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[mountainguy]

Whatever you do, be sure you know who the committee members are. A few years ago, a candidate at the phone interview stage somehow got the impression that I was on the committee (I wasn't) and included me in the email. Worse yet, the candidate included a rather sensitive detail in the email that I'm sure the SCC would have preferred to keep confidential.

[nocalprof]

When interviewing for my current R1 position, I sent a hand-written note to everyone who took the time to meet with me one on one, and also one to the secretary who handled my logistics.

Certainly it didn't get me the job, but once I got here people remembered.  That small effort generated a fair amount of good will - not a bad thing for someone new.

There's nothing wrong with erring on the side of being nice.

Email thank you notes are not worthwhile, I think.  Anybody can do that in 10 seconds.

[polly_mer]

Email thank you notes are not worthwhile, I think.  Anybody can do that in 10 seconds.

Again, anyone can write a generic good-manners email or card in 10 seconds.

Dear X,

I enjoyed my visit to your school.  Everyone was lovely and I can see myself working there.

If I can answer any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Best,

Polly Mer

Yes, delete, delete, delete those.

On the other hand,

Dear Marge,

Thanks for having lunch with me on Thursday.  I learned so much about the town that I can't get from the website.  I've been thinking about your question on how to modify that lab on eggs and a possibility is to put some of the rubber bands in the freezer, some on a window ledge, and some in a drawer for the two weeks prior to the lab.  That will give students a range of materials with which to work, even though ostensibly the materials are the same.  That's a real-life collection of data and will make later-in-the-week labs unable to merely copy what the earlier labs did.

I had a great time and I hope that whatever happens with the search that I'll see you at the next <Big Conference>.

Cheers,

Polly