Interview for Tenured Position.

[cincygirlpnp]

I have an interview for a full-time tenured nursing instructor position at a local college that I am DYING to get. I love it there and they have great benefits. I can get my doctorate for FREE!!!!!!!!! I have interviewed for nursing positions, but never for nursing instructor positions. What type of questions should I anticipate? I feel I am very qualified for the job. I hold a master of nursing degree, I have a great variety of specialized nursing expierience that correlates with what classes I would teach if I get the job, and I have taught at this college as adjunct faculty for a year (the application process wasn't as formal for this. Basically I showed up to my interview and got the job on the spot.). I'm also VERY nervous about interviewing in front of a committee.

Can anyone share some questions they either received during an interview for a similar position or if they interviewed a nursing instructor some questions they like to ask as well as good/bad answers?

And what about your personal "teaching philosophy?" I don't know anything about teaching theories!!!

One thing I am worried about is how young I am. I am under 30 years and look like I am about 17 years old. This has hurt me in the past when I have interviewed for nurse practitioner jobs. I actually heard a physician tell her staff after she interviewed me, "She's great, but no one will take her seriously because she looks like she just graduated high school!" Didn't get THAT job! Should I address my young appearance? One of the interviewers knows my age and years of experience because we work together at the college already (and I graduated high school with her daughter- small town).

Anyway, thank you for all of your help. and PLEASE wish me luck. Hopefully I will now in 1 mos time!

[llg, PhD, RN]

And what about your personal "teaching philosophy?" I don't know anything about teaching theories!!!

One thing I am worried about is how young I am. I!

When they want to know about your teaching philosophy, they are asking you to talk about your beliefs about teaching -- what the role and responsibilities of the teacher are, the roles/responsibiites of the students ...the best ways to teach and learn, etc. So have those types of issues well thought out. The "best" answers are those that indicate that your beliefs about teaching will blend with those of the other faculty members. So that will vary from school to school.

About your age ... this is definitely the time to wear a nice suit or something similar. You want to look like a mature professional. Don't wear pants, anything casual, or anything that looks young and trendy.

For a tenure track position, they may be very interested in your long term plans. What scholarly topics interest you? What types of research and/or research topics are you most interested in? Have you done any publishing? What are your hopes and plans for publishing? etc. ... And you should be asking them about the requirements for advancement on the tenure track. If you don't meet the requirements for promotion in a couple of years, you may lose your job -- so, you want to be sure you are willing/able to meet those requirements.

Good luck,

llg