviewers, who have experienced BS detectors, will know if you are genuine or not.
Third, test re-test questions are ok. You can ask the same questions over & over. The consistency in answers will grant you insight into the place.
Fourth, save questions about salary. You can ask whether people receive summer support, research funds, or travel funds. That won't bother people. Asking about salary will. So don't do it.
Fifth, find out who teaches what in the curriculum. You need to ask what the school needs to be taught or wants to be taught, which often does not map to what is advertised.
Sixth, learn about tenure. You need to ask what journals are important, what service is important, & a general question about what a typical tenure case looks like - if you don't ask, folks will think you are either arrogant or naïve.
Seventh, ask what people do for fun. Find out about places to eat. Ask about outdoor activities. See if your future colleagues do things away from the office together.
Eighth, find out how people feel about the Dean's office. Ask about their priorities & resources needed to fulfill them. Priority-resource gaps are red flags.
Ninth, ask about the students. Learn where students come from, whether the faculty like them & they like the faculty.
Tenth, and most important, learn whether people feel valued & why. Answers to these questions can give you a feeling for the culture & priorities of the place.
If your questions touch on these broad themes, particularly about location, people, & culture, you should have enough data to decide if that academic job is a good fit for you.
Best of luck!
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