Some Postdoc Interview 'Don't's

July 05, 2012

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At his blog, Genomic Repairman points out how to bungle a postdoc interview. For example, by failing to read up on the lab's current work.

"Forgetting to read some of the most recent papers from the lab — ding, ding, ding! This is the kiss of death," Genomic Repairman says. "We no longer work on redacted [sic], that was like 10 years ago and what the boss got tenure on. We've changed topics. Hopefully you would have noticed this."

Acting impolite during the interview is another approach that's sure to result in no job offer. A postdoc candidate interviewed in Genomic Repairman's lab "reportedly checked his iPhone while speaking to one of the senior technicians in the lab and what we do and what the culture of the lab is like," he says.

Overall, Genomic Repairman says, the key to a successful postdoc interview is thorough preparation. Plus, he adds, it's probably a good idea to show at least a bit of "enthusiasm for … we do in the lab."

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