Steve Tippins shares a story about three faculty members warning him away from a job during campus visits. He recommends ending interviews with an open question: "Is there anything I haven't asked you that you think I should know?" to surface hidden concerns candidates won't volunteer.
I went to a campus visit at a university once and 3 different people said, "You don't want to work here." If one person says that, they could be the outlier, the grump, whatever. But when 3 people tell you, "You know, you really don't want to come to work here," that's a message that you should hear. And I didn't go to work there. One question I find pretty powerful when you get to the end, whether it's in one-on-one or in groups: "Is there anything I haven't asked you that you think I should know?" And this gives them opportunity to open up and tell you something that, you know, may not get otherwise. The Scholar Career Network exists specifically to support Ph.D.s through moments like this and help them find meaningful careers.
