Example Questions For Phone/Video Interviews The Goal Of Any

example questions for phone/video interviews the goal of any candidate interview is to draw out more information about the qualifications

Example Questions for Phone/Video Interviews
The goal of any candidate interview is to draw out more
information about the qualifications that appear on the CV. When
conducting first round phone/video interviews, Search Committee
members should ask consistent types of questions so that their
assessment is based on the same criteria for all the candidates
interviewed. Working within a pre-arranged format ensures the
committee will be able to compare similar qualifications when ranking
the candidates.
One of the benefits of using phone/video interviews in a first round
is that it allows a committee to start with a longer “short list” that
is then winnowed to the final list after the interview assessment.
This often allows candidates from underrepresented populations to be
considered. The following sample questions should be used as a
template for designing a consistent set of questions that suit your
committee, position requirements, and department. Both junior- and
senior-level candidate questions are represented.
Sample Questions: Pre-Tenure Candidate
1.
Search Chair/or designate: Introductions, explain time constraints
and format of interview
2.
Before we get started, are there any questions we can answer for
you? (Friendly opening and potentially provides insight as to the
focus of the candidate’s interest in the position.)
3.
Teaching-focused questions:
a.
What is your teaching experience? And how/who do you like to
teach?
b.
What classes would you want to teach? And what topic areas
would interest you in developing a new class?
4.
Research focused questions:
a.
What would graduate/undergraduate students learn from you? In
your lab?
b.
Where do you see your research in five years?
c.
How have you involved undergraduate students in your research?
5.
Direct questions to clarify item on CV or research plan:
a.
Specific questions related to discipline/field/science
background
b.
Status of publications, grants submitted, and research plan
c.
Questions about job-related skills and experience (for
example, technical skills needed by a faculty member in a
specialty tech program)
6.
Establish if the candidate did homework on your
university/school/department:
a.
Who do you see as your potential collaborators here?
b.
If we brought you in to interview, is there anyone outside of
our department that you would like to meet with while you are
here?
7.
Describe the area(s) where you can have the greatest immediate
success if you were to take this position. (This shifts away from
all the mundane necessary activities and delves into what the
candidate believes is possible.)
8.
Diversity and inclusion:
a.
What do you think are the most important concerns of
underrepresented populations [faculty members/graduate
students/undergraduates – could be race, gender, ethnicity,
etc.] in our field/discipline?
b.
How have you demonstrated your commitment to ensuring
diversity, equity, and inclusion in your classroom and with
your graduate students?
Sample Questions: Senior Candidate
1.
Search Chair or Designate: Introductions, explain time constraints
and format of interview
2.
Before we get started, are there any questions we can answer for
you? (Be prepared to answer potential questions about topics such
as tuition and stipend for graduate students; cost of living for
students; quality and pool of students).
3.
How/who do you like to teach?
a.
Overview of where you see your research in 5 years?
4.
Researched-focused questions: Direct question to clarify item on
CV or research plan
a.
How many students have you graduated from your program/lab?
b.
Status of grants or publications
5.
Collaboration plans - establish if candidate did homework on your
university:
a.
Tell us about some of your past collaborations across
disciplines.
b.
How did you find/establish those collaborations?
c.
How do collaborations influence the future directions of your
research?
d.
Who do you see as a potential collaborator for you here?
e.
If we brought you in for an interview, is there anyone outside
of our department that you would like to meet?
6.
If no past collaborations across disciplines:
a.
How do you plan to initiate collaborations across disciplines?
b.
Who do you see as potential collaborators for you here?
7.
Is the candidate moveable/serious?
a.
Can you give the committee an idea of why you are looking to
leave your university?
b.
How intently have you been looking around? Are you on a
timeline? (To establish if offers from other universities are
pending)
c.
What are your space requirements?
d.
What are your equipment requirements?
8.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion:
a.
How have you demonstrated your commitment to ensuring
diversity, equity and inclusion in
recruitment/hiring/retention for all faculty members and/or
students?
b.
What do you think are the most important concerns of
underrepresented [faculty members/graduate
students/undergraduates – could be race, gender, ethnicity
etc.] in our field/discipline?
c.
Tell us about a time that you successfully negotiated….? OR
Describe a tough negotiation you participated in and what
actions you took to resolve it.
d.
Tell us about a time that you successfully managed an
interpersonal problem between [students/faculty
members/collaborators]? OR Describe a tough interpersonal
problem you experienced between [students/faculty
members/collaborators] and what steps you took to resolve it.
e.
What are your personal [attitudes, feelings, process, habits]
when you are mentoring a junior faculty member? OR If we asked
your mentees to describe your mentoring, what would they say?
f.
What is one question we should be sure to ask your references
about you?
9.
Teaching-focused questions:
a.
What classes/topic areas do you prefer to teach? What new
classes have you developed?