What Not To Wear … to your AHA or MLA interview
It’s that time of year again, people. The major academic associations in the fields of History (the American Historical Association) and Literature (the Modern Language Association) will be meeting this week/end in Atlanta (Ga.) and Austin (Tex.), respectively. There will be panels and receptions and live-tweeting. There will be coffee dates and awkward elevator encounters and tearful/drunken grad program reunions. And there will be first-round job interviews.
Last year, I bemoaned the state of interview fashion at the AHA and suggested a series of awesome looks that I wished people would wear.
This year, I present some outfits that a job candidate should not wear to her/his interview. Under any circumstances.
“I am most excited that this is a designated position in environmental studies.”
(Getty Images/Stuart Wilson)
“The most important element of a good syllabus is structure.”
(AP Photo/I.Lopez)
“I bring a very unique skill set to the classroom.”
(Photo: Slaven Vlasic)
Wait. Wrong list. You’re welcome.
“What’s the matter? Do I have something on my face?”
(Reuters)
“I believe in transparency at all levels.”
“I try to bring history to life in my classes.”
“I hope you don’t mind that I brought some friends with me.”
(Photo: Mike Coppola)
“How do you think this interview is going? I’m having trouble reading your reactions.”
(Getty/Stuart Wilson)