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[daisyaday]

I interviewed at a college in the South. I don't know if the following scenario had to do with cheapness or not, but I suspect they had an internal candidate and were just bringing me in for show. I also think there was something suspicious about the department that they didn't want me to see. I found out that the department head, whose position I would fill, had stepped down and was still working in the department. I kind of got the feeling that there were some serious personnel issues there. I was told that the following would happen and I went anyway out of sheer curiosity:

I was flown into town in the morning and driven to campus. I was escorted to the president's office where I interviewed with the president and dean for about 45 minutes. I was not invited to tour the campus or the department in which I would be working (I was told this would be the case beforehand) and a tour was declined when I asked anyway. I was given no snack or lunch and at the end of the interview, I was put back on the airplane and flown back home. It was all very secretive and CIA-ish. I was whisked in and out in the blink of an eye. Never heard another word from them.

Oh - in one other scenario, the VPAA, who resembled a little red-headed and egotistal elf, called me post-interview and offered me the position. When I politely inquired about tweaking the salary just a bit, he withdrew the offer immediately. I think he wanted someone who wouldn't challenge him. It was odd. He was an odd little man.

Daisy

[regular_joe]

A few years back I had an interview at a fairly well-endowed SLAC in Ohio. They tried to make me pay for an additional night in the local inn---an additional night that the SC had previously approved at my request so that I could look at housing in the area. Eventually, they took care of it, but this soured me on the whole place. I don't know if I would have accepted the position had it been offered. Oh, did I mention that I was told that I would have to pay for the extra night *as I was being picked up by the SCC* to start the day-long interview? And did I mention that the local inn is *owned by the college*? And did I mention that I later learned that the search was fixed and they were already going to hire someone else (so why would I need an additional day to look at houses if they weren't seriously considering me as a candidate anyway)?

Fun times. But I'm glad I didn't get that job---I'm in a much better place now.

As a graduate of this particular college, I can reassure you that you're in a better place now, without having the slightest idea of what that place is.  It's a wonderful place for students -- but for faculty it's a disaster.

Thanks, qrypt. I was bewildered by my interview experience there, but it did seem like a dynamic place for students, with lots to be involved in and a strong study abroad program. Would you mind elaborating a bit on why things are so bad for faculty there?