Rarely are the skills of public speaking put to greater test than when a job is on the line. In a professional interview, which may include a “job talk,” the judges scrutinize the presentation carefully. And the interview questions, which can come at any time, are often the most consequential part of the entire process.

Whether one's career progresses into research, academia or the private sector, the real agenda of the interview is usually below the surface.

It is an accomplishment just to make it to the interview stage. But the frustrating truth is that there is little peace in being short-listed for a job. At this late stage of the interview process, the job panel has evaluated personal statements, letters of recommendation, school transcripts, test scores, and job experience, among other criteria. Yet these factors alone are an insufficient basis for making a final selection. What tips the scales is the information the candidate provides in the interview itself.

What They Will Ask

As much as a candidate would like to divine what the judges think is a “good fit,” she can never truly know. The first impressions of the judges are completely out of her control. Surprise questions will always arise.