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Author Topic: Too many "Thank you's"?  (Read 1572 times)
kingbiscuit
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« on: January 27, 2012, 04:41:06 PM »

Okay, quick question this time--I just returned from a campus visit that I think went really well.  I love the department, the school, and the area.  I had great conversations with the committee, the Dean, and the students, and, of course, I was my usual gracious, charming, and personable self. 

My question is this: should I send the SC yet another "Thank You" e-mail?  And if so, do I send it to the chair of the SC or do I send it to every member of the SC/department? 

I ask because I feel like it's getting to the point of "enough already."  I fell kind of cheesy and obvious, and since I feel like I developed a good sense of authentic camaraderie with the SC, I have this nagging feeling in the back of my skull to just leave them the heck alone! 

Whaddya think, forumites? 
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michigander
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« Reply #1 on: January 27, 2012, 04:52:30 PM »

"Should I send the SC yet another 'Thank You' e-mail?"  No.  If you've already thanked them in writing once (as your posting implies), that's enough.  But if all of your thanks were verbal ones while you were there and behaving professionally and graciously, then you should send one short e-mail "Thank You" message to the chair.
« Last Edit: January 27, 2012, 04:55:36 PM by michigander » Logged
michigander
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« Reply #2 on: January 27, 2012, 04:54:46 PM »

I have no idea how my previous posting ended up with a strikethrough font.  That was not my intention.  There must be some keystroke combination in the forum software that I just used by mistake.
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bowl_haircut
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« Reply #3 on: January 27, 2012, 04:55:15 PM »

"hould I send the SC yet another 'Thank You' e-mail?"  No.  If you've already thanked them in writing once (as your posting implies), that's enough.  But if all of your thanks were verbal ones while you were there and behaving professionally and graciously, then you should send one short e-mail "Thank You" message to the chair.

Hmmm.  Michigander, is your entire statement intended to be "under erasure"?  

Very Derridean of you.
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michigander
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« Reply #4 on: January 27, 2012, 04:56:13 PM »

As you see, I figured out how to fix it.
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kingbiscuit
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« Reply #5 on: January 27, 2012, 04:57:39 PM »

"Should I send the SC yet another 'Thank You' e-mail?"  No.  If you've already thanked them in writing once (as your posting implies), that's enough.  But if all of your thanks were verbal ones while you were there and behaving professionally and graciously, then you should send one short e-mail "Thank You" message to the chair.

Let me clarify: I thanked them in writing (e-mail) after the phone interview, but that was way back in early December, not that that makes a huge difference I'm sure.
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proftowanda
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« Reply #6 on: January 27, 2012, 05:31:47 PM »

Then I think it's fine (and even more so, good etiquette) to thank the committee again after this stage, months later, OP.  It's also fine (and may avoid grumbles from any committee members who are loaded down with emails) to just message the SCC, who can forward it to others on the SC.  Perhaps copying the dean, but let's see what others say.

(In my department, just messaging the SCC would get the message forwarded not only to the SC members and the dean but also to the entire department (or departments, if an interdisciplinary position) and others involved.  That's very limited anecdotal "data" but reminds you that whatever you email could be forwarded far and wide.)

Keep it short, sweet, and succinct (i.e., not form letterish) in some detail or other specific to the department, campus, and/or interview experience.
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polly_mer
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« Reply #7 on: January 27, 2012, 05:33:58 PM »

A second thank-you after the on-campus interview is reasonable.  Whether you need to thank everyone again has been discussed recently.  No consensus has been reached, but most people think one email to the chair is good enough unless you can think of a strong reason that you need to thank one other particular person or send along a "oh, yeah, one more thing you may want to consider to continue our lengthy conversation is <blah>".

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If you haven't got either the anatomical or metaphorical balls to post your own question on a pseudonymous internet forum, then academia is the wrong job for you.
aside
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« Reply #8 on: January 27, 2012, 05:36:34 PM »

Here you would be thanking them for their gracious hosting at your campus interview, etc., so yes, it would be appropriate to write again.
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madhatter
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« Reply #9 on: January 30, 2012, 11:28:55 AM »

While it's good manners to send a thank-you note, it has absolutely no effect on the search process. I stopped sending notes in my last few searches.
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ruralguy
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« Reply #10 on: January 30, 2012, 01:03:10 PM »

Its only the third set of thank yous that gets you tossed onto the reject pile, so don't worry about it.

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aside
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« Reply #11 on: January 30, 2012, 01:25:27 PM »

Its only the third set of thank yous that gets you tossed onto the reject pile, so don't worry about it.


Sort of like the third time they say the phone number in advertisements; that last one is somehow more annoying.
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aprilmay
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« Reply #12 on: January 30, 2012, 02:19:34 PM »

Send the thank you. The SC is taking a lot of their time to interview you, so you can thank them for their time.  I suggest doing this individually. This is also a good opportunity to briefly highlight key points. "I am particularly excited about the . . . . at The University." or to ask another question.
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