Academic Interviews

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So here I am again, with another interview lined up at one of the world's top #3 universities.

Help. I am awkward, I sound younger than I am, I have trouble making eye contact, etc. I'm almost reluctant to go I am so confident that I will return without a job and an even bigger depression.

Any tips please? Also, I have never revealed my diagnosis in an interview. Arguments for / against?

Thanks

Is this your first job after graduating school?

What kind of job are you applying for?

It's a research job (genetics/molecular biology), my 2nd job after graduating grad school. The first was in another country and I was accepted after a Skype interview which was so much easier.

I have had two in-person interviews already and was declined both times. I'm losing hope and confidence

Gosh, to me it sounds as if you have it made. Had you told me you were applying for a job in public relations or personnel, I would say you might have some issues. But science is a different matter. My guess is that all your interviewers will be considering is your expertise. I would go so far as to say that being a bit odd may even be expected.

I don't work in academia, but part of my job is to hire people. All I look at is who can best do the job. Assuming your interviewers share this criterion, all they will be interested in are your research skills. People with your skills are too rare for them to be too picky.

Good luck, and let us know how things went.

My best advice is this:

Ask for a day to day job description right at the beginning of the interview. Let yourself get excited about the things that are really interesting, and map your strengths to those parts of the job.

Also, memorize the "shaking of the hands" and ask for their business card. I think i may have written this advice elsewhere, but on the back of that business card that you have received from each interviewer, write down one thing that you discussed with that person that really interested you. Do that after the interview. And incorporate something on that topic in the thank you email that you send.

Anytime anyone asks me advice on interviews, I also add: when they ask you for your fault, make it a technicality like a software or equipment thing, that you are in the middle of fixing. Or that you have recently fixed. Think to yourself: this is my best chance at showing my best side.

Good luck!

PM me after your interview if you want a funny story about an academic interview. Right now, I can really laugh about it. But it is so typically Aspergian, and I don't want to distract you from your interview preparation.

Don't do it, period. Only reveal it if it will significantly impact your performance on the job, and even then the interview would probably be the worst place to mention it.

If you're getting these interviews you're obviously doing something right and they do want to hire you, just keep that in mind. And when they don't work out, it isn't always because of anything related to you, so keep that in mind also. If you want advice on any specific interview questions or anything, feel free to PM me and I can try my best to help, I've had my fair share of interview experience lol.