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[Hopeful]

I have two phone interviews set up this coming week for assistant professor positions and am hoping to get some information from you all about them. In my previous experience and position, I visited the campus without a phone screen. Can anyone offer any advice? I know that this is basically a "screening" process, but would appreciate any help you all could give.

Thanks in advance!

[Mary]

I too have an upcoming phone interview and would love some advice. I had one earlier in the year that I really blew, but then again, that committee wasn't exactly easy to talk to.

How does one deal with the weird, long silences? They are also interviewing at an upcoming convention that I declined to attend. How in the world can I make myself stand out over the phone when they are meeting with a number of people in person?

[Alex.]

I hope they don't have an accent and you won't have to be asking them to repeat things all the time.

Alex.

[Anon V]

Hi,

I've had several phone interviews this year and last year (some were also for assistant professor positions), and 90 percent of the interviews led to a campus interview -- so hopefully the following can help.

There is one question that I have noticed people will ask on the phone but rarely on site, so be prepared to answer it: "Why _____ Univeristy or college?" Visit the Web site to obtain this information. This question gives the committee an opportunity to rave about particular aspects of the college or university -- and I think it helps make a connection.

Be prepared to ask several questions. They will give you time to do so with an entire committee on the phone. I try to pick things that may demonstrate my own particular strengths or willingness to do a particular activity -- e.g., "I have used Web pages in my course. What type of support do you have for technology?" (again, see the Web site to link your own strengths to the institution's needs).

Most other questions that I have been asked on phone interviews are similar to the kinds of questions asked on site -- e.g., "If you could teach this particular class, what approach would you use?" and "What is your teaching philosophy?" ... .

Best of luck, Hopeful.

[Been there]

Don't think of it as a screening. Think of it as an interview. Have several potential syllabi and reference documents for yourself at your fingertips. When I did this, I laid everything out on a table so I could snatch it up and be able to reel off texts I'd teach, assignments I'd use, philosophy, etc. You just don't want to sound like you're reading. Avoid that.

You're probably going to have a number of people on the other end. They'll probably have a fixed list of questions to ask, and either one will ask the questions or they'll do a round robin. They'll probably introduce themselves. If you can become familiar with the names in the department before you're on the phone, you might be able to remember them better.

One problem with phone interviews is that sometimes the system they are using doesn't allow them to hear if any of them are talking at the same time you are. So try to be sure that they hear you at every step. Ask whether you've satisfied the question or if they want you to continue further. Try to give specifics and yet keep your answers relatively short. They'll tell you (usually) how many questions they have and how long they have to talk to you. Don't be so short that you're incomplete, but don't babble on either. Be succinct.

Make sure you won't have interruptions. If you have call waiting, turn it off. Remember to smile. Smiles can be heard over the phone.

Hope this helps.

[Mouse]

A few words about the actual "doing" of a phone interview (vs. the questions that might be asked):

- The committee will likely introduce themselves. It might help to sketch out a sort of table with names so you can feel a little more like you're right there.

- Have some scrap paper and your CV in front of you. I found it helpful to jot down a few notes when doing phone interviews, and also helpful to have my CV there so I could refer to specific things when I was afraid I would draw a blank.

- Be prepared for the "Do you have any questions for us?" question. And make your question one that seems enthusiastic about the job. (Chances for professional development?  Opportunity to develop new courses? Will you be able to immediately get in some of that committee work that everyone loves?) Don't ask about pay, etc., at this time. Also, if you have questions about the area, make them more specific than just "What's it like out there?" You want them to know you cared enough to do your research.

- Last, but not least: Don't worry if you feel like there are long, awkward silences after you've answered a question.  That's when everyone is making notes so that they will be able to remember which candidate said what later. You might find some way to signal that you are done with your answer, so you know they're writing, and you don't feel like you've just trailed off awkwardly while they're sitting there waiting for more.

I just served on a search committee, and phonees would often say something like, "Have I answered the question fully?" or something similar. I thought that sounded fine (it didn't come off as snooty or anything), but others may have better suggestions. Also, remember that what seems like an eternity of dead silence to you is actually only a few seconds.

Good luck!

[Bob]

I've found that the initial phone interview is just a screening method, most of the time, that is used more and more in the current job market. What I find frustrating is that the initial human-resources interviewer has as much insight and knowledge of my field as a newly trained service representative. I often have to explain what my field is ... . I can't tell you how frustrating this is. After all, didn't they read my résumé? I'm afraid my frustration shows in my attitude.  

So, I've chosen to stop looking for a job and just work on completing my doctorate.

I hope you have better experiences.

[A]

I had a few really fun, wonderful phone interviews this year, and one even led to my first tenure-track job with which I'm thrilled. For what it's worth here are some of my tips:

(By the way some of this is culled from my brief "professional" experience between grad programs as a telemarker.)

- Have a glass of water nearby.

- If you're on a cell phone, as I was, make sure it's charged and there's another phone nearby in case you get cut off.

- Take some deep breaths, meditate, etc. 15 minutes or so before the call.

- Don't worry if they're a few minutes late in calling you.

- If the chair gives you names of folks who will be interviewing you, check out their information on the department's Web site. (Having a sense of who was on the other end helped humanize the process for me.)

- Most importantly -- but very difficult when you're stressed -- listen carefully to what they ask you, speak clearly and slowly, and smile. Try to make them comfortable; the process is as awkward for them as it is for you.

Good luck!