How secretive are you when you’re job hunting? I don’t mean those of you who are finishing up graduate school or in visiting positions; I mean folks who have tenure-track appointments but are looking for something else.
Some of you junior faculty members, in particular, don’t seem to realize how hurt or mean-spirited your colleagues can be if they find your CV or cover letter in the communal printer bin, if they overhear a phone interview through an open door, or even if they are asked to serve as a reference.
And if your search comes up empty, you may suddenly find you have enemies in the department you didn’t have before. The risk is significant: Disloyalty is a quality generally frowned upon during tenure-and-promotion reviews. I always advise faculty members who are on the market to print out their application materials at home (or after hours) and to use personal e-mail accounts and cell-phone numbers. Better safe than sorry.
Have any of you “caught” a colleague on the job market, or been caught yourself?
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