Advice for campus visits
In the midst of a challenging fall for so many, I am excited to share some good news. A friend and former colleague I’ve been meeting with regularly just landed a great job, and she wrote to thank me for my support and share how helpful I was! One of my favorite parts of my work is getting the chance to work with and learn from so many brilliant people, and it’s even better when I can contribute to their success.
She most appreciated my support on her job talk, which in her case was a mock workshop. We met once she had a draft of her plans. I asked her about her priorities and goals for the workshop. She knew that she had too much material, and wanted my advice on how to streamline it. The process of talking through it with me helped her clarify what she wanted to do. I reminded her to set herself up to show her strengths, so we got in touch with those, too! Landing a campus visit is exciting, but it can also feel like so much pressure: I have made it this far, how can I get to the next step!? What if I don’t? Channel your nerves into excitement, do your best, and be yourself. Following this guidance will help you feel as calm and prepared as possible to set yourself up for success:
Less is more. You almost always have planned too much! It’s tempting to try to cram all your expertise in, but that is not the point, and you don’t want to be rushed. Use the material you share to prompt the questions and discussions you want to have. Your goal is to engage the committee and show them how you think and connect with others around your areas of expertise.
Leave behind something to make an impression. My friend had two dense slides in her talk that were there to signal how much she knew about the topic. They didn’t need to be in the talk. I suggested she make a handout and put key resources and other material there, so she wouldn’t bog down the workshop, she could still signal her expertise, AND leave behind an impressive and useful resource.
Set yourself up for success for the circumstances. In teaching and learning roles, or if you have to give a teaching demo, you might be asked to plan something for a specific audience, like a group of new teachers or first-year students, when actually other staff are sitting in on your workshop. Design your plan in a way that will work, regardless of who shows up. Another colleague had to do a mock workshop in a hybrid format for his campus visit, which he knew would make any interactive activities he might have planned even more challenging. What activities can you plan that will work no matter who is there? Could you explain what activities you would do in a way that works for the group you have? A mentor once told me that you can do whatever you want as long as you are smart about it. It’s so true! Get in touch with your strengths and think about how to show yourself in the best light for the specific circumstances. Depending on the role, being flexible and able to adjust for the audience you have may be just as important as specific content expertise.
Show what kind of colleague you will be, pay attention to others, and be kind. Are you someone they would want to walk down the hall to consult with on something? Are you welcoming and personable? Intellectually generous? These qualities go beyond expertise. Try to find opportunities to showcase your strengths during the visit. Two cases stick out to me from my hiring experiences. One candidate came in and was rude to the receptionist and then quickly became a different person when she met the manager. Treat everyone you meet like they may have a say in your fate. I often think about a team lunch we had with another job candidate. The server put all the plates and silverware in the middle of the table. The candidate was closest to the pile, and quickly grabbed his own plate and fork, but did not pass the others around. He wasn’t the right fit for the role, but at the time another colleague commented that his behavior at lunch told us everything we needed to know. A campus visit is a time to connect with others, and to imagine yourself in their space. Do you like the people? What are they into? How does it feel to be there?
Talk to everyone who will listen about what you are planning. As I shared last week, finding your voice takes practice and feedback, and seeing how what you are saying sounds to others can go a long way towards helping you make sure you are saying what you want to say! Ask your friends and supporters what your strengths are. Ask for advice. And don’t forget, I am here to help. You can always book a time to talk with me!
