Recruiting a Diverse Faculty: Interview Questions Scenario

Question Title

Review the following Recruitment scenario and select the correct answer based on the insight gained from the Increasing Women in Neuroscience course. This question was adapted from the Committee on Strategies and Tactics for Recruiting to Improve Diversity and Excellence (STRIDE) scenarios from the ADVANCE Program at the University of Michigan.

You are at a dinner with a faculty candidate. A senior colleague in your field addresses the candidate, “I know that we are not supposed to ask these things, but do you have a spouse or partner who will need a position? Or do you have any children and want to know about the school system? Is there anything I can do to help?”

Which of the following statements best characterizes this situation?

It’s fine to ask these types of questions and let the candidate answer, as long as nothing important is done with the answers.

Questions that are unrelated to the job should be avoided.

Questions about schools are OK, but asking about the spouse might be a problem.

It’s a good idea to ask questions like this because it helps the candidate more realistically think about the pros and cons of position.