Career Employment

Testimonial

We are happy to share the below statement from a hiring official who has recently enhanced their hiring and selection process by adding behavior based phone interviews:

“Phone interviews have helped to increase the efficiency and success of our selection process. We are able to start with a larger group of candidates and truly focus on the skills required for the position. The phone interview questions target the absolute “must have” areas. It is an effective method to narrow the selection without creating personal attachments. In addition, the phone interview allows an opportunity to assess the effectiveness of the candidate’s verbal communication skills in a different way than the in-person interview, which adds another dimension for us to assess when selecting the best fit for our needs. We have used this method consistently since it was introduced to us through the Hiring Enhancement Program and will continue to do so in the future.” – Paige Brown, Assistant Manager (Sponsored Projects Accounting)

What’s New

Scheduling a phone or in-person interview is typically the first opportunity a hiring department has to make an impression with an applicant. Not only is it important to be organized, professional and welcoming during this conversation, it is also important to know what to cover and how to do so appropriately. We have created the attached document, “Conversations for Scheduling Interviews,” to serve as a quick reference guide for the next time you schedule an interview. (Using this tool, will ensure that your selection process starts off on the right foot with each candidate.)

Upcoming Trainings
We have several trainings scheduled for November, please join us and expand your hiring and selection knowledge! To learn more about these trainings, click here.

Legal Considerations
Tuesday, November 3rd
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
220 Scovell Hall, Suite 1

UK's Hiring Process & Interviewing Techniques
Tuesday, November 10th
1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
218 Wethington

Behavior Based Interviewing 401
Thursday, November 12th
1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
220 Scovell Hall, Suite 1

How to Develop an Effective Job Posting
Tuesday, December 8th
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
231 Student Center Addition

To register for the trainings, please use the “myUK” Training Center available under Employee Self-Service at http://myuk.uky.edu. For a quick tutorial on how to register, click here.

Did You Know?

In order to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), all interviewed candidates should be asked an “essential functions” question during the hiring and selection process. The purpose of an “essential functions” question is to identify if a candidate can or cannot perform the job requirements (essential functions) with or without reasonable accommodations. The question should be close ended to allow a “yes” or “no” response from the candidate, such as “Can you perform these responsibilities with or without reasonable accommodations?” We recommend asking this question during the phone interviews so candidates don’t feel that you are asking this question because of a perceived disability. Contact your dedicated Employment Consultant to determine the essential functions of the position. In addition, the Office of Institutional Equity and Equal Opportunity is another resource if you have questions regarding reasonable accommodations for new or current employees. This office can be reached at 257-8927.

Selecting for Success TIP: Implement phone interviews in your hiring and selecting process!
Phone interviews are a time efficient way to screen a large pool of candidates. By adding phone interviews to your selection process you can save time and money by eliminating candidates who are no longer interested in the position (i.e. for salary reasons) or don’t have the necessary skill set/experience required to move to the next phase of the process. In addition, phone interviews can create a solid candidate experience by promoting the opportunities the University, the department and the position have to offer. Here are some TIPS to remember when conducting phone interviews:

• Conduct phone interviews with the top 10-20% of referred applicants (of course this depends on how large and qualified the applicant pool is).
• Schedule phone interviews verses contacting the candidate and expecting to have an on-the-spot interview. This gives the candidates time to prepare and provides a more professional experience.
• Send a confirmation e-mail with the details once the phone interviews have been scheduled.
• Phone interviews should last no longer than 30-45 minutes.
• Be consistent and ask all candidates the same questions.(Questions should include: the “essential functions” question, application clarification questions, behavior based interview questions targeted on the “must have” skills, and the salary question.)
• Provide detailed information on the position, the department, and the University.
• Thank the candidatefor their time and interest.
• Close the phone interview by setting expectations of when the candidate should expect to hear back from you regarding the next steps in the process.
• If you do not make contact with the candidate on your first try, make at least 2 attempts to reach them before assuming they are not interested.

If you are interested in a customized phone interview guide for a position, please contact your dedicated Employment Consultant or send your request to HiringEnhancement@uky.edu.