Writing about the goodness of February brought back some memories of different job interviews I have faced. In almost all of them, I have made blunders that I am not very proud of. As some readers of this blog have just finished interviewing or have interviews coming up soon, I thought I will share some of my job-interview-mishaps.
My first interview was within the first year of finishing my PhD. I wanted to gain a few years of postdoctoral experience, but applied for this tenure-track position in Canada on the advice of my mentors. Much to my surprise, I got shortlisted and was invited for the interview. Clueless about what happens during job interviews, I asked a colleague who helpfully told me, "Don't get nervous. The committee will not harm you." Throughout the pleasant train journey to this university, I kept repeating this to myself.
Here's how the interview began:
Committee Member 1: Is this your first job interview?
K: Yes
Committee Member 2: Are you nervous?
K: No, I am fine, thank you.
Just then CM 3, the senior-most mathematician, started coughing.
CM 2: Oh, it looks like CM 3 is getting nervous.
K: Don't get nervous. I won't harm you.
Everyone in the room, except CM 3, started laughing and the interview proceeded very smoothly thereafter. I did not get this job, but I am sure it was not because of this goof-up.
Now, Goof up 1 at IISER Kolkata:
IISER Kolkata had shown a lot of interest in my application and I was looking forward to my visit there. Just before I left for Kolkata, my brother jokingly mentioned that I should play up my Bengali connection as that might help (no offence intended - it was said merely in jest. [1]). Now, I have no Bengali connection, except that my last name is also a common last name in Bengal.
During my visit, here's how a conversation went with a senior colleague at IISERK:
SC: Hello, Koneenika
K: Hello. err, it's Kaneenika
SC: Aren't you Bengali?
K: No.
SC: From your name, I thought you are Bengali.
K: (suddenly realizes that she has passed up a great opportunity to play up the Bengali connection and tries to make amends) I am not Bengali, but I have spent a formative period of my childhood in Bengal.
SC: That's interesting.
(On further grilling, it is revealed that this formative period of K's childhood was at Darjeeling for a few months when she was 1 year old.)
SC: (laughs and says) You have understood the Bengali psyche very well.
Goof up 2 at IISERK (and I still feel very embarrassed whenever I think of it):
On the morning of my departure, at breakfast with a senior colleague and a colleague from Mathematics:
SC: So, are you flying back to Edmonton now?
K: No, I am also visiting City A before flying back.
SC: I see. Who is your host there?
K: Institute ABC.
SC (in a nostalgic tone, tells us about his job search long ago and return to India): In our days, we were lucky if we had one job offer. Your generation gets to choose between multiple job offers.
K (feels that it was perhaps not appropriate to bring up another prospective institute in the conversation and desperately wants to say something to change the topic and save the day. So, with the noblest of intentions, says): Yes, our generation is lucky. You guys worked very hard and we are reaping the benefits.
SC: (Not amused at being addressed as one of "you guys", but maintains a practiced calm and stays quiet).
Other colleague: (Almost falling off the chair)
K: (blushes as she realizes her poor choice of words) I had a very nice time here. Thank you for your hospitality.
The conversation proceeds smoothly after that. [2,3]
And now the goof-up at IISER Pune:
CM: What activity did you enjoy the most at IISERK?
K: (interprets the word "activity" to mean conferences, winter schools etc) I enjoyed organizing two winter schools at IISERK. (Then explains how much fun it was to interact with so many students from all parts of India and the experience of organizing something from scratch).
CM: (looks a little surprised and then explains) I am sure you must also have enjoyed your teaching and research activities there.
K: (then realizes her mistake, is embarrassed and starts talking about her research and teaching)
After coming out of the meeting room, she spoke to a future colleague about how she misinterpreted the word "activity" and gave an inappropriate answer.
Colleague: Oh no, I think they were asking about your hobbies.
K: (suddenly feels much better)
Readers are welcome to share interview-mishaps (either theirs or those of others) in the comments section.
Just out of curiosity, what would you have interpreted "activity" to mean?
[1] He later wrote here about his experience in Bengal.
[2] In my first few days at IISER K, I shocked a lot of people with my informal language. For instance, I was told that it was impolite to refer to women/lady faculty members as female faculty (or men/gentlemen faculty members as male faculty for that matter).
[3] I used the word "guys" in a generic sense to mean both men and women.
My first interview was within the first year of finishing my PhD. I wanted to gain a few years of postdoctoral experience, but applied for this tenure-track position in Canada on the advice of my mentors. Much to my surprise, I got shortlisted and was invited for the interview. Clueless about what happens during job interviews, I asked a colleague who helpfully told me, "Don't get nervous. The committee will not harm you." Throughout the pleasant train journey to this university, I kept repeating this to myself.
Here's how the interview began:
Committee Member 1: Is this your first job interview?
K: Yes
Committee Member 2: Are you nervous?
K: No, I am fine, thank you.
Just then CM 3, the senior-most mathematician, started coughing.
CM 2: Oh, it looks like CM 3 is getting nervous.
K: Don't get nervous. I won't harm you.
Everyone in the room, except CM 3, started laughing and the interview proceeded very smoothly thereafter. I did not get this job, but I am sure it was not because of this goof-up.
Now, Goof up 1 at IISER Kolkata:
IISER Kolkata had shown a lot of interest in my application and I was looking forward to my visit there. Just before I left for Kolkata, my brother jokingly mentioned that I should play up my Bengali connection as that might help (no offence intended - it was said merely in jest. [1]). Now, I have no Bengali connection, except that my last name is also a common last name in Bengal.
During my visit, here's how a conversation went with a senior colleague at IISERK:
SC: Hello, Koneenika
K: Hello. err, it's Kaneenika
SC: Aren't you Bengali?
K: No.
SC: From your name, I thought you are Bengali.
K: (suddenly realizes that she has passed up a great opportunity to play up the Bengali connection and tries to make amends) I am not Bengali, but I have spent a formative period of my childhood in Bengal.
SC: That's interesting.
(On further grilling, it is revealed that this formative period of K's childhood was at Darjeeling for a few months when she was 1 year old.)
SC: (laughs and says) You have understood the Bengali psyche very well.
Goof up 2 at IISERK (and I still feel very embarrassed whenever I think of it):
On the morning of my departure, at breakfast with a senior colleague and a colleague from Mathematics:
SC: So, are you flying back to Edmonton now?
K: No, I am also visiting City A before flying back.
SC: I see. Who is your host there?
K: Institute ABC.
SC (in a nostalgic tone, tells us about his job search long ago and return to India): In our days, we were lucky if we had one job offer. Your generation gets to choose between multiple job offers.
K (feels that it was perhaps not appropriate to bring up another prospective institute in the conversation and desperately wants to say something to change the topic and save the day. So, with the noblest of intentions, says): Yes, our generation is lucky. You guys worked very hard and we are reaping the benefits.
SC: (Not amused at being addressed as one of "you guys", but maintains a practiced calm and stays quiet).
Other colleague: (Almost falling off the chair)
K: (blushes as she realizes her poor choice of words) I had a very nice time here. Thank you for your hospitality.
The conversation proceeds smoothly after that. [2,3]
And now the goof-up at IISER Pune:
CM: What activity did you enjoy the most at IISERK?
K: (interprets the word "activity" to mean conferences, winter schools etc) I enjoyed organizing two winter schools at IISERK. (Then explains how much fun it was to interact with so many students from all parts of India and the experience of organizing something from scratch).
CM: (looks a little surprised and then explains) I am sure you must also have enjoyed your teaching and research activities there.
K: (then realizes her mistake, is embarrassed and starts talking about her research and teaching)
After coming out of the meeting room, she spoke to a future colleague about how she misinterpreted the word "activity" and gave an inappropriate answer.
Colleague: Oh no, I think they were asking about your hobbies.
K: (suddenly feels much better)
Readers are welcome to share interview-mishaps (either theirs or those of others) in the comments section.
Just out of curiosity, what would you have interpreted "activity" to mean?
[1] He later wrote here about his experience in Bengal.
[2] In my first few days at IISER K, I shocked a lot of people with my informal language. For instance, I was told that it was impolite to refer to women/lady faculty members as female faculty (or men/gentlemen faculty members as male faculty for that matter).
[3] I used the word "guys" in a generic sense to mean both men and women.
