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[easily_distracted]

Just wanted some feedback to see if this situation is as odd as it appears to me ...

I was on the job market for the first time last year and after 5 applications and 1 interview, I was offered the tt job of my dreams - great location, perfect position in unique program at large R1, amazing salary, blah, blah, blah.  Out of the other 4 unsuccessful applications, I was asked to forward letters of recommendation by all and received notification from 2 schools saying that I didn't get the position(s). 

Last week I received an email from a faculty member at one of the schools that didn't notify me ... the SCC had recommended me as a potential speaker for their fall seminar series and they wanted to know if I would be interested in an all-expenses paid visit as well as an honorarium.

It's a great school (R1) with a well-respected program and internationally recognized faculty so I accepted the invitation because it is a great opportunity to network and will look good on my cv (I'm over the moon about the tt job I'm about to start and am not looking for a greener pasture just yet). 

I just can't help wondering if this is a common situation.  Thoughts?

[larryc]

It is not a common situation at all--but it sounds like a good one! Have fun and let us know how it goes.

[notaprof]

This has happened here before when a faculty member on the search committee found something in an applicant that was perfect for an ongoing speaker series.  The applicant didn't quite fit the position as well as other candidates but was obviously pursuing research that meshed perfectly with the theme of the speaker series.  So an invitation was issued.  Agreed, not common but why should that matter?   

[easily_distracted]

This has happened here before when a faculty member on the search committee found something in an applicant that was perfect for an ongoing speaker series.  The applicant didn't quite fit the position as well as other candidates but was obviously pursuing research that meshed perfectly with the theme of the speaker series.  So an invitation was issued. 

This is exactly the scenario I had imagined. 

Thanks for the replies - I'm glad to hear that it's not that common as I've never heard of this happening before.  The seminar isn't for another month but it will be interesting to see how it turns out.