Scheduling Conference Interviews

After you have spent time browsing through the job listings on the conference webpage, it is important to begin setting up interviews right away. Create a list of institutions and positions that really interest you. I have heard the advice time and again to only pursue positions and institutions that you can truly see yourself wanting to work. “You do not want to waste their time, and there is no need to waste your time either.” Once you have identified these positions, you can begin to email the contact person for the position. Do not wait for the institution to contact you, it is important to be proactive and demonstrate your interest early.

Think of your email to the contact person as a concise cover letter. It is important to address the contact person with their conference mailbox number, and remember to include your mailbox number with your signature as well. These are used to officially schedule the interview. Your email should let the employer know that you have seen the job description on the conference website, and share your enthusiasm for wanting to schedule an interview at the conference. Choose a couple of points from the job description that has really peaked your interest, and let the contact know why you would like to interview. Include your resume as an attachment to the email, and communicate to the contact that you look forward to hearing from them with regards to setting up an interview at the conference.

Within a day or two, you can expect to hear back from the contact. They will indicate whether your skills and experiences are a good fit with the position at their institution. If the contact is interested in scheduling an interview, you will be asked to provide a few times that work with your schedule at the conference. Allow yourself at least 30 minutes between interviews to ensure that you have time to get from one interview to the next. Many candidates will be transitioning between interviews, and it could take some time to catch the elevator or take the stairs. It is also important to consider how many interviews you realistically think you can successfully complete in one day. It is great to learn about various institutions and each interview is an opportunity, but if you cannot be your best it may not be worth doing 15 interviews in a day. Finally, leave some open time on the last two days of the conference for second round interviews. Best wishes on scheduling your conference interviews!

Amy Moreno-Kieffer
Co-Editor
Student Affairs Job Hunting Blog