Comments on: Thoughts About On-Campus Interviews http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2006/11/thoughts_about.html The Law, the Universe, and Everything Tue, 14 Feb 2012 05:18:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Jim Milles http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2006/11/thoughts_about.html/comment-page-1#comment-56402 Jim Milles Sat, 11 Nov 2006 20:34:00 +0000 http://www.solove.org/archives/2006/11/thoughts-about-on-campus-interviews.html#comment-56402 It's probably a good idea to try to get some sense of the faculty you'll be presenting to. I've seen faculty react very negatively to s Powerpoint presentation; they're expecting interaction and engagement with scholarly questions, not a lecture or a marketing address. It’s probably a good idea to try to get some sense of the faculty you’ll be presenting to. I’ve seen faculty react very negatively to s Powerpoint presentation; they’re expecting interaction and engagement with scholarly questions, not a lecture or a marketing address.

]]> By: Howard Wasserman http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2006/11/thoughts_about.html/comment-page-1#comment-56401 Howard Wasserman Sat, 11 Nov 2006 04:33:58 +0000 http://www.solove.org/archives/2006/11/thoughts-about-on-campus-interviews.html#comment-56401 I laughed at loud at on the market's comment. And I wish him/her luck in the process. In response to Dan: I do not see the problem with staying at the podium or moving around and coming back to the podium to check on notes. But that might just be a matter of preference and style. But as an audience member, I find it distracting when a candidate puts up the outline/talking points (even if they do not contain too much text) and then recites what it is there. At the very least, there is (to my mind) no value added. And when you factor in the inevitable technical difficulties--the talk starts five minutes late because of set up problems, the candidate holds the button too long and jumps 4 slides ahead--it breaks the flow of the presentation. I laughed at loud at on the market’s comment. And I wish him/her luck in the process. In response to Dan: I do not see the problem with staying at the podium or moving around and coming back to the podium to check on notes. But that might just be a matter of preference and style. But as an audience member, I find it distracting when a candidate puts up the outline/talking points (even if they do not contain too much text) and then recites what it is there. At the very least, there is (to my mind) no value added. And when you factor in the inevitable technical difficulties–the talk starts five minutes late because of set up problems, the candidate holds the button too long and jumps 4 slides ahead–it breaks the flow of the presentation.

]]> By: on the market http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2006/11/thoughts_about.html/comment-page-1#comment-56400 on the market Sat, 11 Nov 2006 02:40:49 +0000 http://www.solove.org/archives/2006/11/thoughts-about-on-campus-interviews.html#comment-56400 I have nothing against Powerpoint except for my inexperience with it, but I must report that when I scheduled one callback, the hiring chair asked if I planned to use Powerpoint for my job talk; when I said no, he replied enthusiastically, "Oh, thank you!" I have nothing against Powerpoint except for my inexperience with it, but I must report that when I scheduled one callback, the hiring chair asked if I planned to use Powerpoint for my job talk; when I said no, he replied enthusiastically, “Oh, thank you!”

]]> By: Joshua Wright http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2006/11/thoughts_about.html/comment-page-1#comment-56399 Joshua Wright Sat, 11 Nov 2006 01:35:24 +0000 http://www.solove.org/archives/2006/11/thoughts-about-on-campus-interviews.html#comment-56399 Great post Dan. Getting out a concise statement of the research question and your claims in the first minutes of the talk is a must, especially at a school that has a lively workshop atmosphere. You may never get a second chance to get your claim and analytical roadmap out uninterrupted and with the attention of the whole audience. Also, let me second Dan's limited powerpoint endorsement. There is a lot of bad powerpoint out there, and so I understand where Howard's suggestion is coming from, but I really do believe it can provide some advantages even in talks that do not involve models, charts, graphs, statistical results, etc. In these cases, I think slides of some sort are a must. Great post Dan. Getting out a concise statement of the research question and your claims in the first minutes of the talk is a must, especially at a school that has a lively workshop atmosphere. You may never get a second chance to get your claim and analytical roadmap out uninterrupted and with the attention of the whole audience.

Also, let me second Dan’s limited powerpoint endorsement. There is a lot of bad powerpoint out there, and so I understand where Howard’s suggestion is coming from, but I really do believe it can provide some advantages even in talks that do not involve models, charts, graphs, statistical results, etc. In these cases, I think slides of some sort are a must.

]]> By: Dan Markel http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2006/11/thoughts_about.html/comment-page-1#comment-56398 Dan Markel Fri, 10 Nov 2006 22:11:58 +0000 http://www.solove.org/archives/2006/11/thoughts-about-on-campus-interviews.html#comment-56398 With respect, I strenuously disagree with Howard's reaction against powerpoint, but only under certain conditions. I think if you can use powerpoint slides to put up a few bulletpoint or questions that you're addressing, I think it's great--as long as it serves as a substitute, not a supplement, for being wedded to the podium and reading your paper. If on the other hand you can speak for 20 minutes coherently about your project using nothing or only an outline (ie, without notes or the paper to rely on,) then you should consider going without powerpoint. In sum: if powerpoint liberates you from your paper, and you don't put up too much text on the slides, I think it can be effective for both presenter and audience. With respect, I strenuously disagree with Howard’s reaction against powerpoint, but only under certain conditions. I think if you can use powerpoint slides to put up a few bulletpoint or questions that you’re addressing, I think it’s great–as long as it serves as a substitute, not a supplement, for being wedded to the podium and reading your paper. If on the other hand you can speak for 20 minutes coherently about your project using nothing or only an outline (ie, without notes or the paper to rely on,) then you should consider going without powerpoint. In sum: if powerpoint liberates you from your paper, and you don’t put up too much text on the slides, I think it can be effective for both presenter and audience.

]]> By: tim zinnecker http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2006/11/thoughts_about.html/comment-page-1#comment-56397 tim zinnecker Fri, 10 Nov 2006 20:27:56 +0000 http://www.solove.org/archives/2006/11/thoughts-about-on-campus-interviews.html#comment-56397 Excellent post by Dan, and comment by Howard. I applaud Dan's advice on providing a thesis statement and a roadmap of your talk early in the presentation. Most of the audience will have no clue what you're talking about. Don't lose them in the first five minutes. Also consider distributing an outline (and perhaps other materials that may be difficult to follow orally, such as particular statutes important to your arguments). Don't forget that some schools will focus not only on your pedigree, smarts, and scholarship potential, but also your ability to teach. So don't forget to ask yourself: What will my presentation say about my teaching talents? Excellent post by Dan, and comment by Howard. I applaud Dan’s advice on providing a thesis statement and a roadmap of your talk early in the presentation. Most of the audience will have no clue what you’re talking about. Don’t lose them in the first five minutes. Also consider distributing an outline (and perhaps other materials that may be difficult to follow orally, such as particular statutes important to your arguments). Don’t forget that some schools will focus not only on your pedigree, smarts, and scholarship potential, but also your ability to teach. So don’t forget to ask yourself: What will my presentation say about my teaching talents?

]]> By: Howard Wasserman http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2006/11/thoughts_about.html/comment-page-1#comment-56396 Howard Wasserman Fri, 10 Nov 2006 19:56:49 +0000 http://www.solove.org/archives/2006/11/thoughts-about-on-campus-interviews.html#comment-56396 Another suggestion: No PowerPoint. Unless you are doing a presentation requiring charts and graphs or, perhaps, comparing statutory provisions, just get up and talk. you are speaking well and intelligently, you will maintain the faculty's attention. Do not bother w/ screen after screen of the bullet points of your outline and argument; they add nothing and actually look somewhat simplistic. This is especially true if you are speaking at a school where faculty members interrupt during the talk--then you end up going through slides on things you already talked about. Another suggestion: No PowerPoint. Unless you are doing a presentation requiring charts and graphs or, perhaps, comparing statutory provisions, just get up and talk. you are speaking well and intelligently, you will maintain the faculty’s attention. Do not bother w/ screen after screen of the bullet points of your outline and argument; they add nothing and actually look somewhat simplistic. This is especially true if you are speaking at a school where faculty members interrupt during the talk–then you end up going through slides on things you already talked about.

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