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[k2323]

Hope someone has some advice - I'm not quite sure what to make of things...

I got an email I was to interview for a TT position in Holland. They said they'd send a schedule as soon as possible.

I never got a schedule. The interview was a week away, and I was on sample collection (in a rural part of the country with no internet access (which I didn't know about beforehand)) up until 2 days before the interview. They wanted me to make my own flights. Fine. The 5 minutes I was able to get online while I was in the field I looked up flights and sent them to them to see if the times were suitable. Again, I had no schedule, so I didn't know what they had planned.

When I got home 2 days before, I found out they didn't like my flights, and wanted me to stay for 3 nights. No one told me this in any way - they said you will give a talk at this time and there is an hour interview right after. I have pets and I need to arrange a pet sitter. I don't have neighbors who can do it.

There is also the fact that, at that late time, the only flights that would suit them would mean I was on a coach from 1am my time to the airport. Also meaning I had 12 hours to arrange a pet sitter. I cannot do that.

I finally just said I was sorry, it was all my fault (even though it wasn't - there was miscommunication on both ends) and I could not make the interview in time. I hoped we could reschedule, but I understood if it wasn't possible.

I got an informal email from the head of the department saying the search committee had met and I'd still be invited to interview and I need to send him my slides. I do. A week goes by. No word. I just got a message saying they now want a skype meeting.

I am really sorry this happened, but I am also a bit upset they have my work-in-progress (my slides) and now want a skype meeting when they already said I'm still invited.

I don't think I want to go there. How do I get out of it, outside of making up something saying I've already taken another position? I do have other offers, and at this point, they look much, much better.

K

[lurkingfear]

Just tell them you've decided to go with another offer. Maybe they'll learn not to treat candidates this way, though probably not.

[k2323]

Do I need to specify which offer? What if they ask? I'd love to do as you suggested, as they have made me feel like I'm now a 2nd class candidate even though they are disorganised...

K

[larryc]

Do you want this job?

You are being overly sensitive. Running a search is a huge job, that faculty take on in addition to their regular duties, and in an ever-changing budget and bureaucratic environment. You are taking their shifting plans and needs as some kind of personal affront. It is no big deal and I think you should roll with it.

Don't put your pride into the job search mix.

[larryc]

Also, pick up the phone and call the SC chair to sort this out.

[graine]

Or your could re-frame it:

You didn't have internet access, and hadn't let them know, and so they contacted you in the only way they could - and when you finally got the message you couldn't take the flight because of your cat, and you didn't want to catch an early flight. They arranged to do a skype interview instead, so that you are more easily accommodated.  And you still don't want the interview - I'd think you aren't serious.

[k2323]

I am serious, and I have let them know that. I can do the skype interview, but I'm more worried that they feel like they need to fill the 'number of women interviewed' slot instead of really considering me, at this point. I also wonder about them not being willing to fly me out for the interview in the first place, after the head of department told me informally I'd still be invited to interview in person.

So, go with the skype? Does this not signal issues in the department?

For what it's worth, I told them I would be on sample collection and I wasn't sure about internet access.

K

[larryc]

Pick up the phone.

I don't think this signals issues with the department at all.

[k2323]

Right. Will do.

K

[graine]

Skype interviews are pretty normal these days - I wouldn't read anything into it.

[multinodal]

Larryc's advice is spot on. Also, the Dutch system is quite different from the U.S. in that the HR department (which will usually be called "Personnel") handles all the arrangements with the academics only being involved in the interview and decision-making. What this means in practise is that HR is very casual about responding to e-mails, making arrangements, etc. - possibly because they're not used to the practical hurdles faced by a non-Dutch candidate (arranging complex flight schedules, for example) - while the academic folks involved will have little to no idea that things are that disorganized. It's a bureaucratic system with fairly clear separations between administrative functions and academic ones (or as would be said in the Netherlands, "scientific" functions).

It's also a culture where e-mails are not responded to as quickly as in the U.S., and if you want something done, you really need to make personal contact via telephone - so, I definitely recommend calling the chair, or whatever contact person you have.

[larryc]

Good luck!

[thisisme]

So what exactly is your point?

Do you have the impression they have not treated you properly? Just try to see it from their point of view. Your post seems to emphasize pets a lot. (If you really, really wanted tat job, with some creativity won't there be any solution to the pet problem?) OK, they accept travelling and timing is not that easily arranged on short notice for you, so they offer Skye- sounds perfectly fine. Do not interpret too much "into" this.

Or is it - as you also mention- that you do not want the job and just look for a way out? Then why pointing out all the scheduling issues? Just tell them you do not want the job in a polite way. Your  problems with this will be resolved any nobody will care about the why exactly you cancelled. This is less of a problem in Holland than in the US. Apply and compare offers. You do not have to tell them details unless you consider this a real option and would like them to make a better offer than the one you currently consider. Then you need to be (very) specific. Otherwise just politely say no at this point where it is about the interview and not a offer- no problem.

[southern_outlier]

Other than validating that you need to see it from their side, I wonder what would happen if they offered you the job. Could you move with your pets? I mean, might you moving internationally?

[jackit]

Yes, what larryC said.