Interviewing for an interdisciplinary job: principled goals, pragmatic outcomes, and finding the right fit in academia

This paper sets up a scenario about Rebecca, a jobseeker, who is a fictitious composite, a "typical" candidate who wants a position at a college/university. A job description is provided. She interviews for the advertised position, and while doing so, she also interviews the university, school/department, and working environment to see if there is a match with her goals. She goes about her own interviewing using observational, interactive, and analytic approaches, which are described. Rebecca had to clarify her goals in terms of interdisciplinarity, collegiality, and the kind of community that she ideally wants. She found shortfalls between what was advertised and the actual program and also the setting in which she ideally would like to work. This is problematic for her, but she is pragmatic and knows she needs a job. The scenario ends with Rebecca exploring her options. This paper will be of interest to anyone seeking an environmental job in academia. Copyright AESS 2013