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[valentinodrag]

How long does one wait to hear from the SC chair after a campus interview?  Is there a number of weeks at which the SC has an ethical obligation to tell the campus interviewees what is going on?

[msparticularity]

One waits however long it takes--sometimes forever. And there is not any number of weeks that is a commonly accepted limit for the SC to let those who have been invited for campus visits know about the job status. Basically, you'll find out, or you won't, and there's nothing at all you can do about it. This is the norm in academia, and you will simply have to adapt to it if you're going to survive. Do come on over to some of the job search threads to commiserate, though--especially the check-in thread!

[helpful]

When you were there did you ask them about timelines? That would have been the logical thing to do. When I was on a SC we always made sure to tell candidates approximately how long the timeline was, even if we were not asked. It is a common courtesy to do so.

[glowdart]

Well, I'm still waiting to be notified about a job that I interviewed for during the Bush administration.

So, if you're the first choice, it can be a day to a month, depending on paperwork and the interview schedule for the other candidates.  If the first choice candidate strings out the offer, then it could easily be six weeks before that's resolved and the authorization to call you as the #2 is made.  

Ethics?  No.  Bureaucracy?  Oh yes.  

[msparticularity]

When you were there did you ask them about timelines? That would have been the logical thing to do. When I was on a SC we always made sure to tell candidates approximately how long the timeline was, even if we were not asked. It is a common courtesy to do so.

Yes, but this gives the impression that the SC's timeline will be accurate--something that is not necessarily the case.

[valentinodrag]

I gather from the replies that I have not waited long enough.  Thank you for your responses.  I really appreciate it.  Where is the site where informatin about particular searches can be found?  The academic job wiki does not have anything to report about the search in question---that is, no one has said anything at all.

[canuckois]

Where is the site where informatin about particular searches can be found?  The academic job wiki does not have anything to report about the search in question---that is, no one has said anything at all.

Good God, then there isn't any information.  Calm down already.  Do you really think every academic job search has an up-to-the-minute report on a website somewhere? 

Sit on your hands.  That will prevent you from posting further here.  Tomorrow, e-mail your advisor and ask them why you don't already know these things.

[helpful]

When you were there did you ask them about timelines? That would have been the logical thing to do. When I was on a SC we always made sure to tell candidates approximately how long the timeline was, even if we were not asked. It is a common courtesy to do so.

Yes, but this gives the impression that the SC's timeline will be accurate--something that is not necessarily the case.

Yes. That is why I used the word 'approximately' and we specify we only know about the timeline at the department level...that the upper levels are out of our control so we can't specify anything beyond that. (We inform the candidate we are recommending to hire that we have done so and again underline that this not a contract offer yet, just a courtesy so that they know where the hiring process is at..just in case they are interviewing at other places).

[ranlhel]

I feel your pain. I had an interview about a month ago, and still waiting for the output. But fortunately in my case, I knew the timeline: the SC clearly told me they will meet this weekend and that is the time they can tell candidates sth. So all I can do now is to cross my fingers. I suggest you do the same, and good luck.

[betterslac]

If you look at enough threads, you will see that people have been notified (and received job offers) at a wide variety of times after an interview. 

At my last job, the department chair told me on the way to the airport at the end of my campus visit that they would offer me the job. At the same institution, we made an offer to someone about 6 weeks after his interview because our first choice negotiated for a long time with the dean before finally (and reluctantly) turning us down on salary grounds.

So, again: chill.

[imawakenow]

Is there a number of weeks at which the SC has an ethical obligation to tell the campus interviewees what is going on?

Unfortunately, bureaucracy, desire to avoid a lawsuit and general incompetence trump any sort of "ethical obligation" the search committee may have to tell interviewees what is going on.

If you get a job offer, contact the search committee. Otherwise, try to focus on other campus interviews, your dissertation, the weather, etc. until you hear something.

Good luck on your job search.

[seniorscholar]

Our previous department chair would call the #2 and #3 campus interview folks after making an offer to #1 to say "we've made an offer but negotiations can take a long time; do let me know if you have another offer because we are definitely still interested." In one search, dragged out to truly unreasonable length by #1, we had a call from #2 after about seven weeks which, intelligently, specified the college making the offer (which was at least one step if not two "down" from ours), and the chair promptly called #1 and say "if you don't accept this offer by noon tomorrow it's off the table." One p.m., no answer, offer made to candidate #2 (for which, looking back now after that person's tenure, all of us are profoundly grateful).

However -- this was a personal policy of department chair, who moved back to full-time teaching after the 5-year term our chairs serve. Current chair does not notify #2 and #3, though still does close all campus interviews with a request to let us know about "any change in your situation" -- which I certainly hope everyone knows means "call us if you get another offer."

[westcoastgirl]

If you look at enough threads, you will see that people have been notified (and received job offers) at a wide variety of times after an interview. 

At my last job, the department chair told me on the way to the airport at the end of my campus visit that they would offer me the job. At the same institution, we made an offer to someone about 6 weeks after his interview because our first choice negotiated for a long time with the dean before finally (and reluctantly) turning us down on salary grounds.

So, again: chill.

Is this common? Sometimes similar happened to someone I know, but she still hasn't heard.

To answer the OP, a good friend is on a search--last candidate came in on a Friday, the department met a week from then to do the vote and the first pick was notified over the weekend. This university has a policy to notify #2 and #3 and ask them to be in contact very closely if they receive other offers. And in this case, #1 is dragging her feet.

The timeline presented here is not always the case. At my own university, they don't communicate with 2 and 3 until 1 signs elsewhere. I'd say the ten day turn around is quite speedy, though.

[westcoastgirl]

If you look at enough threads, you will see that people have been notified (and received job offers) at a wide variety of times after an interview. 

At my last job, the department chair told me on the way to the airport at the end of my campus visit that they would offer me the job. At the same institution, we made an offer to someone about 6 weeks after his interview because our first choice negotiated for a long time with the dean before finally (and reluctantly) turning us down on salary grounds.

So, again: chill.

Is this common? Sometimes similar happened to someone I know, but she still hasn't heard.

To answer the OP, a good friend is on a search--last candidate came in on a Friday, the department met a week from then to do the vote and the first pick was notified over the weekend. This university has a policy to notify #2 and #3 and ask them to be in contact very closely if they receive other offers. And in this case, #1 is dragging her feet.

The timeline presented here is not always the case. At my own university, they don't communicate with 2 and 3 until 1 signs elsewhere. I'd say the ten day turn around is quite speedy, though.

I should add, I was speaking about a SC member offering the job immediately at the conclusion of the interview. I'm wondering how this works if there has been no formal decision.

[msparticularity]

If you look at enough threads, you will see that people have been notified (and received job offers) at a wide variety of times after an interview. 

At my last job, the department chair told me on the way to the airport at the end of my campus visit that they would offer me the job. At the same institution, we made an offer to someone about 6 weeks after his interview because our first choice negotiated for a long time with the dean before finally (and reluctantly) turning us down on salary grounds.

So, again: chill.

Is this common? Sometimes similar happened to someone I know, but she still hasn't heard.

To answer the OP, a good friend is on a search--last candidate came in on a Friday, the department met a week from then to do the vote and the first pick was notified over the weekend. This university has a policy to notify #2 and #3 and ask them to be in contact very closely if they receive other offers. And in this case, #1 is dragging her feet.

The timeline presented here is not always the case. At my own university, they don't communicate with 2 and 3 until 1 signs elsewhere. I'd say the ten day turn around is quite speedy, though.

I should add, I was speaking about a SC member offering the job immediately at the conclusion of the interview. I'm wondering how this works if there has been no formal decision.

I was offered my present job near the end of my campus visit. The SC met while I was visiting an on-campus research center on the morning of my second day, and the department chair had also spoken with the Dean, who had agreed. There were special circumstances, though; I was the emergency back-up candidate after the earlier ones had proven unacceptable during their campus visits, and the SC was aware that I had other campus visits pending. (I hadn't told them, but I think my advisor and/or a mutual acquaintance may have.)