I searched online for relevant information. Most professional-blog advice gives me such an impression that the email approaching the postdoc employer is similar to a cover letter in which one introduces themselves in terms of how competent they are and why they fit the position.

I already have a general idea of the recruiting project and also would like to ask more details about it when contacting the PI. I was wondering if this is appropriate, and if so, what is normally asked and how to best frame the questions.

Thanks very much!

T

Dear all,

I am thinking of emailing a PI whose advertised postdoc position interests me a lot. I would like to have advices on what to include in such an email. Thanks a lot!

T

Thanks Reenie and metabanalysis for your replies. Good to know that it does not matter much.

Dear all,

Nearly two weeks ago I attended an interview for a postdoc position. It was not successful at the end. In retrospect, I indeed did not answer some questions well and there had been things that I should have mentioned therein. But at the moment I thought perhaps among those worst aspects of my performance was that I failed to send an appreciation email as to follow up the interview immediately after being informed of the result. If the panel had already decide to exclude me because of my working competence during the interview, this mistake could matter less; in that case, after all, they would not think of having me in their faculty. But what if they thought I did have potential but just another candidate was more suitable for the specific position? Will this affect their future decision in my future job application in their group?

I'd appreciate your replies, thoughts and suggestions!

Thanks!

Yue

Hi all

Nearly two weeks ago I attend an interview for a postdoc position. It was not successful at the end. In retrospect, I indeed did not answer some questions well and there had been things that I should have mentioned therein. But at the moment I thought perhaps among those worst aspects of my performance was that I failed to send an appreciation email as to follow up the interview immediately after being informed of the result. If the panel had already decide to exclude me because of my working competence during the interview, this mistake could matter less; in that case, after all, they would not think of having me in their faculty. But what if they thought I did have potential but just another candidate was more suitable for the specific position? Will this affect their future decision in my future job application in their group?

I'd appreciate your replies, thoughts and suggestions?

Thanks!

Yue

Hi KB & ailicec,

Grateful to your suggestions! A kind of final stage question: did you use ppt when giving your postdoc presentation? I found it not very helpful, in my own case, to demonstrate that I have generic & key research skills that can be adopted in a new area. In fact, it seems to make it even more difficult to make the presentation.

Thanks!
T

Hi Keenbean,

Thanks so much for this detailed advices and sharing your experience. I did not anticipate that mock experiment would be tested during a postdoc interview; but it's quite to know!

Can I ask what kind of research is it in your new field? are there new professional skills/technology required? and to what extent do you think you were qualified at the interview moment? I just try to gain an idea of how much the employer would expect from an applicant in terms of their skills.

Thanks very much!

T

Appreciate this detailed advice ailicec! And happy for you that you got the job!!

Just received another interview request in which a 10-min presentation is required, so I really learnt a lot from your experience to handle the time-wise tight situation.

You mentioned 'soft skills' and emphasised your experience of networking. By this, did you mean to demonstrate that you have valuable contacts that you can bring to the new work team, or something else? And did you focus on this aspect because you find this is something quite advantageous of yourself?

In allocating time, did you expect that they will ask the fit between your skill and the new area, so strategically did not mention it but focus on your ideas/skills they might have overlooked?

I think the presentation needs to be effective so that it shows sale bitch as well as leads to desirable questions. Is this what underlying your presentation too?

Also, can I ask what other questions they asked you?

Thanks very much!

Dear all,

Days ago I received an invitation of interview for a postdoc position. I was quite surprised that I was shortlisted since I come from a different background. My PhD is in Psychology and this postdoc job is, generally, in the field of economics. The recruiting project is sort of multi-descipline. When applying for the job, I gave an idea of my own thought of how topic in Psychology (especially those that I am interested and have expertise in) can be combined with the specific research question interesting the project leader. So now I am thinking of develop this ideas in more details during the interview presentation.

I don't know whether this is a good format. The presentation should be about 30 minutes. I imagine that for those whose PhD research is highly close to the current one, they can spend the main part of time presenting their work, linking their knowledge/skills/expertise/contact with the recruiting project. As in my own case, what can be expected by the interview panel? For the moment, I am thinking of presenting my PhD work for 15 minutes, and then spending the remaining time focusing on the larger picture of my PhD work and its background, e.g., what I learnt from the PhD research, what I now think of the topic and how I think it's theoretically/practically related to especially the current project, and why I (still) think it's an important topic.

Seems quite important is to be familiar with the research background/topic of the PI. I'm afraid I don't have enough time to be familiar with all the background, so would like to ask for advice on what can be the most important part in this respect!

there'll be a 10-min small presentation before the interview, focusing how/why I can contribute to the research. Any idea/advice on this?

Also, I wonder normally who is the person deciding the shortlist. The PI himself or a group of people in the faculty?

Many thanks!

Congratulations Pineapple301!! I found you post while searching for advices/experience post with respect to postdoc interview, as I myself received an interview invitation days ago. I'm absolutely surprised when knowing that I am on the shortlist, for I am in fact from a different (but of course relevant) field. The interview will be 10 + 30 min presentation. The first 10-min one will be demonstrating how /why I am (the most) suitable person for the position. The latter 30-min presentation is is the main part, which I assume I should present my PhD work as well thought on the recruiting project, my career plan, etc. I'd be very much obliged if you can offer me some tips/advices! Thanks very much!! - T

hi BilboBaggins - thanks for the reply. it adds to evidence making me certain that gifts to examiners is not necessary.

hi vadro - yes, i also thought it might be inappropriate if gave present to the external examiner. I learnt that in other countries, such as US, post viva gift is sort of normal as a social way to appreciate the thesis committee; but I doubt it could be due to the examination approach there. I am not quite sure but it seems to me that in the US the phd examination is a more continuous process, enabling the candidate to know the committee well before the final examination. I think in this sense, gifting is fine and appropriate. But in the UK, and in my personal situation, neither me and even my supervisor met the external before the viva, I don't know how expected it is.

hi all, I was wondering how "rude" it can be if I did not prepare a gift to the external examiner of my thesis after the viva? I do my phd study in the UK, which means I didn't know the external examiner until at the viva.

I passed my viva about three weeks ago, just the week prior to the Christmas last year; I didn't give gifts to any thesis committee member on the day of the viva. I however did so to thank them by taking the xmas and new year gift chance, getting my supervisor, the internal examiner and the convenor -- each of them -- a box of chocolate and giving it to them in person. I did want to send something similar to my external examiner, but considering he's working in a different university that is in another city far away and that I don't know him well, I thought it'd be excessive if i posted a box of chocolate (or even a card) to him. I then emailed with greeting instead. But upon reflection, it appeared to myself that I should've also get some gift to the external.

Hi Naturalme,

Thanks for your suggestion! And it is good to know that a pure introduciton of theories is not welcome :). Actually your reply makes me feel comfortable with starting to write this part :)

T

Hi all,

I am in the process of writing-up my dissertation. I have to say that I am a bit struggling with introducing theoretical background. In the filed of my research, theories are quite segmentary (scandalously speaking ...) but most of them seem to lead to a similar idea. And it is this common notion that my studies are based on. I guess when writing the introduction part I am supposed to indicate which theory that I have applied as a foundation. The thing is that my research is not based on one specific theory, on the other hand, I do not think it is expected to introduce all relevant theories. So... I really would like to listen to your suggestion in this regard. Thanks very much!!

Terry