Intrusive Questions
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newbie
Nov 11, 2011 21:48:13 GMT -5
Post by Intrusive Questions on Nov 11, 2011 21:48:13 GMT -5
How do you handle extremely intrusive questions -- and lots of them, during an on-campus or phone interview?
i.e. Where else did you apply and did you interview there yet? Is this your first choice school? Do you have children?
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newbie
Nov 11, 2011 22:11:21 GMT -5
Post by top100program on Nov 11, 2011 22:11:21 GMT -5
Yikes!
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newbie
Nov 11, 2011 22:50:50 GMT -5
Post by waste on Nov 11, 2011 22:50:50 GMT -5
Was that a search committee member asking those questions? That is completely inappropriate!
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newbie
Nov 11, 2011 22:57:38 GMT -5
Post by me too on Nov 11, 2011 22:57:38 GMT -5
Yeah, I was asked several questions along those lines too at more than one interview. I just answered honestly and changed the subject. Such bullshit. Being on an interview is such a powerless situation--it was really awful.
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newbie
Nov 11, 2011 23:24:43 GMT -5
Post by aaaa on Nov 11, 2011 23:24:43 GMT -5
I wouldn't call these "extremely intrusive." Not that I think it is ok to ask them, but I've been asked (or had friends asked) much, much more intrusive types of questions. About religion, sexual orientation, if I wanted kids and how I would raise them, my wife's occupation and career plans, etc.
Now, don't assume that just because they are asking these things they have some malicious intent behind them. Many times the people who asked me these inappropriate questions were actually quite excited about the prospects of hiring me, and the reason they were asking these inappropriate questions was because they were dying to tell me about the great same sex benefits, or the excellent day care for employees of the university, etc. etc.
Of course, these things vary (once a search committee member asked me if I was Muslim and then proceeded to make a highly offensive comment about Muslims when I said no).
As to what to do in these situations, there is no right answer. People will interpret things different ways, and you don't have much control over that.
The key in interviews is to always be polite and always be "on."
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newbie
Nov 12, 2011 9:00:25 GMT -5
Post by SCMember on Nov 12, 2011 9:00:25 GMT -5
These types of questions are inappropriate, and if asked by persons in position to influence the selection of a job candidate, illegal. If reported to a school's Affirmative Action office, they could invalidate an active search. That, or provide a basis for litigation against a school for bias in hiring.
This is why most schools have mandatory training for search committee members and many require department-wide training, including graduate students if they are to meet with the prospective candidate.
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anon
New Member
Posts: 0
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newbie
Nov 12, 2011 9:46:54 GMT -5
Post by anon on Nov 12, 2011 9:46:54 GMT -5
Are questions about where else one is interviewing really not appropriate?
I don't think I've ever been in an interview type situation and NOT been asked about this, frequently in more formal settings like the meeting with the chair.
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newbie
Nov 12, 2011 12:42:42 GMT -5
Post by SCmember on Nov 12, 2011 12:42:42 GMT -5
Are questions about where else one is interviewing really not appropriate? I don't think I've ever been in an interview type situation and NOT been asked about this, frequently in more formal settings like the meeting with the chair. While probably not illegal like the other types of questions (e.g., plans to have a baby), it is an inappropriate question anytime prior to a school making an offer. Why should the interest of other schools in you be a factor? To rule you out because they do not think they can compete with School A? To validate their selection of you as a candidate? Whether or not another school is interested in you is not one of the criteria for hiring, so it need not be asked. My recommendation. If asked, politely respond with something along these lines, "If there are any developments that could effect my consideration of an offer from you, I will be sure to let you know."
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rrr
Full Member
Posts: 113
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newbie
Nov 12, 2011 12:47:27 GMT -5
Post by rrr on Nov 12, 2011 12:47:27 GMT -5
It is better to be prepared for all of these questions beforehand. They are not supposed to ask, but inevitably someone will. Yes, that is lame, but think of it as a test of your social preparedness, because obviously you could only sue if you never wanted to work in the profession.
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newbie
Nov 12, 2011 14:06:47 GMT -5
Post by idlechitchat on Nov 12, 2011 14:06:47 GMT -5
Every year the board blows up with concern about "illegal" questions asked to candidates about their personal lives, family and partnership in particular. Are these questions illegal? No. Questions are not illegal, but discriminating on the basis of the answers are. (See last year's board for more on this.)
That being said, sure, there are some jerks out there who might be asking these questions for reasons to hire or not hire a particular candidate. But in my experience as a candidate and search committee member, it's mostly just idle chit chat. They're hiring you for your work, yes, but they also want to know if you'll be a collegial colleague and it's natural for a committee to want to get to know you a bit.
So if the questions bother you, then be ready to politely dodge them or change the subject. But don't take it as evidence that the committee is looking for a reason to discriminate against you. Just like anyone else you're getting to know, they are just interested in you.
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newbie
Nov 12, 2011 21:18:28 GMT -5
Post by junior on Nov 12, 2011 21:18:28 GMT -5
I'm hoping that some places (the more geographically isolated ones where it's harder to be single) might even consider me having a partner (who is willing to move) a benefit.
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difference in opinion
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newbie
Nov 12, 2011 22:33:33 GMT -5
Post by difference in opinion on Nov 12, 2011 22:33:33 GMT -5
Questions about family are treated as "illegal" in some of the state schools in the Upper Midwest (including a whole state system that I am familiar with). I've been on multiple SC committees at two different institutions in the Upper Midwest, and for both of these institutions, I was trained to stick to the pre-approved questions. I agree though that usually when a SC member tries to talk to you about family, they are usually trying to schmooze with you. It's often an easy way to break the ice. I know that when I was on the market, even when people didn't ask about my family, I openly talked about it even though no one ever asked me questions about my family. I only got those questions after I brought up my family. As for questions about interviewing at other places, I got these questions because schools were concerned I might be snatched up (at least that's what I was told; if you look appealing to one school, you probably look appealing to others). If they know that you are interviewing elsewhere, they want to know where they stand. They don't want to give you an offer, be put on hold until you decide, and have you turn them down. By that time, they might not be able to hire the next strongest candidate. You don't have to say, "Your school is my first choice!" but you'd probably want to suggest that they are towards the top of your list.
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newbie
Nov 25, 2011 17:30:34 GMT -5
Post by like courtship on Nov 25, 2011 17:30:34 GMT -5
Yep, it is a cliche, but you are likely to get questions that are the academic job market equivalent of the junior high school dating ritual: "what would you say if I said I wanted to go with you?" We all want to be loved and we all love people more when they love us. So, whatever you do, communicate as much enthusiasm/interest as you can honestly muster. Don't say you would take an offer but say anything and everything short of that, as long as it is true.
A corollary of this is that we don't feel close to people who's important business is private. People try to make a connection during interviews and one way they do that is by asking about family and personal matters. If you prefer to keep those matters private, maneuver out of them as warmly as you can. Maybe even offer something else up instead (about siblings, parents, hometown, etc.).
Another explanation not mentioned below, that I think is way more common than either attempts to discriminate or attempts to become instant friends, is the obvious one: Departments are trying to RECRUIT you. They can't do that as effectively if they don't know you. So, people will ask you if you have kids in order to know whether they should sell you on schools, or ask you if you have a partner to figure out whether they can sell some aspect of the local job market, or local culture, etc., that might be particularly important to your partner, or to know whether they should sell you the singles scene, or the proximity to the airport, and so on. Most of the time when people ask inappropriately intrusive questions, it is because they want to know how best to sell you on the department.
That doesn't make these questions any more appropriate, but it might help you decide how you care to deal with them.
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