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[podoc]

I don't happy with phone-interview since I couldn't hear some of search committees' voice clearly.  Many times, I've asked them to repeat the questions...

Even worse... I made a big mistake while I'm doing on my phone interview.  I forgot to write down search committee member's name that I've talked with...  I've thought I could remember their names... but I was wrong...  Now I'm very confused who was who...  I should write a thank note to them... I don't know what to do...

How stupid I was....  Could you give me any advice?

Somehow it would be a good experience for me.... but I still regret what I did....

Thank you.

podoc

[anon]

You might have done better than you think.  I've had many phone interviews where I couldn't hear half of what they were saying because they were on speaker phone.  I've had a couple of times where I thought I blew a phone interview, only to be called for a campus visit.

[Aristotelian]

I agree with anon.  Don't sweat.  I've *never* had a phone interview that I thought went well, but managed to get 1 offer and two other campus visits.  And some of the phone interviews that I thought were o.k. didn't lead to anything.

As for forgetting the guy's name, I've done that too.  I would recommend writing to those who you can remember, especialy the search committee chair, and also thank them for the opportunity to talk to the "other faculty."  They've all been there and will understand.

Good luck,

[To anon & Aristotelian]

Thank you for your advice...

How about sending a thank note to every faculty members in their department?  Somehow.. It might cause any problems later on...

Thank you.

podoc

[Search Committee Member]

For phone interviews, we never get more than one "thank you," directed to the search committee chair -- it sends a signal that you're still interested in the job after hearing what we have to say. Otherwise, at this point, messages to everyone (especially people you couldn't hear) are overkill. Send the thank-you to the chair by e-mail, in case the shortlist is being made almost at once. (We cram all our phone interviews into one day and make the shortlist a day or two later, while WE can still remember anything about anybody.)

[seeking]

I have a phone interview coming up soon. What are other mistakes to avoid or tips for success?

[Dale]

It's always helped for me to have my resume and cover letter within reading distance, as well as the names of all the relevant people doing the questioning.

I also like to make a list of the questions I would like to ask as well as discussion starters that suit my strengths (i.e. I have worked with X, Y, or Z groups before, what are the role of these on campus?").

[to_seeking]

Like Dale said, have your cv and cover letter nearby.  Try to think of questions they will ask and then jot down possible answers.  You can usually count on questions about your teaching philosophy, diversity, courses you'd be willing to teach, times when you had to deal with a problem student in class, how would others describe you, and your strenghts and weaknesses.  They will also ask if you have questions.  Be sure to come up with a couple of questions for them.  

Don't bring up salary and compensation. Don't act like a know-it-all.  Try to come across as a likable person who would be a good colleague.

[Harry]

Minimize distractions if you're at home--put the dogs outside, etc. etc. Same thing if you're at work. If you're at home, dress in "teaching attire" or something slightly more formal than jeans/T-shirt or (even worse) pajamas. There's something (at least for me) about doing so that gets you into a more appropriate frame-of-mind.

[B.F.]

Search committees are aware of the fact that talking on the phone makes it difficult to hear questions. They are not likely to hold that against you. Do NOT send a thank you to everyone in the department. If you feel the need to send a thank you note, send one to the search committee chair.

[Aristotelian]

In addition to the advice already posted, I've found it helpful to break the ice by calling attention to how weird the situation is.  They have been through this before and they will sympathize with your position.

Also, in general, be prepared for a conversational style.  I always anticipate that they are going to grill me about my dissertation, the literature in my field, etc.  It never turns out that way.  In all likelihood, you will be talking to people outside of your specialty, and they are really just trying to find out if you are a good fit for what they are looking for and if you will make a good colleague.

[comprhetchic]

The advice about eliminating distractions is very, very good to heed.  During a phone interview a couple of years ago, I made a huge mistake.  My cats were outside and a neighborhood cat, who had been terroizing them for weeks, showed up about five minutes into my interview.  I peeked outside to assess the situation and saw one of my toms pinned under a bench with the other cat's claws actually in his eye.  

Acting on instinct, I flew out the door, phone still in hand mind you, and started yelling at the cat.  Then, I pulled him off of my cat and had to bring my cat inside to tend to his damanged eye and face.  Meanwhile, I was still trying to answer questions being put to me.

Luckily, two members of the search committee were cat lovers and understood the whole thing.  I ended up getting the job but turning them down.  The bad part, though, was that this phone interview took place before I went for the on-campus interview.  Little red faced the whole time.

My stance about phone interviews now is to go to my basement where I can't hear anything outside or even in the upper part of the house.

[rattus domesticus]

I forgot some names of phone interview committee members, too. I simply phoned the secretary, and said something like this, "Ms. Blah-blah, Thank you so much for your help in setting up my 9/25 interview with the English faculty. I was just writing a note to XX and XXX, but I think I may have confused the two other committee members that were there... can you, ah?" She graciously gave me the missing names and I immediately wrote thank-yous. Waiting can only make this process worse.

Good luck! (Oh, and hey, this isn't the worst thing you could have done!)

[Ms. Collegiality]

Rattus is giving you good advice:  call the secretary, to make sure the names are spelled right.

At the risk of perhaps mislabeling you, your writing seems to indicate you are ESL.  If that is the case, I wouldn't take Aristotelian's advice and acknowledge that the situation is weird.  If America isn't your primary culture, then negotiating casual conversation can come across as awkward.  I imagining a scenario where you say quite sincerely, "This is very weird," and leave the search committee sitting in confused silence.  Best to be on the formal side if you have any doubts.

As for Seeking, I had a successful phone interview which was at its most triumphant when a committee member asked me a sly, tricky grammar question.  But, slyer me, I had my trustiest resources and books spread out on the coffee table in front of me.  I was able to start answering while I flipped my grammar text open and then quote from it.  The committee knew that I not only had the knowledge but that I was able to easily put my hands on in-depth answers when I needed them.  I got the job.

[Horrible]

I had a horrible experience with a phone interview. I had talked to them once before, and then they asked if I would discuss again (second phone interview - with more members). There was absolutely no feedback. They asked a question, I babbled on and on, and there was silence. I believe it was because they were using a script, but it was so disconcerting. Then, one of the members interrupted me and was very rude - and after all the controlled silence, it came across as exploitative (based on the content of the exchange... the material was "charged"). I don't know if I would do another phone int. after that one, but then again, I'm hoping that was not typical.