Late-Season Serendipity

The summer months can give chairs and deans night sweats, but it’s not from the heat. They are dealing with unsuccessful searches, last-minute retirements, and surprise resignations. This time of year is very active among administrators as they try to figure out how to fill positions when the calendar dictates that full searches may be impractical.

This season underscores two important elements about the search process:

The urgency of networking: Good administrators, including chairs, keep files of CV’s from friends, former colleagues, and former students. These may be shared when queries come through. I can say from personal experience that few things yield more pleasure for me than helping someone find a good job or helping a fellow dean find a great professor.
The necessity of being a graceful candidate: Often there is a microscopic line between the candidate who gets the offer and the one who doesn’t. First-choice candidates sometimes sign contracts and then back out, leaving the position open for second-choice candidates to advance. Unexpected positions may open up in ways that can be molded to fit a great second choice from a previous search. Chairs have friends at other institutions who are looking for impressive candidates. Deans share CV’s with one another of ABD candidates from last year’s search who have since completed the doctorate and are impressive candidates. Graceful candidates generate an incredible network (see point one!) for themselves.

What other insights might you offer job seekers about the distinctive features of late-season searches?