Is it appropriate to ask a job candidate if we can record their interview?












3















I am part of a faculty search committee. One round of our process is Skype interviews of top candidates. Not all of our committee will be able to attend each interview (even remotely).



Would it be appropriate to ask candidates if we can record their Skype interview to share among the committee? My concern is that candidates might not feel free to say no if they're uncomfortable being recorded.



In case it matters, this is in the United States.










share|improve this question



























    3















    I am part of a faculty search committee. One round of our process is Skype interviews of top candidates. Not all of our committee will be able to attend each interview (even remotely).



    Would it be appropriate to ask candidates if we can record their Skype interview to share among the committee? My concern is that candidates might not feel free to say no if they're uncomfortable being recorded.



    In case it matters, this is in the United States.










    share|improve this question

























      3












      3








      3








      I am part of a faculty search committee. One round of our process is Skype interviews of top candidates. Not all of our committee will be able to attend each interview (even remotely).



      Would it be appropriate to ask candidates if we can record their Skype interview to share among the committee? My concern is that candidates might not feel free to say no if they're uncomfortable being recorded.



      In case it matters, this is in the United States.










      share|improve this question














      I am part of a faculty search committee. One round of our process is Skype interviews of top candidates. Not all of our committee will be able to attend each interview (even remotely).



      Would it be appropriate to ask candidates if we can record their Skype interview to share among the committee? My concern is that candidates might not feel free to say no if they're uncomfortable being recorded.



      In case it matters, this is in the United States.







      interview privacy audio-video-recording






      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question











      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question










      asked 4 hours ago









      Ellen SpertusEllen Spertus

      5,2082343




      5,2082343






















          2 Answers
          2






          active

          oldest

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          3














          There may be more issues than you raise here. Some people will say yes and feel intimidated. Some people will say no out of general principles. Some people will say yes and regret it later. Some people will say yes initially but decide otherwise in the middle of the interview.



          I suggest that before you implement such a process you game it out thoroughly, developing a lot of what-if scenarios and how you will respond to them. I think an essential element, possibly with legal ramifications (though I don't know), is that you don't disadvantage anyone for giving either answer or for declining to give a reason.



          Another possible issue is that some candidates may not be as candid as they would otherwise if they are being recorded. It isn't a case of being devious or calculating, just being cautious. Can my words come back to haunt me?



          You will also need to decide what to do with the tapes and when to delete them and how to assure the candidate that you will do so, especially if requested. In particular, who will have access to the tapes and for how long?



          Finally, if you develop a policy with a lot of nuances, you should publish it, probably online, and let the candidate have access to it prior to an interview.



          But, overall, I'd suggest that in the case you mention of not everyone being available, that you make it possible for a follow up interview rather than taping. There are probably other issues here that I haven't considered.






          share|improve this answer
























          • Of course it is understood that you'll be disadvantaged if you say no, no matter what the policy says. Otherwise there is never a good reason to say yes. Even if (hopefully) declining the recording simply means that you'll have to undergo more interviews with other committee members, this is still a disadvantage.

            – Zeus
            3 hours ago



















          3














          Buffy gives an excellent, and pretty comprehensive answer. I have one consideration to add:



          What message does it send to the candidate about your institution, that your entire committee is not available (even remotely) to attend the interview?



          Perhaps it tells the candidate that the position is not terribly important to you.



          Or that your institution is not organized enough to interview the right number of candidates, or include the right people on the committee.



          If I'm a candidate for a job, there are rituals I'm used to encountering. If you disrupt the rituals, even with what seems like "good reason" on your end, it's possible you will inadvertently discourage the better candidates.






          share|improve this answer
























          • Almost always at least 10 candidates are given a Skype interview; interviewing 30 is common; I have heard of interviewing 80. The point of the Skype interview is to give as many candidates as possible to make an impression on the committee. Real interviews for a small number are held later and taken more seriously. The position is important, but, with those numbers, no particular candidate is. Frankly, it would be impossible to schedule all of the search committee for 15 hours of interviews.

            – Alexander Woo
            3 hours ago











          • This could be in the context of a position that gets 500 or even 1000 applicants. If you were an applicant, would you rather the committee just had an in depth interview with 4 or 5 candidates, or would you prefer the chance of a preliminary round of interviews with 30 after which 3 or 4 are selected for an in depth interview?

            – Alexander Woo
            3 hours ago






          • 1





            @AlexanderWoo That sounds to me like the problem is that the committee can't figure out how to delegate and divide responsibilities. If you're just doing these as a filter you don't need the entire committee in on it in the first place. All you need is enough of the committee there to make a basic decision on whether someone is qualified to move on to the next round or not. You don't need the full committee until you need the full committee.

            – zibadawa timmy
            2 hours ago













          • @Alexander: Although I believe you that someone skyped with 80 people for a position, I do not believe that it was a good idea. If I were an applicant, I would rather that I and everyone else only be interviewed for positions for which we were seriously considered.

            – Pete L. Clark
            27 mins ago











          Your Answer








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          2 Answers
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          2 Answers
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          3














          There may be more issues than you raise here. Some people will say yes and feel intimidated. Some people will say no out of general principles. Some people will say yes and regret it later. Some people will say yes initially but decide otherwise in the middle of the interview.



          I suggest that before you implement such a process you game it out thoroughly, developing a lot of what-if scenarios and how you will respond to them. I think an essential element, possibly with legal ramifications (though I don't know), is that you don't disadvantage anyone for giving either answer or for declining to give a reason.



          Another possible issue is that some candidates may not be as candid as they would otherwise if they are being recorded. It isn't a case of being devious or calculating, just being cautious. Can my words come back to haunt me?



          You will also need to decide what to do with the tapes and when to delete them and how to assure the candidate that you will do so, especially if requested. In particular, who will have access to the tapes and for how long?



          Finally, if you develop a policy with a lot of nuances, you should publish it, probably online, and let the candidate have access to it prior to an interview.



          But, overall, I'd suggest that in the case you mention of not everyone being available, that you make it possible for a follow up interview rather than taping. There are probably other issues here that I haven't considered.






          share|improve this answer
























          • Of course it is understood that you'll be disadvantaged if you say no, no matter what the policy says. Otherwise there is never a good reason to say yes. Even if (hopefully) declining the recording simply means that you'll have to undergo more interviews with other committee members, this is still a disadvantage.

            – Zeus
            3 hours ago
















          3














          There may be more issues than you raise here. Some people will say yes and feel intimidated. Some people will say no out of general principles. Some people will say yes and regret it later. Some people will say yes initially but decide otherwise in the middle of the interview.



          I suggest that before you implement such a process you game it out thoroughly, developing a lot of what-if scenarios and how you will respond to them. I think an essential element, possibly with legal ramifications (though I don't know), is that you don't disadvantage anyone for giving either answer or for declining to give a reason.



          Another possible issue is that some candidates may not be as candid as they would otherwise if they are being recorded. It isn't a case of being devious or calculating, just being cautious. Can my words come back to haunt me?



          You will also need to decide what to do with the tapes and when to delete them and how to assure the candidate that you will do so, especially if requested. In particular, who will have access to the tapes and for how long?



          Finally, if you develop a policy with a lot of nuances, you should publish it, probably online, and let the candidate have access to it prior to an interview.



          But, overall, I'd suggest that in the case you mention of not everyone being available, that you make it possible for a follow up interview rather than taping. There are probably other issues here that I haven't considered.






          share|improve this answer
























          • Of course it is understood that you'll be disadvantaged if you say no, no matter what the policy says. Otherwise there is never a good reason to say yes. Even if (hopefully) declining the recording simply means that you'll have to undergo more interviews with other committee members, this is still a disadvantage.

            – Zeus
            3 hours ago














          3












          3








          3







          There may be more issues than you raise here. Some people will say yes and feel intimidated. Some people will say no out of general principles. Some people will say yes and regret it later. Some people will say yes initially but decide otherwise in the middle of the interview.



          I suggest that before you implement such a process you game it out thoroughly, developing a lot of what-if scenarios and how you will respond to them. I think an essential element, possibly with legal ramifications (though I don't know), is that you don't disadvantage anyone for giving either answer or for declining to give a reason.



          Another possible issue is that some candidates may not be as candid as they would otherwise if they are being recorded. It isn't a case of being devious or calculating, just being cautious. Can my words come back to haunt me?



          You will also need to decide what to do with the tapes and when to delete them and how to assure the candidate that you will do so, especially if requested. In particular, who will have access to the tapes and for how long?



          Finally, if you develop a policy with a lot of nuances, you should publish it, probably online, and let the candidate have access to it prior to an interview.



          But, overall, I'd suggest that in the case you mention of not everyone being available, that you make it possible for a follow up interview rather than taping. There are probably other issues here that I haven't considered.






          share|improve this answer













          There may be more issues than you raise here. Some people will say yes and feel intimidated. Some people will say no out of general principles. Some people will say yes and regret it later. Some people will say yes initially but decide otherwise in the middle of the interview.



          I suggest that before you implement such a process you game it out thoroughly, developing a lot of what-if scenarios and how you will respond to them. I think an essential element, possibly with legal ramifications (though I don't know), is that you don't disadvantage anyone for giving either answer or for declining to give a reason.



          Another possible issue is that some candidates may not be as candid as they would otherwise if they are being recorded. It isn't a case of being devious or calculating, just being cautious. Can my words come back to haunt me?



          You will also need to decide what to do with the tapes and when to delete them and how to assure the candidate that you will do so, especially if requested. In particular, who will have access to the tapes and for how long?



          Finally, if you develop a policy with a lot of nuances, you should publish it, probably online, and let the candidate have access to it prior to an interview.



          But, overall, I'd suggest that in the case you mention of not everyone being available, that you make it possible for a follow up interview rather than taping. There are probably other issues here that I haven't considered.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered 4 hours ago









          BuffyBuffy

          54.8k16175268




          54.8k16175268













          • Of course it is understood that you'll be disadvantaged if you say no, no matter what the policy says. Otherwise there is never a good reason to say yes. Even if (hopefully) declining the recording simply means that you'll have to undergo more interviews with other committee members, this is still a disadvantage.

            – Zeus
            3 hours ago



















          • Of course it is understood that you'll be disadvantaged if you say no, no matter what the policy says. Otherwise there is never a good reason to say yes. Even if (hopefully) declining the recording simply means that you'll have to undergo more interviews with other committee members, this is still a disadvantage.

            – Zeus
            3 hours ago

















          Of course it is understood that you'll be disadvantaged if you say no, no matter what the policy says. Otherwise there is never a good reason to say yes. Even if (hopefully) declining the recording simply means that you'll have to undergo more interviews with other committee members, this is still a disadvantage.

          – Zeus
          3 hours ago





          Of course it is understood that you'll be disadvantaged if you say no, no matter what the policy says. Otherwise there is never a good reason to say yes. Even if (hopefully) declining the recording simply means that you'll have to undergo more interviews with other committee members, this is still a disadvantage.

          – Zeus
          3 hours ago











          3














          Buffy gives an excellent, and pretty comprehensive answer. I have one consideration to add:



          What message does it send to the candidate about your institution, that your entire committee is not available (even remotely) to attend the interview?



          Perhaps it tells the candidate that the position is not terribly important to you.



          Or that your institution is not organized enough to interview the right number of candidates, or include the right people on the committee.



          If I'm a candidate for a job, there are rituals I'm used to encountering. If you disrupt the rituals, even with what seems like "good reason" on your end, it's possible you will inadvertently discourage the better candidates.






          share|improve this answer
























          • Almost always at least 10 candidates are given a Skype interview; interviewing 30 is common; I have heard of interviewing 80. The point of the Skype interview is to give as many candidates as possible to make an impression on the committee. Real interviews for a small number are held later and taken more seriously. The position is important, but, with those numbers, no particular candidate is. Frankly, it would be impossible to schedule all of the search committee for 15 hours of interviews.

            – Alexander Woo
            3 hours ago











          • This could be in the context of a position that gets 500 or even 1000 applicants. If you were an applicant, would you rather the committee just had an in depth interview with 4 or 5 candidates, or would you prefer the chance of a preliminary round of interviews with 30 after which 3 or 4 are selected for an in depth interview?

            – Alexander Woo
            3 hours ago






          • 1





            @AlexanderWoo That sounds to me like the problem is that the committee can't figure out how to delegate and divide responsibilities. If you're just doing these as a filter you don't need the entire committee in on it in the first place. All you need is enough of the committee there to make a basic decision on whether someone is qualified to move on to the next round or not. You don't need the full committee until you need the full committee.

            – zibadawa timmy
            2 hours ago













          • @Alexander: Although I believe you that someone skyped with 80 people for a position, I do not believe that it was a good idea. If I were an applicant, I would rather that I and everyone else only be interviewed for positions for which we were seriously considered.

            – Pete L. Clark
            27 mins ago
















          3














          Buffy gives an excellent, and pretty comprehensive answer. I have one consideration to add:



          What message does it send to the candidate about your institution, that your entire committee is not available (even remotely) to attend the interview?



          Perhaps it tells the candidate that the position is not terribly important to you.



          Or that your institution is not organized enough to interview the right number of candidates, or include the right people on the committee.



          If I'm a candidate for a job, there are rituals I'm used to encountering. If you disrupt the rituals, even with what seems like "good reason" on your end, it's possible you will inadvertently discourage the better candidates.






          share|improve this answer
























          • Almost always at least 10 candidates are given a Skype interview; interviewing 30 is common; I have heard of interviewing 80. The point of the Skype interview is to give as many candidates as possible to make an impression on the committee. Real interviews for a small number are held later and taken more seriously. The position is important, but, with those numbers, no particular candidate is. Frankly, it would be impossible to schedule all of the search committee for 15 hours of interviews.

            – Alexander Woo
            3 hours ago











          • This could be in the context of a position that gets 500 or even 1000 applicants. If you were an applicant, would you rather the committee just had an in depth interview with 4 or 5 candidates, or would you prefer the chance of a preliminary round of interviews with 30 after which 3 or 4 are selected for an in depth interview?

            – Alexander Woo
            3 hours ago






          • 1





            @AlexanderWoo That sounds to me like the problem is that the committee can't figure out how to delegate and divide responsibilities. If you're just doing these as a filter you don't need the entire committee in on it in the first place. All you need is enough of the committee there to make a basic decision on whether someone is qualified to move on to the next round or not. You don't need the full committee until you need the full committee.

            – zibadawa timmy
            2 hours ago













          • @Alexander: Although I believe you that someone skyped with 80 people for a position, I do not believe that it was a good idea. If I were an applicant, I would rather that I and everyone else only be interviewed for positions for which we were seriously considered.

            – Pete L. Clark
            27 mins ago














          3












          3








          3







          Buffy gives an excellent, and pretty comprehensive answer. I have one consideration to add:



          What message does it send to the candidate about your institution, that your entire committee is not available (even remotely) to attend the interview?



          Perhaps it tells the candidate that the position is not terribly important to you.



          Or that your institution is not organized enough to interview the right number of candidates, or include the right people on the committee.



          If I'm a candidate for a job, there are rituals I'm used to encountering. If you disrupt the rituals, even with what seems like "good reason" on your end, it's possible you will inadvertently discourage the better candidates.






          share|improve this answer













          Buffy gives an excellent, and pretty comprehensive answer. I have one consideration to add:



          What message does it send to the candidate about your institution, that your entire committee is not available (even remotely) to attend the interview?



          Perhaps it tells the candidate that the position is not terribly important to you.



          Or that your institution is not organized enough to interview the right number of candidates, or include the right people on the committee.



          If I'm a candidate for a job, there are rituals I'm used to encountering. If you disrupt the rituals, even with what seems like "good reason" on your end, it's possible you will inadvertently discourage the better candidates.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered 4 hours ago









          Pete ForsythPete Forsyth

          44749




          44749













          • Almost always at least 10 candidates are given a Skype interview; interviewing 30 is common; I have heard of interviewing 80. The point of the Skype interview is to give as many candidates as possible to make an impression on the committee. Real interviews for a small number are held later and taken more seriously. The position is important, but, with those numbers, no particular candidate is. Frankly, it would be impossible to schedule all of the search committee for 15 hours of interviews.

            – Alexander Woo
            3 hours ago











          • This could be in the context of a position that gets 500 or even 1000 applicants. If you were an applicant, would you rather the committee just had an in depth interview with 4 or 5 candidates, or would you prefer the chance of a preliminary round of interviews with 30 after which 3 or 4 are selected for an in depth interview?

            – Alexander Woo
            3 hours ago






          • 1





            @AlexanderWoo That sounds to me like the problem is that the committee can't figure out how to delegate and divide responsibilities. If you're just doing these as a filter you don't need the entire committee in on it in the first place. All you need is enough of the committee there to make a basic decision on whether someone is qualified to move on to the next round or not. You don't need the full committee until you need the full committee.

            – zibadawa timmy
            2 hours ago













          • @Alexander: Although I believe you that someone skyped with 80 people for a position, I do not believe that it was a good idea. If I were an applicant, I would rather that I and everyone else only be interviewed for positions for which we were seriously considered.

            – Pete L. Clark
            27 mins ago



















          • Almost always at least 10 candidates are given a Skype interview; interviewing 30 is common; I have heard of interviewing 80. The point of the Skype interview is to give as many candidates as possible to make an impression on the committee. Real interviews for a small number are held later and taken more seriously. The position is important, but, with those numbers, no particular candidate is. Frankly, it would be impossible to schedule all of the search committee for 15 hours of interviews.

            – Alexander Woo
            3 hours ago











          • This could be in the context of a position that gets 500 or even 1000 applicants. If you were an applicant, would you rather the committee just had an in depth interview with 4 or 5 candidates, or would you prefer the chance of a preliminary round of interviews with 30 after which 3 or 4 are selected for an in depth interview?

            – Alexander Woo
            3 hours ago






          • 1





            @AlexanderWoo That sounds to me like the problem is that the committee can't figure out how to delegate and divide responsibilities. If you're just doing these as a filter you don't need the entire committee in on it in the first place. All you need is enough of the committee there to make a basic decision on whether someone is qualified to move on to the next round or not. You don't need the full committee until you need the full committee.

            – zibadawa timmy
            2 hours ago













          • @Alexander: Although I believe you that someone skyped with 80 people for a position, I do not believe that it was a good idea. If I were an applicant, I would rather that I and everyone else only be interviewed for positions for which we were seriously considered.

            – Pete L. Clark
            27 mins ago

















          Almost always at least 10 candidates are given a Skype interview; interviewing 30 is common; I have heard of interviewing 80. The point of the Skype interview is to give as many candidates as possible to make an impression on the committee. Real interviews for a small number are held later and taken more seriously. The position is important, but, with those numbers, no particular candidate is. Frankly, it would be impossible to schedule all of the search committee for 15 hours of interviews.

          – Alexander Woo
          3 hours ago





          Almost always at least 10 candidates are given a Skype interview; interviewing 30 is common; I have heard of interviewing 80. The point of the Skype interview is to give as many candidates as possible to make an impression on the committee. Real interviews for a small number are held later and taken more seriously. The position is important, but, with those numbers, no particular candidate is. Frankly, it would be impossible to schedule all of the search committee for 15 hours of interviews.

          – Alexander Woo
          3 hours ago













          This could be in the context of a position that gets 500 or even 1000 applicants. If you were an applicant, would you rather the committee just had an in depth interview with 4 or 5 candidates, or would you prefer the chance of a preliminary round of interviews with 30 after which 3 or 4 are selected for an in depth interview?

          – Alexander Woo
          3 hours ago





          This could be in the context of a position that gets 500 or even 1000 applicants. If you were an applicant, would you rather the committee just had an in depth interview with 4 or 5 candidates, or would you prefer the chance of a preliminary round of interviews with 30 after which 3 or 4 are selected for an in depth interview?

          – Alexander Woo
          3 hours ago




          1




          1





          @AlexanderWoo That sounds to me like the problem is that the committee can't figure out how to delegate and divide responsibilities. If you're just doing these as a filter you don't need the entire committee in on it in the first place. All you need is enough of the committee there to make a basic decision on whether someone is qualified to move on to the next round or not. You don't need the full committee until you need the full committee.

          – zibadawa timmy
          2 hours ago







          @AlexanderWoo That sounds to me like the problem is that the committee can't figure out how to delegate and divide responsibilities. If you're just doing these as a filter you don't need the entire committee in on it in the first place. All you need is enough of the committee there to make a basic decision on whether someone is qualified to move on to the next round or not. You don't need the full committee until you need the full committee.

          – zibadawa timmy
          2 hours ago















          @Alexander: Although I believe you that someone skyped with 80 people for a position, I do not believe that it was a good idea. If I were an applicant, I would rather that I and everyone else only be interviewed for positions for which we were seriously considered.

          – Pete L. Clark
          27 mins ago





          @Alexander: Although I believe you that someone skyped with 80 people for a position, I do not believe that it was a good idea. If I were an applicant, I would rather that I and everyone else only be interviewed for positions for which we were seriously considered.

          – Pete L. Clark
          27 mins ago


















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