second best?

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second best?

anonagain (guest) 24 Feb 2016 06:44

Has anyone ever had experience accepting a job where you know you were the second choice (i.e. the first offer was rejected and they moved on to you). Did the department welcome as you if you were the first choice? Any weirdness? Pros? Cons?

anon (guest) 24 Feb 2016 08:16

There is no reason to feel that way. I know many that were not only second but third on the list and they are very happy with their new position. People reject offers for variety of reasons and those who made it to the interview stage are strong candidates. With the market today I am sure that for many positions departments could hire 10 candidates and be happy about each one of them.

Edging (guest) 24 Feb 2016 14:23

Maybe you got edged out in the vote for some really minor reason. Doesn't mean they didn't like you, or that you wouldn't have been the first choice otherwise. If they made you an offer, you were still what they were looking for. If not, they likely wouldn't have voted you worthy of an offer.

anonandon (guest) 24 Feb 2016 15:05

I was the 2nd choice for my current job - I felt immediately welcomed by the entire department without any weirdness ever.

8ball (guest) 24 Feb 2016 15:08

Yeah. That's common. Get over it. You have a job. If there was that big of a difference between the first and second, they never would have hired the second.

I have a male friend who went into an interview where they were looking for a female hire. He only got the job after ALL OTHER CANDIDATES turned it down. He's done alright for himself.

For me I did have a bit of a chip on my shoulder, and it worked out for the best. I went in and did my damnedest to make them know who the proper first choice was. I've done well and I like my job.

Re: second best?

DocJ 24 Feb 2016 16:00

From a search committee perspective at a non elite SLAC - while we would hope to get our 1st choice candidate, we would be very happy to get our 2nd pick.

Anny (guest) 24 Feb 2016 17:40

I came into my current job as the #2 choice and I have to admit it was kind of weird knowing that I was never their top option. And the chair was a bit more "hardline" with startup requests than I experienced at other places I had offers from.

Looking back I'm not sure if being 2nd played a role, but I am leaving my current position for a better one (higher ranked R1) next year. It certainly made it easier to say goodbye to my current department.

asstprof (guest) 25 Feb 2016 02:56

I was the second choice in the first position that I held. I was always welcomed enthusiastically. It felt like first. They were all sad when I left (which was for location reasons.)

Sometimes (usually?) the difference between 1 and 2 is very minor, and as little as #1 having a few more pubs or grant money, but they loved #2 as a person/potential colleague at least as much as #1. There is never any reason to take it personally or feel as though you have to prove something to them.They wouldn't offer the job if they didn't want you.

asstprof2 (guest) 11 Mar 2016 17:32

Having gone through this as an applicant and now as a faculty member, the difference between first and second (and even third or sixth) can be extremely minor. Imagine the task of choosing between top candidates from pools of hundreds. Is it likely that the difference between top candidates is significant? They won't offer it to you unless the committee and faculty thought you were excellent and a great fit, and chances are many or most faculty there came in as second choices themselves. I took a job where I was not first choice over an equal job where I was, and it was absolutely the right move.

anon (guest) 12 Mar 2016 15:43

I'm facing this now. I was first choice at my current job, but am facing being 3rd choice. Faculty seem excited in emails…and they're throwing the moon and sun at me (because they don't have any other backups).

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