What is an interview for an online adjunct position like?

I have been contacted by a school I sent my resume to for a phone interview. I applied for a position in the IT department to teach IT classes as an adjunct.

What is a phone interview like for an adjunct position? Is it technical questions or general “How would you handle this situation” questions?

Any tips or help would be greatly appreciated. By the way, I don’t want to disclose the name of the school until everything is over.

 

I can only tell you about my expeiences at a few on-line schools...

My interviews have mostly been discussions to ensure I understand the school's approach to on-line education - e.g. responsiveness, web teaching tools, etc. and to understand what areas of teaching I was comfortable with. I've never been asked in any depth about my background in the discpoline.

An interesting question is "who does such interviews?". In a traditional B&M situation, you'd likely be interviewed by teaching faculty in the discipline you are work in. In the on-line environment, I've talked mostly to administrators anxious to hire an employee that "fits" into their world.

Regards - Andy

 

Randell,

my interview was two fold. I was provided questions/scenarios and asked for written responses. Since the position was for online adjunct most of these questions cenetered around dealing with interaction/dialog within the virtual classroom. The second part was a telephone interview that dealt with the usual background stuff. Andy makes a point, I was interviewed by the Distance Learning Department Chair. Very few technical questions but many procedural and goal/objective questions. I had followed the same method that Andy mentions and really researched the school to find out as much detail as possible about their programs, platform, etc...

I am sure you will do well.

Good luck,

Kevin

 

I had a phone interview for a position at UF. It wasn't for teaching, but in administration. I found it to the most difficult interview I ever had. On the phone, you can't read people's faces, use body language, or impress with a nice suit. Any sign of nervousness seems to carry well over the phone.

I wasn't talking to one person either, but I was on a speaker phone talking to about 8 people. Some would have been above me, below me, and about the same.

Questions were pretty much the type you get in any interview. (Where do you see yourself in 5 years, blah blah)

Piece of advice: make sure you have pen and paper handy to write down some notes on the questions they ask you. Halfway through a long answer it's easy to get sidetracked. Also make sure there isn't any noise distractions in the background. Make sure you have some good questions for them as well.

Other interview experts recommend that even though the interview is on the phone, you should dress up. It will help you sound more professional.

 

Randell,

I can't say that I have ever had an interview for a DL adjunct position, but I am interested in how your interview goes.

Keep me posted and good luck!

 

There is a yahoo message board called onlineadjucts which is quite lively that I think you should check out. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/onlineadjuncts/

There is a lot of talk over there this week about Colorado Technical University (CTU online) and their interviews for online adjuncts.

Good luck in your interview.

 

Randell,

I've had phone interviews for online adjunct positions at three institutions, and I'd say that what Andy wrote is a good description of the sort of interview I had. They were mostly trying to assess the fit, not so much asking questions about my qualifications.

All three were for-profit institutions. At one I was interviewed by the department chair, and at the other two by administrators who specialize in faculty relations.

Have you had your interview already? How did it go?

Alex

 

Re: Re: What is an interview for an online adjunct position like?

It is tomorrow. Wish me luck, I need it.

 

Re: Re: Re: What is an interview for an online adjunct position like?

Good luck! I am sure you will do great but please do let us know all about it.

 

I missed the call for the interview. They called my cell phone when I asked them to call my home phone. I will have to wait until Jan 3rd to re-schedule.

I am sooooo frustrated!!!

 

I hope you keep track of this in your little black grade book. So far, they are not doing very well.

 

I had the interview and it was very simple. What are your strenghts and weaknesses.... Why do you want to teach...and that was about it.

i was also told that there were not any positions available at this time but they want me to go through the web training the instructors need to go through so I am available to teach if the classes are filled as they expect/hope.

i would start teaching in the fall if all goes well.

Does this sound good or bad. I understand in the academic world everything moves slow but this is killing me.

 

Randell,

student enrollment will invariably dictate class loads. My recommendation is to take the training, get certified to teach whatever courses and add this information to your resume. If nothing else the instructor training may give you an idea of whether you actually want to teach for these folks or in the DL environment.

Happy new Year,

Kevin

 

Sounds like perfect advice.
Randell, Thanks for asking.
Kevin, Thanks for answering.