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[science_expat]

Anyone have experience with Academic Search International or, more generally, in being head hunted?

I've just received an email from ASI asking whether I'd be interested in applying for a "Foundation Dean" post in Australia to set up a new school in my discipline.

The agency looks legitimate but I have no idea how broadly they spread their nets nor how I came to their attention. Frankly, I'm a bit stunned as I've been acting director of my research institute for less than a year.

Any thoughts?

Cheers,
SE

[aandsdean]

Once you get on a list of possibles, you get a lot of these.  When I first became dean I immediately began to get them by the inbox-load, so it's probably not a specific solicitation.  (You'd recognize such a solicitation because it would be, well, more specific--apologies if this one already has that kind of specificity.)

I don't know if Academic Search International is related to Academic Search here in the U.S., but I've had nice interactions with Academic Search over the past few years.  We used them at my previous job for several searches, and I actually found my current position through them as well.  They have always been professional and responsive.

I've mostly enjoyed working with headhunters.  You can have a much franker talk with them than you can with an SC chair.

Good luck!  Foster's is good, but I hear the BBQ in Australia isn't great compared to the South.

[science_expat]

Thanks, Aands

This makes sense and the email definitely lacks specifics so it's almost certainly a broad trawl.

Any ideas for how one makes that list of possibles? I'm just fairly surprised if I've on it as my only admin to date is 9 months as acting director of a fairly small research institute, a level equivalent to department chair.

I do attend research meetings in London a few times a year and am reasonably visible through asking questions and chatting with folks. Strange.

[jackit]

SE - Why not request a copy of the original ad, if there is one, or the requested qualifications/criteria, if it is private search?  Then you can see how good the fit might be.

Good luck!

[madhatter]

Could be you joined a professional society. Recruiters will buy professional society membership lists.

[oatmeal]

Definitely ask for the original ad. It sounds as though you were on some list somewhere and that it is a generic "head hunt" (if such things exist). But it might be worth pursuing. Good luck!

[science_expat]

Thanks all.

I've checked and they sent me the original ad. Clearly I've made some list but it's perhaps not as low level as my second post may have suggested - I meant to say that I've attended a number of research policy meetings in London recently.

I've got the research credentials - Nature papers, prestigious grants, etc... But I'm very new to admin so am surprised to have made even the broad list.

I'll leave it for a day or two but expect to respond thanking them for the email, stating that it's not the right time for me to be looking to move, but noting that I might be interested in similar positions in the future.

[sciencephd]

Even with the popularity of email, most headhunters that are recruiting a specific person will start with phone calls, rather than emails.  I'm suspicious of this happening in an email format.  In my little world, these things are always done by phone, even at a much lower level in the adminstrative hierarchy.

[anthroid]

Even with the popularity of email, most headhunters that are recruiting a specific person will start with phone calls, rather than emails.  I'm suspicious of this happening in an email format.  In my little world, these things are always done by phone, even at a much lower level in the adminstrative hierarchy.

Not in mine.  Email is the new phone call.  This is not at all surprising and it is within the normal course of business in my experience.  For some reason, perhaps legitimate, email "feels" more private than a phone call (which could involve a gatekeeper like an AA or secretary).  ScienceExpat, go for it if it is of interest.  I think it's legit.

[madhatter]

I've received headhunter emails, too. Usually, they do the coy thing -- "Here's a position we have ... can you recommend anyone who might be appropriate for it?"

[science_expat]

I've just moved from acting research director to research director so have responded with "thanks, but not at this time".

SE

[science_expat]

I've definitely done something to make the list - emailed today about different post by another head hunter.

Interesting as not something I expected at this stage of my career. Happy where I am but have started a file of the emails.