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[U.A.E. Interviewee]

Hi all,

I'm going to be interviewed via videoconference. The position is in a university in the United Arab Emirates. Does anyone have any experience with this type of interview? I asked for details but all I know is that it will last 45 minutes. If anyone can suggest possible questions, I would be grateful. This will not only be my first videoconference, but my first interview for a full-time university position, so any advice would be extremely helpful.

Thanks in advance.

[science expat]

I don't know anything about UAE but at my university in the UK we do a lot of phone interviews for overseas applicants and this might be similar.

We have set questions that we ask all applicants - whether by phone or in person - and they generally relate to the job specification. So, our candidates must fufill a set of essential criteria and most of the questions are around these criteria.

Also, for an academic post I would expect that there will be questions on your future research plans and sources of funding for your research as well as on your teaching plans. Obviously, you will need to learn a lot about the institution to which you're applying.

[ExPat in UK]

How is the video conference going to work? Is it using something like Skype that you have on your desktop or are you expected to go to a video conferencing center?

The reason I ask, is that the first one is certainly more relaxing for you... you're in a familiar environment... the second may have a better video feed, but you're in an unfamiliar environment dealing in an unfamiliar medium and on top of that it's your first interview.

In either case, make sure you look at the camera... NOT at the video monitor. Picture the camera as the person to whom you're speaking... it's the eye contact to maintain.

You might want to practice by downloading Skype and using a webcam with a friend.

[Traveling Jones]

I recently had an in-person interview with a SC from a uni in one of the UAE's neighbors.  Although this interview was in person, it could have easily been conducted via video teleconferencing.  It was obvious that the committee had identified a specific set of job-related criteria and had a specific position/type of teaching slot in mind for me although this was not shared.  

About 2/3 of the hour-long interview was devoted to asking about my prior experience teaching this subject and pedagogical preferences, my research interests (specifically, how my research related to issues and business practices in the Gulf), and my general philosophy of teaching.  The remainder of the interview was devoted to dispelling myths and rumors (or at least what the interviewers perceived to be myths) about working and living in the Middle East--that one could worship as they pleased, women could drive, western women were expected to dress conservatively but were not expected to wear head coverings, etc.  I did ask specific questions about the treatment and interaction of males and females in school settings, and these were answered candidly (a pre-interview web search had already uncovered this information, but it was confirmed).  The basic terms and conditions of employment were also explained.

Only 2 of the three interviewers did much talking, and this interview could have been conducted just as easily (and more efficiently) over the web.

[%sig%]

[EXpat in UAE]

Hi there,

Im in a Univeristy in the UAE.... wonder how  your interview went?