No response to thank you notes?

No response to thank you notes?

pksearch 07 Dec 2016 16:20

I just had a campus visit, which went well. I sent out a thank you note to everyone I met, but didn't receive any responses at all, nothing. Is this unusual? Bad sign? Trying not to read into this too much…

Re: No response to thank you notes?

anonprof 07 Dec 2016 17:08

I feel your anxiety (I was just there last year), but it is completely unwarranted in this situation. I am on the other side of interviewing now and had two candidates send thank you notes. I didn't respond to either one of them. I really liked both candidates. It means nothing.

Re: No response to thank you notes?

juniorfaculty 07 Dec 2016 17:12

Sometimes there are weird rules about not responding to candidates. So especially if NO ONE responded, I would say try not to worry about it.

Re: No response to thank you notes?

jobs4allofus 07 Dec 2016 17:13

It says more about them than it does about you.

maybe they agree that they don't respond to thank yous
or rarely get them and aren't sure what to do
or just busy with the end of semester, prepping for the next candidate, making their decision (and who knows how unified or contentious that is) etc.
or this reflects a general lack of consideration in the department - it is possible to reply to a campus interviewer with a very neutral "It was good to meet you, thanks for your visit!" kindness is rarely a misstep. academia is a small world.

whichever it is, your situation is exasperatingly the same - waiting. how are your holiday preparations coming? how's that great research you are working on? what did you do today to make yourself happy? :-)

Re: No response to thank you notes?

DocJ 07 Dec 2016 17:22

juniorfaculty's comment is spot on. At one place I was on multiple searches. HR had very specific guidelines for all communications with candidates to adhere to their EOE policies. Don't fret over it. It also reflects very little about the department or institution.