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[minorleaguer]

The search committee chair has listed their name and e-mail address in the job ad.  The job ad instructs potential applicants to write with questions or for more details.

When is acceptable or beneficial to write an e-mail to the SC chair?

I've searched the fora for a similar thread, but came up empty.  Maybe we could get a list of rules of thumb for when it is acceptable/unacceptable to contact the search committee chair with questions. 

[msparticularity]

Prior to submitting an application, it is fine to contact the SCC for questions and clarifications about the position if the ad mentions this(as yours does) . Once you've submitted and the job listing has closed, you should contact only in case of a major change in your qualifications: a new publication or grant, for example. In that case, the way to proceed is to send a brief email noting the change, and to attach an updated CV.

[nocalprof]

Before submitting the application it's perfectly fine to ask questions of the SC chair if they've invited questions.  Just be sure the answer isn't sitting in the job ad or on the department's website.

[yellowtractor]

Before applying, you should submit a brief geography quiz to the SCC.  This is basic knowledge.  You wouldn't want to work at a school with a more senior colleague who doesn't know where Tokelau is; correspondingly, you wouldn't want to waste your (or his or her) time on the application.  You will be able to judge a great deal about the search and the institutional culture of the department/school based on the SCC's response.

[tinyzombie]

Be sure to check where they fall on the paper clips versus staples question.

[sheprof]

Let me try to be helpful here. Having been on both sides of the job search multiple times, I think job candidates psyche themselves out worrying about such issues far too much. If you have a question about the job that isn't covered in the ad, by all means contact the search chair. They've indicated that they're open to questions, so no one should get annoyed by queries. On the other hand, if you're thinking about writing in as a way of currying favor, I might find this off-putting if it's very transparent. Put most of your focus on preparing the strongest application package possible.

I generally don't get irritated if job candidates contact me. I had one that was heavy handed, offering to send in all kinds of additional materials, sending them even though I didn't ask for them, following up to make sure I received them, etc. I think people will react in all different ways to such an applicant, but from my view, I thought, here's a very eager candidate doing whatever s/he can to get a job in this tough economy. S/he didn't get the job, or an interview, but I don't think the extra contacts and lobbying hurt the applicant's case--the fit wasn't right. So my advice would be, don't contact people in a scheming way; do contact them if your questions are sincere. Read your messages back to yourself before sending to make sure they don't sound annoying or insincere.

[ruralguy]

Listen to sheprof: If you actually have a question, then ask a question!

Acceptable questions might be: 1. how many majors did you most recently graduate? (or how many Phd's, if
a graduate program) 2. does your campus have support groups for women/minorities/etc.?  And other questions that are fairly fact based that are hard to find elsewhere.

I wouldn't start asking "how many papers do I need for tenure" and that jazz....though you could ask about size of library or some other research facility.

[seniorscholar]

Acceptable questions might be: 1. how many majors did you most recently graduate? (or how many Phd's, if
a graduate program) 2. does your campus have support groups for women/minorities/etc.?  And other questions that are fairly fact based that are hard to find elsewhere.

This is probably field and applicant-number dependent, but as sc chair in an English department that gets 250+ applications for each position (1) I'd never urge applicants to contact me with questions (2) I'd be enormously annoyed if people started asking if my campus has support groups for women/minorities and other "what can you do for me" questions. Look at our website. We have a Women's Studies Program, an African-American Studies Program, a Latin-American Studies Semester (with all courses from lit to sociology to political science taught in Spanish), an Asian Studies concentration . . . and a big city all around us. All of those questions about number of majors, PhD's, doctoral placements, study leaves, tenure, etc. are things to find out *if you're one of the one in 20 among applicants contacted for a preliminary interview* You can worry about those things once you find out we have some interest in you. Otherwise, leave us alone to read the 250+ applications.

[mleok]

Acceptable questions might be: 1. how many majors did you most recently graduate? (or how many Phd's, if
a graduate program) 2. does your campus have support groups for women/minorities/etc.?  And other questions that are fairly fact based that are hard to find elsewhere.

I wouldn't start asking "how many papers do I need for tenure" and that jazz....though you could ask about size of library or some other research facility.

I would hesitate asking a search committee chair questions like the ones mentioned above as "acceptable", since these are things which are often easily found with the help of your favorite search engine, or just a bit of digging on the departmental website. Another possibility is to search for a departmental annual report, since that can be quite informative.

In fact, I would consider it a major negative if an applicant didn't spend a bit of time doing such leg work, particularly if it is readily accessible on the departmental website. In my mind, this would irritate me at least as much as an undergraduate asking about things which are addressed in the course syllabus.

In practice, unless the answer to your question will significantly affect whether you choose to apply or not, I would refrain from contacting the search committee chair, particularly if you are applying for your first tenure-track job. Questions of fit and appropriateness make a bit more sense if you're a senior faculty member, or at least already on the tenure-track, and your questions might determine whether you choose to sample the job market this year.

If you're desperately applying for your first tenure-track position, and are already committed to applying for hundreds of positions for which there are several hundred applicants each, then do everyone a favor, and spare the search chair your silly questions.

[systeme_d_]

I just composed a post that looked almost exactly like Mleok's, so instead I will just write "Chime."

[octoprof]

Prior to submitting an application, it is fine to contact the SCC for questions and clarifications about the position if the ad mentions this(as yours does) . Once you've submitted and the job listing has closed, you should contact only in case of a major change in your qualifications: a new publication or grant, for example. In that case, the way to proceed is to send a brief email noting the change, and to attach an updated CV.

Ms Particularity pretty much nails it here.

[minorleaguer]

Really great thread, thanks again.

This might be derailing my own thread a little bit, but I wanted to tack on a related question.  Would it be possible to clarify when it is appropriate to send an updated CV to the search committee chair?  Major grants, peer-review publications, and awards seem like the reasons people typically mention. 

But let's say I've published two book reviews and added a conference paper to my CV since turning in the original application.  It would presumably be an annoyance to contact the chair with an updated CV.  I'd maybe hand all of the search committee members an updated CV at an interview instead. 

Where is the line on this? 

[systeme_d_]

The line is clear, at least to me.  Big money, or substantial publication-related news.

In book fields, a book contract where there was none before, yup, send an updated CV.
An article accepted for publication, yup.
News of a big grant, yup.

Runner-up for a fellowship?  No.
A thousand bucks travel grant? No.
A dozen book reviews?  No.
A new blog entry?  No.

[mleok]

The line is clear, at least to me.  Big money, or substantial publication-related news.

In book fields, a book contract where there was none before, yup, send an updated CV.
An article accepted for publication, yup.
News of a big grant, yup.

Runner-up for a fellowship?  No.
A thousand bucks travel grant? No.
A dozen book reviews?  No.
A new blog entry?  No.

I think you should consider sending an updated CV if a new development dramatically improves your appeal as a candidate. Having said that, going from zero to one journal publication in a field where new hires routinely have a dozen publications under their wing, while a significant development for you, probably isn't going to be a game changer.

So, use your discretion, something which makes you more likely to be a prime candidate for the short list is worth mentioning, but if you're already on the short list, then it probably doesn't hurt to wait until the campus interview to update the committee.