So I had a great on-campus interview and the search chair told me that they would come to a decision before Christmas. I thought this meant last week (aka "Christmas vacation") but still, no call.
What could this mean? Thoughts from search committee vets especially welcome.
Thank you!
OP here: they told me that the Dean would call if it's an offer; the search chair would call if not. So the idea that they simply won't call is (I think?) off the table...
Coming to a decision before Christmas and "We'll let you know before Christmas" are two entirely different things. Which was it?
I was once contacted by a school to make me an offer on Dec. 24th. "We'll let you know before Christmas" should likely be taken literally. But it should also be noted that that may have been what they intended to do but, for various reasons, they've fallen behind schedule. A truly considerate search or department chair would shoot you an email explaining that they're moving slower than expected, but I wouldn't hold my breath for this.
So, if you hear nothing, assume that they haven't made a decision yet for some sort of reason.
^it was "we'll let you know."
thanks, UB! So I shouldn't be calling/emailing for an update until at least Jan 1, don't you think?
I'd want to wait for the New Year, but I'm a nervous sort, so I'd probably send them email early this week politely asking the status while subtly playing up the confusion between "Christmas" and "Christmas" break to explain why I was contacting them before Christmas.
But, if you can handle the waiting, it's probably best not to email them until the new year. On the other hand, whether or not they make you an offer isn't going to hinge on whether or not you politely email them this week.
I got notification on the progress of a search today, so don't think that it is too late to still hear "before Christmas." Wednesday, however, may be another matter.
You can email the chair and get a clue about your status. If they don't email back, don't read much into it. An email from you will not change your status--first choice, second choice, below the bar, whatever. Just don't call and write every day.
My school, for one is still completing exams; we're not going home for Christmas yet, so the Christmas-Christmas break distinction may not yet be relevant.
As a side note, in this day & age it is easy & cheap (no paper/postage) to send a note to the candidates that says the timeline has been extended/the process has changed/etc. In point of fact, although not optimal, a search chair need only send one email - just BCC all of the recipients. I know we're all busy at this time of year, but it would take 5 minutes to extend some common courtesy to your 4 on-campus interviewees. Why is it that, as UB noted, we shouldn't hold our breath for this? Is it some sort of academic hazing ritual? (as in "I had to wait/sweat/stress/squirm, so they do too" -insert evil laugh here.)
^Only the unemployed give a **** about any of this.
^Duh.
I would not email the search chair at this point. Unless you have a competing offer on the table, there is nothing that you can tell them that would increase your chance of getting an offer.
My experience is that nothing good ever comes from harassing someone for an answer on matters that relate to publications or academic positions.
I'm in a similar situation right now, working hard to resist the urge of sending that "so, any news?" email. Interview went well (I thought), I know that the faculty met last week to make a decision, the department chair told me that after the meeting, it would go to the Dean's office, and that they were unsure if they'd have an official decision before the holiday break.
So at this point either the offer has been made to someone else, or the Dean's office hasn't finalized things. And "this point" could stretch out for another couple weeks.
Right. Back to grading I guess. Absolutely nothing I can do but sit on my hands and wait, right?
Right SF! Don't call. It's like calling a girl who hasn't returned your call. Don't do it.
Now, I would say if it's been a month since the interview, shoot the chair an email. Otherwise, sit tight. It's hell, believe me I know, but you'll feel better about yourself in the long run if you wait.
^ "It's hell, believe me I know, but you'll feel better about yourself in the long run if you wait."
Sounds vaguely like a sermon against premarital sex. ;)
For the most part, I'd agree that there isn't much that can be gained from harassing a search chair, but as it relates to publications (^^^), I'll just add that earlier this year, I had been waiting on a final decision on my R&R for about three months. I shot off a kindly worded e-mail inquiry to the editor, and got my article accepted the very next day.
^ FWIW, the same thing happened to me, and the next day I got the rejection email. Not saying one caused the other.
Don't call! Displaying your anxiety is not going to help you.
Re: SB
If the department chair did let you know that the decision meeting already took place last week, what could you lose by shooting an email? If the chosen one is you, they might want to let you know now that dean's authorization is obtained. If you are second or third on the list, will your email inquiry make their first choice candidate accept or make the dept dislike you so much that they would disqualify your candidacy altogether? I am not sure about that. For the sake of peace and sanity during Christmas, I would email to find out.