Hiring Season

Now that summer is (sadly) over, the subject of hiring is again a hot topic in The Chronicle‘s Forums. In a recent thread, search-committee members recounted their favorite application blunders. One poster recalled receiving an application for a senior position that included “a cover letter on blue and white stationary with stars and moons with a photo of the whole family (dog included).” Another poster received a recommendation letter from a Ph.D. candidate’s adviser “in which he praised [the candidate’s] ability to bake awesome chocolate cakes.” That’s probably not the ringing endorsement the student was hoping for. Read the whole thread and share more offbeat application stories here.

Also be sure to check out forum threads in which posters talk about the current hiring climate at their institutions and give advice to a first-time search-committee member.