Academic Job Search: Telephone Interviews

This is the time of year to prepare for telephone interviews.  For many of you, this will be the first step in the academic interviewing process.  This is a cost-effective and time efficient method for many search committees and enables them to narrow down the list of applicants that are invited for campus interviews.  In the OITE academic interview video cast, Sharon Milgram, Director of the Office of Intramural Training and Education (OITE), for the NIH suggests that candidates prepare to practice the following suggestions for managing the process:

• Use a land-line
• Find a quiet place free of distractions
• Prepare for a 30-45-minute telephone interview. Expect up to three interviewers on the line
• Jot down the names of interviewers and refer to each by name when answering the questions
• Loss of facial and body-language (non-verbal) cues make it difficult at first
• Be sure to have questions prepared in advance as this conversation will likely end with them asking if you have questions

Here are some potential questions to help you prepare for telephone interviews

• Why are you interested in this position?
• Tell us about your research. How will you involve students in your research?
• What courses could you teach here?
• What research projects/topics could you pursue here?
• How would you describe your interactions with students?
• What questions do you have for us?

Of course, after this  step,  you will prepare for campus interviews, job talks, chalk talks and negotiating a job package. We encourage you to visit the OITE website to register for workshops and career counseling appointments that may assist you with your search.  Also view our video casts and blogs related to the academic and industry job search. We encourage our readers beyond NIH to utilize resources at their home academic institutions as well.