Two important decisions are what to wear and how to behave. We all know that Einstein wasn't a great dresser, but wearing no jacket and no tie, for a man, or the equivalent in casual attire for a woman will indicate to many interviewers not that you are brilliant but that you simply don't care about the job. On the other hand, three-piece suits look a bit stuffy and insecure. As regards manner, most academics are impressed neither by a "used car salesman" approach, nor by the patrician air of one who has "come down to take a look."
The actual interviews with faculty, students and, sometimes, deans are brief encounters that happen with machine-gun rapidity-30 minutes with Professor X, 20 minutes with Professor Y, and 40 minutes with Professor Z. Every time you sit down you will be offered coffee, but you will get no breaks in between to ...
