next »

[jpm284]

Background: This is my second time on the job market in an MLA field. Last year I finished my PhD and was lucky enough (given this market) to snag a VAP at a top-tier SLAC. When the job postings came out this fall, I was excited to see one at a top-ten research university seeming to fit very closely my fairly niche research specialty. I was disappointed however when I discovered that one of the hiring department’s lecturers also does similar work. Surely this lecturer, I reasoned, would apply for the job. But realizing that being an inside candidate can be as much blessing as curse and noting that this lecturer has been with the hiring department for over a decade, I threw my hat into the ring. Last week, I received a request for additional writing samples (beyond the one supplied upfront) and this week I was notified that I am a “semi-finalist” for the job. In its e-mail to me, the search committee suggested I interview after the holiday season with “local and regional candidates,” even though I am neither. Noting that they do not expect me to make the long trip to their campus, they offered to conduct the interview via audiovisual means. Strangely, though, in the same message, they suggested that the bulk of their interviewing of semi-finalists would take place at the MLA in Philadelphia. When I replied that I could make myself available at the MLA for an in-person interview, they responded that due to “time constraints,” they wish me to interview in January. According to the job wiki, no one else has an MLA interview, or any other kind of interview for that matter, with the hiring department.

Question: Does this scenario seem strange? Am I to assume that there is an inside candidate and the search is more pro forma than anything else? Any others out there with similar experience? I am undoubtedly over thinking this but am very interested in the job.

[yellowtractor]

This is indeed one of the strangest tales I've heard yet on the job search forum.  I wouldn't know what to think.

I suppose one possibility is that you're somehow a second-tier candidate.  They're going to interview some top candidates at MLA, see how that goes, and then proceed as necessary later in January.

But mostly it's just really, really, really strange.

[songsofexperience]

Maybe you misread the e-mail? No, of course not since you've surely read it 20 times by now as I would have. Perhaps you could post the e-mail with the usual changes to keep identities and fields hidden etc? It does seem odd that they would have 2 rounds of interviews: one at MLA and the other for "local" candidates. Maybe they set up the MLA interviews and then someone on the committee really lobbied for you but they had given out all their MLA slots. I agree with yellowtractor that you could be in a "second-tier" position but this too is odd. I doubt this is happening because of an inside candidate but it does sound like the SC is a little disorganized.
Good luck!

[larryc]

this lecturer has been with the hiring department for over a decade

No way that person is getting the job. If there is an inside candidate, it is someone else.

Look, you are far down the path of making yourself crazy here, constructing elaborate scenarios based on some sliver of a sliver of evidence. The scenario that leaps to my mind is that they are afraid that the search will be cancelled and want to fill the position quickly, and perhaps also that they are afraid that a statewide travel ban (such as my state has right now) will mean they cannot interview at the MLA after all.

Take the interview that they want you to take and knock their socks off. Good luck.

[pink_]

Interviewing at MLA is not cheap, so "time-constraints" may be short-hand for financial constraints, especially in this economy.  I would try my best not to jump to conclusions.

[pournelle]

Actually this isn't that strange. My first year out, I landed a good multi-year postdoc w/a top 10 r1; my first year there they did a search that wasn't quite in my field; I applied anyway, and got the same deal: interview with the committee on campus after they'd interviewed at mla. It was a nice gesture, and good practice at honing my interview skills. Of course, you never know. I would approach this with minimal expectations, but maximal preparation.

[jpm284]

Well, it appears they are going to the MLA. At least one person has now posted on the job wiki that they have an MLA interview scheduled. Perhaps I am in some sort of second-tier position, although that scenario seems strange as well, not because I have an overinflated ego, but because it seems unlikely that a search committee would take the time to conduct two rounds of preliminary interviews more than a month apart. I guess only time will tell. Thanks to everyone for your input. I'm now going to focus my time on being as prepared as possible.