re: So I have a job interview next week. (Day one is in the books page 4)

The MA didn't have college-level experience, either, short of being a TA while in grad school.

Don't loose hope. I was there once, too. I will tell you that for the first two years, I worked teaching high school, which wasn't what I wanted to do, but the experience I gained there is what helped me land the job at the university, so keep plugging away at it and make the most out of whatever you're dealt. That sounds like shite advice today, but ten years from now it probably won't, in retrospect.

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all those I've applied to have said I'm over qualified. The only interviews I've gotten are for professor positions, and they tell me I need more experience

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I know that feeling. At first, I tried to find any job outside of academia.

I was offered a job with the DIA, but it didn't work out. Kind of glad about that, now. I got to the last round on a management position with CarMax, but was sunk by a guy who kept saying, "you have a PhD, why don't want to be a professor?" I took a job working as a private investigator, which I thought would be awesome at first because I could use the research skills to track down folks, but it turned out to be just sitting in front of the house of some dude on disability, waiting on him to come out and do something abled so I could record video of it. I'd taught middle school before going to grad school, so thought I'd fall back on teaching school as a last resort (wife was pregnant, so I had to find something). Worked at a private prep school. It was awesome and restored my faith in teaching and equipped me with a skill that made me valuable to the university level.

To be honest, I wouldn't mention the PhD to anyone unless the ask. The average yahoo weirds out about it.

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Besides being confident and bringing my A game, what else should I do during the interview.

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I wore a light gray suit to the interview for the job I have now. It was a new suit that I got relatively cheap, but I felt like I looked damned good in it. The confidence I got from feeling like I looked good carried through the interview and I think helped me get the job.

I have a chicken costume you can borrow.

Oh, well that's what I normally do. Nobody calls me Dr. Zac, I really only tell people I'm a doctor when I'm trying to pick up women. Being in agriculture most farmers look down on people who flaunt their PHD and other degrees. So, I learned quickly to just introduce myself as Zac, like you said they know I have a PhD and if they don't, it doesn't really matter. I can't stand people who make others call them Dr so and so.

What is your area? Mostly I'm curious as to how you know all this interview info, or have you just been doing this a while?

My job is in the College of Arts & Sciences at an SEC school and that's as specific as I get on here, . I am exceptionally fortunate to have this job. I really do live the life of Riley.

As to experience, I've been involved in hiring committees just about everywhere I've been: from search committees to being asked by the boss to "find a reason" not to hire someone (it was easy, he went to an unaccredited college for undergrad). My wife worked in the Career Center at an SEC school for a while and works with placement in engineering, now, at the same school: about 150 different HR departments all across the US. My father-in-law was a division head for a paper company and then a corporate coach. He gave me all kinds of helpful pointers along the way when I was looking for a job, too.

I also work a side job, saving up money for a down payment on building the dream house, at a local manufacturer, doing pre-employment stuff: interviews, assessments, evaluations, etc. It's completely blue collar, but I enjoy it and the interaction with the production HR types gives you a lot of perspective on the big picture behind hiring - costs, future trends, regulation, etc. (the threat of a union is a job KILLER here, for example). Kind of like you, no one who met me on the street would probably guess that I'm an academic.

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Explain how this happens?

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BINGO. Prolly the "I'm waiting for the perfect job while I bum off my parents" type. Your laziness to not find a job in over a year will keep you from being hired. If I was an employer I'd laugh in your lazy face.

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When you start on the dream house, shoot me an email. Maybe I can save you some pain.

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Thanks man, will do. Probably about three years out. We already own the land. Just want to get a good stash on the down payment. Don't want to have to work until I'm 70 just to pay a mortgage.

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I think I'll print all your posts and read them during the flight.

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LOL, don't bet the farm on me, man. Good luck

Chew gum during the interview

Don't bring anything to write with or write on

Don't ask any questions

Don't do any research about the company ahead of time

Only speak in third person

Make heavy use of filler words like: "you know", "like", an "um"

When they ask you a question make start to start your response with saying "honestly" first, this lets them know they can trust what is about to follow

Show up a few minutes late, lets them know you aren't too desperate

If the persons name can be shortens or go by a different name, go for it they will think of you as a friend. Example: Christopher - call him Chris, Richard - call him Dick

If your being interviewed by a woman, tell her she looks nice and make sure to look at her chest

Just finished day 1, not too bad. Only one blisteringly hard question, that I had no idea what to say.