If you have to ask...

If you have to ask...

the80percent (guest) 07 Dec 2014 00:30

Sometimes I read posts that read something like, "Have you heard from XXXX University?" followed by "Bump" from the same person, or something along those lines. I wonder if anyone this desperate for information ends up getting an actual interview. Maybe someone can tell me. It just seems like with the job market the way it is, with lots of highly qualified candidates out there, that if you have to ask, then you probably aren't going to be interviewed. Any thoughts?

Anony (guest) 07 Dec 2014 02:34

I'm an anxious poster and already have an offer…

asstprof (guest) 07 Dec 2014 02:37

I agree that there is a typical timeline for interviews (or at least initial contact) after the initial job closing date, and if you're asking months after that then you can probably assume you're out. That said, I can remember two job searches from my year that had a completely bizarre timeline. A friend of mine thought she was totally out of the job cycle with no bites, when she was finally contacted for an interview and ended up getting the job. And no, this was their first round of interviews! They hadn't even failed with a previous group.

Re: If you have to ask...

DocJ 07 Dec 2014 03:49

During my search several cycles ago I went into March with no offers and no interviews. But, all of a sudden things popped in April and I was literally flying from one interview to another at all sorts of institutions. There's hope. I suspect the competition lessens a bit after January since by then, very top candidates have already been hired.

the80percent (guest) 07 Dec 2014 14:41

Thanks DocJ. That was one of the more optimism inspiring posts I've read on here :)

But (guest) 07 Dec 2014 15:32

@docj Were those opportunities in April jobs that you applied to in fall or spring?

Re: If you have to ask...

DocJ 08 Dec 2014 15:14

Most of the positions I interviewed for in April had application deadlines in January or a bit later. In some cases they were positions that had fall deadlines but were re-advertised.

anonymous (guest) 08 Dec 2014 16:50

Last cycle, I submitted an app in September and heard nothing for a couple of months. I ended up posting to the forum about it to check on the status. Long story short, it took them a while to get approval to do interviews, but I got an interview, was offered the job, and I took it. In summary, I don't think desperation for information is necessarily correlated with one's chances of getting an interview. I inquired about the position because I thought it would be an excellent fit for me (in a number of ways), and it turns out I was right.

devanon (guest) 08 Dec 2014 19:27

I have made status inquiries for jobs I was really interested in, not because I was still holding out hope but just because I'm really curious about how the process works at those schools, and am hoping to find a out a bit more about who/how they interview

anonbanon (guest) 09 Dec 2014 19:18

I think your question assumes that all schools are working quickly and efficiently, such that the top candidates for a position are always getting contacted shortly after the due date for apps. That is not the case at all schools. So, I think that "has anyone been contacted yet?" is a valid question to ask and not knowing doesn't always mean you have missed out, even if it often does mean that.