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[amazed]

Is it suprised by heard "wish you good luck in your future endeavours" at on-site interview? does it mean you are "out" of the game right now. How to response it? or ignore it at all?

[Zarkov]

Don't read too much into a single statement.  People may say the first thing that pops into their heads. Just keep smiling and say thanks.

[Anony]

On the other hand, I sent a thank you note after my interview and got a response that, after complimenting me on my work, used the exact phrase above.  I've never heard back--so I now assume that was my rejection.

[Anon2000]

It doesn't mean anything. I've probably been on more interviews than most, and I've been told that at every single one. Yet, I was hired into two jobs -- a visiting post and then my current tt job.

It feels a bit odd...I remember thinking the same exact thing after being wished good-luck. But you have to remember that it is said during an interview. If it is a legitimate search, there is no way that all the people involved on that day already know the final outcome of the search and that the one person who says "good-luck" is trying to convey that message to you!

If you get the comment after the interview is done, I suppose there might be a secret message in it to you. But, again, in a legitimate search, the Chair is not supposed to provide any information to candidates before a decision is made, and an offer is accepted. Why would they? If the offer isn't accepted, they want to be able to turn to the second (or third) choice.

[anon]

Just take it at face value and say thanks..It is conversation filler/politeness.

Also, keep practicing your English (no offense).

[lucky]

I get told good luck normally on interviews, typically by people not directly on the search committee.  It's just people being nice, and I think it normally means nothing, except that the person you're talking to is wishing you luck (which may mean they like you or that they are a generally polite person).

[John Proctor]

"It doesn't mean anything."

I would agree.  It may also be their way of recognizing you might choose something other than them.  

"But, again, in a legitimate search, the Chair is not supposed to provide any
 information to candidates before a decision is made, and an offer is accepted. Why would they? If the offer isn't accepted, they want to be able to turn to the second (or third) choice."

"Legitimate search?"  Maybe it isn't supposed to be done, but in my experience, every place that has been interested in me let me know, let me know why, and often let me know who else they're interested in (and often tried to find out the same from me: are you interested in us, why, let us know if your status or interest in our program changes).  And I don't mean subtle, wink-and-a-nod things; I'm talking about overt can't-miss-this stuff.  I've been told several times that I'm a first choice of a SC, that there are gender-diversity issues they need to address, that they like me but for methodological or departmental needs have placed me as two or three, etc.

I think the "I'm interested in you" dance is part of every interview.

[Anon]

They're probably just being polite, but in any case, don't waste time overinterpreting little things like that.  You can get a better idea of how your interview went by reviewing what you said during the interview and how they responded.  You can also discover ways of improving in case you do future interviews.

[anon3]

Yup - don't overinterpret the statement.  

We've had several people come through our dept on recent interviews (we presently have two open positions),and I've really had to fight the urge to say "Good luck" when saying goodbye to the candidates (it feels natural at the time, but I know that it has the potential to be misinterpreted as negative).  Instead, I try to say something like "It was really great to meet you", etc.

[Anon2000]

I've never been given the slightest hint as to where I stood in a search. Perhaps this is fodder for a new thread?

[Anony again]

You know, most of the respondants on this thread seem to think that they merely told you "good luck."  But what they said was "good luck in your future endeavors."  I want to restate that when I was told "best of luck to you in your future endeavors" in a casual e-mail that responded to my thank-you note after an interview, it spelled bad news.  I never heard from them again.

That line usually appears in rejection letters.

[Snacker]

Whenever someone says "good luck" to me in the context of interviewing, I usually reply "And good luck to you as you fill your post."

[Biff]

Have you ever been about to get on a plane and the desk counter worker says "Have a good flight" and you say "you too!" even though she's obviously not flying?

And if so, do you think she spends several minutes analyzing what you could have meant by that?

And where can I go to get good tuna?  I mean REALLY good tuna?