Today I had an "interview" at Fitchburg State (in northern Massachusetts). I put it in quotes because we're still working through the bureaucracy, but they anticipate sending me a contract in a couple of weeks. Anything could happen, of course, but it was less "prove to us you can teach" and more "this is your classroom, and here's who to talk to if you ever have computer problems." They were all lovely and welcoming. Answered my questions about the class and what to expect and what they expect from me. There are three sections of the class. I'm teaching 2 and the woman who developed the class is teaching the third. She sent me her syllabus. That takes a lot of pressure off me for reinventing the wheel. She wasn't there today, but I'll catch up with her the next time I'm around.
So hopefully all of this is good practice for the actual interview I'll be having on Monday at San Bernardino. I've been obsessing lately in preparation for that one. The Professor Is In is my new favorite blog, and it's full of good advice, but it's also meant for people who are generally younger than I am. A lot of people in the humanities who are going for their first academic jobs, are also going for their first real jobs at all. So an awful lot of the advice is things like have a firm hand shake, and be confident when speaking in public. Chin up, you've got this! kind of stuff.
I think it's time to stop worrying. I am confident. I am a good teacher. I am good with people in spite of the fact that I am shy and don't actually like interacting with new folks. I'm as ready as I'm going to be. I've practiced both of my presentations. I ought to pick up a thumb drive because I forgot to bring one and it would be good to have a backup of the presentations. And I forgot to bring a watch. But seriously, that's little stuff. I'll rock this, and then I'll either get the job offer or I won't, and in the meantime I'll continue on with the other 20 jobs on my spreadsheet.
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