by Al Trujilloby Al TrujilloPalomar Community CollegePalomar Community College

The Community College The Community College Interview: Tips and Interview: Tips and

StrategiesStrategies

OK, You’ve Received an Invitation OK, You’ve Received an Invitation to Interview….Now What?to Interview….Now What?

Some important things to know about a typical 2-year Some important things to know about a typical 2-year college first round interview:college first round interview:

• Will be attended by a (sometimes large) committeeWill be attended by a (sometimes large) committee• Consists of a series of questions; lasts about 1 hourConsists of a series of questions; lasts about 1 hour• Includes a 15-20 minute teaching demonstrationIncludes a 15-20 minute teaching demonstration• May also include a written question before or afterMay also include a written question before or after• Committee members will be taking notes but may Committee members will be taking notes but may

not be allowed to interactnot be allowed to interact• You will not be paid for travel expensesYou will not be paid for travel expenses

But first…how WERE you selected?But first…how WERE you selected?

What Hiring Committees Are What Hiring Committees Are Looking ForLooking For

• Teaching experience, especially at the college level Teaching experience, especially at the college level

• Breadth in the subject areaBreadth in the subject area

• Can fill the need immediately Can fill the need immediately

• Commitment to helping students Commitment to helping students

• Enthusiasm for teachingEnthusiasm for teaching

• An understanding of assessment An understanding of assessment

• Experience with technology Experience with technology

• Enthusiasm for the community college environment Enthusiasm for the community college environment and familiarity with our department and collegeand familiarity with our department and college

• Respect for students and colleagues, easy to work Respect for students and colleagues, easy to work withwith

• Commitment to doing the best job possible, and Commitment to doing the best job possible, and hence filling in gaps in expertise (ability to teach hence filling in gaps in expertise (ability to teach yourself) yourself)

How Does the Committee Select How Does the Committee Select Candidates to Interview?Candidates to Interview?

Qualified applications are viewed by the committee, Qualified applications are viewed by the committee, who employ a rubric and assign points for:who employ a rubric and assign points for:

• Teaching Experience:Teaching Experience: College/high school experience a College/high school experience a plus, participation in field experiences, courses taught, plus, participation in field experiences, courses taught, variety in course delivery methods including online variety in course delivery methods including online

• Academic Background: Academic Background: Courses taken, interdisciplinary Courses taken, interdisciplinary breadth, educated in science (Master's degree required…) breadth, educated in science (Master's degree required…)

• Professional Experience:Professional Experience: Relevant job history, research, Relevant job history, research, field work, resume listingsfield work, resume listings

• Technology:Technology: Instructional technology experience, Instructional technology experience, computer literacy, online course delivery, GIS, Web page computer literacy, online course delivery, GIS, Web page development development

• Application Materials:Application Materials: Overall presentation of application Overall presentation of application and special qualities (such as committee work, student and special qualities (such as committee work, student organization involvement, community involvement, organization involvement, community involvement, travel)travel)

The Interview ProcessThe Interview Process

Once all applications have been reviewed and Once all applications have been reviewed and scored, candidates are selected and invited to scored, candidates are selected and invited to campus for an interview, which typically includes:campus for an interview, which typically includes:

• A short teaching demonstrationA short teaching demonstration

• A questions and answer session about teaching A questions and answer session about teaching and learningand learning

• A time for you to ask questions of the committeeA time for you to ask questions of the committee

• Optional activities (before or after the interview):Optional activities (before or after the interview): Respond to a written questionRespond to a written question A meeting with an administratorA meeting with an administrator (usually reserved for (usually reserved for

second or third level interviews)second or third level interviews)

Who Will Be on the Hiring Who Will Be on the Hiring Committee?Committee?

A typical hiring committee includes:A typical hiring committee includes:• Members from the department, Members from the department,

including the department chairincluding the department chair• A professor from another A professor from another

department (key in evaluating department (key in evaluating your teaching demo)your teaching demo)

• A Compliance Officer from Human A Compliance Officer from Human Resources (does not vote)Resources (does not vote)

• No dean or other administrator No dean or other administrator (will be available during other (will be available during other interviews if you are called back)interviews if you are called back)

Preparing for the Interview: Plan Preparing for the Interview: Plan AheaAhea

• Get all the information you canGet all the information you can on interview particulars: on interview particulars: time, place, length of time, topics, A/V equipment time, place, length of time, topics, A/V equipment available, etc. available, etc.

• Bring backupBring backup to the interview in case the computer crashes to the interview in case the computer crashes

• Dress?Dress? Casual professional Casual professional

• Do your homeworkDo your homework and demonstrate your work ethic/ and demonstrate your work ethic/ standards; showing is better than tellingstandards; showing is better than telling

• Learn Learn what you can about the college and the department what you can about the college and the department before the interviewbefore the interview

• Relax and be yourself!Relax and be yourself! Treat it like an audition for a play – Treat it like an audition for a play – there are so many things you have no control over that there are so many things you have no control over that they might be looking for. There's nothing you can do they might be looking for. There's nothing you can do about that, so just do your best, be confident in who you about that, so just do your best, be confident in who you are, and be prepared to "not get the role." It’s nothing are, and be prepared to "not get the role." It’s nothing personal.personal.

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Should I Contact the Department Should I Contact the Department Ahead of Time?Ahead of Time?

• Although it might seem like a Although it might seem like a good idea, the department may good idea, the department may not appreciate being contacted not appreciate being contacted by you outside of the interview by you outside of the interview processprocess

• In fact, Human Resources may In fact, Human Resources may prohibit candidates directly prohibit candidates directly contacting the department contacting the department (awkward if you are a part-timer)(awkward if you are a part-timer)

• It’s best to check first, but be It’s best to check first, but be prepared for “no”prepared for “no”

The Teaching DemonstrationThe Teaching Demonstration• Helps committee assess your teaching Helps committee assess your teaching

stylestyle• The topic will be given to you beforehandThe topic will be given to you beforehand• Demonstrate a diversity of teaching Demonstrate a diversity of teaching

methods: Use a novel approach or active methods: Use a novel approach or active learning activity if appropriatelearning activity if appropriate

• Try to stand out (positively)Try to stand out (positively)• Do NOT run over the time limit!Do NOT run over the time limit!• Can include time for a review or summaryCan include time for a review or summary• Teach the class as if you were teaching Teach the class as if you were teaching

students (even though they are experts)students (even though they are experts)• Involve the committee but realize they Involve the committee but realize they

might not be able to respond to you…might not be able to respond to you…

Some Sample Teaching Some Sample Teaching Demonstration TopicsDemonstration Topics

• Prepare a lecture describing the evidence Prepare a lecture describing the evidence that helps support the concept of sea floor that helps support the concept of sea floor spreadingspreading

• Describe how scale is important in Describe how scale is important in understanding mapsunderstanding maps

• Prepare a simple lecture on how tides workPrepare a simple lecture on how tides work

• Describe the tectonic processes that occur Describe the tectonic processes that occur at deep-sea trenchesat deep-sea trenches

• How would you present the scientific How would you present the scientific method in class (including the difference method in class (including the difference between a fact and a theory)?between a fact and a theory)?

The Question and Answer Session The Question and Answer Session (Panel Interview)(Panel Interview)

• Helps the committee discern:Helps the committee discern: Your knowledge and experience Your knowledge and experience What courses you are qualified to teachWhat courses you are qualified to teach How you maintain currencyHow you maintain currency How you might respond to situations in the How you might respond to situations in the

classroomclassroom

• Committees must submit a list of 8-12 Committees must submit a list of 8-12 questions (including preferred answers) to questions (including preferred answers) to Human Resources before interviewing occursHuman Resources before interviewing occurs

• Each member must ask the same question Each member must ask the same question and in the same way to each candidateand in the same way to each candidate

• Answers are scored according to a rubricAnswers are scored according to a rubric

Some Advice about the Question Some Advice about the Question and Answer Sessionand Answer Session

• Beforehand: Practice! Practice! Practice!Beforehand: Practice! Practice! Practice!

• Include specific examples/be as detailed as Include specific examples/be as detailed as possiblepossible

• Make sure you answer the question (can ask)Make sure you answer the question (can ask)

• Pace yourself accordingly (can return to a Pace yourself accordingly (can return to a question later)question later)

• If you are allowed to view the interview If you are allowed to view the interview questions prior to the interview, take notes on questions prior to the interview, take notes on how you might answer certain questionshow you might answer certain questions

• Don’t assume the committee knows your Don’t assume the committee knows your experiencesexperiences

Some Sample QuestionsSome Sample Questions• What courses are you qualified to teach?What courses are you qualified to teach?

• Why would you choose to teach at the Why would you choose to teach at the community college level rather than at the community college level rather than at the university or high school level?university or high school level?

• Tell us about a novel or innovative teaching Tell us about a novel or innovative teaching technique that you use in your classroomtechnique that you use in your classroom

• For most of the students in your class, yours will For most of the students in your class, yours will be the last science course they take. How would be the last science course they take. How would this affect your teaching strategies?this affect your teaching strategies?

• How do you handle unprepared students in class?How do you handle unprepared students in class?

• Tell us about a bad teaching experience you’ve Tell us about a bad teaching experience you’ve hadhad

• When a student fails, who is at fault?When a student fails, who is at fault?

At the End of the Question and At the End of the Question and Answer SessionAnswer Session

• You will be allowed to ask questions You will be allowed to ask questions of the committeeof the committee

• The kinds of questions you ask tell the The kinds of questions you ask tell the committee a great deal about you, so avoid:committee a great deal about you, so avoid: What is the pay?What is the pay? How much time off will I get?How much time off will I get? Can I teach at other nearby colleges?Can I teach at other nearby colleges? How soon before my first sabbatical?How soon before my first sabbatical?

• Instead, ask thoughtful questions:Instead, ask thoughtful questions: What might my teaching schedule be like?What might my teaching schedule be like? When will a decision be made?When will a decision be made? A question showing you have researched the A question showing you have researched the

collegecollege

Optional ActivitiesOptional Activities(Before or After the Interview)(Before or After the Interview)

• You may be asked to provide a written You may be asked to provide a written answer to a question to assess your answer to a question to assess your writing and organization skills writing and organization skills Ex: A student from your class approaches Ex: A student from your class approaches

you and expresses an interest in a career you and expresses an interest in a career in your field. The student has not declared in your field. The student has not declared a major but is considering law or business. a major but is considering law or business. What would you say to that student?What would you say to that student?

• You may also have a meeting with an You may also have a meeting with an administrator (dean or vice president)administrator (dean or vice president)

After the InterviewAfter the Interview

• At the first available moment, write down every At the first available moment, write down every question you can remember (helps you prepare for question you can remember (helps you prepare for next time)next time)

• Can follow-up with an e-mail or letter thanking the Can follow-up with an e-mail or letter thanking the committee chair or departmentcommittee chair or department

• If you have done well, you will be invited back If you have done well, you will be invited back (sometimes at the college’s expense) for a second (sometimes at the college’s expense) for a second level interview: level interview: A smaller committee, including members from the first roundA smaller committee, including members from the first round More generalized questions about teaching philosophy (Ex: More generalized questions about teaching philosophy (Ex:

You will be teaching the same introductory courses for the You will be teaching the same introductory courses for the next 30 years. How would you avoid burnout?)next 30 years. How would you avoid burnout?)

Expect questions about how you might participate in Expect questions about how you might participate in departmental activities and shared governancedepartmental activities and shared governance

• Some colleges employ a third level interview with the Some colleges employ a third level interview with the college president (and perhaps one other member)college president (and perhaps one other member)

If You Don’t Get Hired The First If You Don’t Get Hired The First TimeTime

• Remember that most candidates interview Remember that most candidates interview numerous times before landing a jobnumerous times before landing a job

• If you have been teaching part-time at a If you have been teaching part-time at a college, don’t assume you are a “shoe-in”; college, don’t assume you are a “shoe-in”; it’s a nationwide search and the department it’s a nationwide search and the department may end up hiring someone elsemay end up hiring someone else

• Put your best foot forward and let the cards Put your best foot forward and let the cards fall where they may; keep a positive attitudefall where they may; keep a positive attitude

• Afterwards, you can contact Human Afterwards, you can contact Human Resources, who will review your interview Resources, who will review your interview materials and suggest where your materials and suggest where your weaknesses might be weaknesses might be

Tip: Locating Job OpeningsTip: Locating Job Openings

You can find out about community college job You can find out about community college job openings at:openings at:

• The California Community College Registry The California Community College Registry at at www.cccregistry.org

• The Chronicle of Higher Education at The Chronicle of Higher Education at http://Chronicle.com/jobs

A Final Tip: SalaryA Final Tip: Salary• You can find out the starting salary for You can find out the starting salary for

Palomar College faculty positions online at: Palomar College faculty positions online at: http://www.palomar.edu/hr/Personnel/faculty.htm

• Salary is calculated using a grid based on:Salary is calculated using a grid based on: Education (units beyond a BS degree) = Education (units beyond a BS degree) = GradeGrade Number of years teaching = Number of years teaching = StepStep

For More InformationFor More Information

• Academic Job Interviews at Academic Job Interviews at http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/careerprep/jobsearch/interviewing.html#tips

• The 2-Year College Interview The 2-Year College Interview (incl. sample (incl. sample

questions)questions) at at http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/careerprep/jobsearch/2YCinterview.html by Katryn Wiese (City College of San Francisco) by Katryn Wiese (City College of San Francisco)

by Al Trujilloby Al TrujilloPalomar Community CollegePalomar Community College

The Community College The Community College Interview: Tips and Interview: Tips and

StrategiesStrategiesEndEnd