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September 11, 2008, 07:15 AM ET
The Ambush Interview
One complaint I hear with some frequency from job candidates is about the “ambush interview.” That’s when a search chair calls out of the blue and casually asks to speak to you for a few moments. Those calls usually are informational (to check on your continued availability as a candidate or on the prospects of your attending a conference) and take place in searches being conducted late in the year when time crunches occur. Occasionally the calls veer into interview territory with a few “While I have you on the phone …,” questions.
Such questions are patently unfair, and make the search committee appear cavalier or, worse, glib. Most candidates don’t object, however, because they are afraid to sound disinterested or arrogant. The truth is that every contact between the committee and the candidate is a part of the interview process. Candidates need to understand that. But search committees should never be placing candidates in a position of informality during a formal process.
I instruct all of my search committees to use e-mail to arrange telephone appointments, even for the most “casual” of contacts. There is no need to ambush anyone, ever.
Candidates who receive such phone calls should take a deep breath (after all, it is a call from a search committee) and say, “I’m sorry but I’m just walking out the door to a meeting; can we talk again tomorrow at such-and-such time?” Don’t be afraid to ask for a delay that will give you time to be composed. No search committee worth its salt will be offended by such a request.
Candidates, do you agree that e-mail is a better way to initiate these kinds of conversations?
Categories: Faculty-hiring, Administrative-hiring
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