Academic

AALS Faculty Recruitment Conference: Returning Telephone Calls

By Tim Zinnecker

Over at Prawfsblawg, one can cut the anxiety with a chainsaw as candidates (many adopting the moniker "anon" or some variation thereof) trade updates and questions on interview scheduling for the "meat market."

I started making telephone calls last week on behalf of our committee.  A few days have passed, and a handful of candidates have not returned my calls.  I'm curious if other hiring chairs find themselves leaving messages that go unreturned.  If so, do you follow up with another telephone call?  And how quickly?  Or do you assume, by the silence, that the candidate simply has no interest in scheduling an interview?

To candidates:  paraphrasing philosopher George Costanza, "WE"RE LIVING IN A SOCIETY!"  Please timely return those telephone calls you receive from hiring chairs.  Most of us have been around the block a few times and can handle a gracious rejection without triggering a need to visit our therapist.  We'll wish you well during this faculty recruitment season and move to the next candidate on our list.  But please don't let those telephone calls go unanswered.  Momma wouldn't be happy with your manners.  And remember that the law school academy is rather small.   The hiring chair you ignore today just might be (i) your future colleague, (ii) an external reviewer of your scholarship when you apply for tenure, or (iii) your next dean.

Communication is a two-way street, though, and perhaps some candidates have been ill-treated by hiring chairs on that front.  Where have we fallen short?  Drop those complaints in the comments, too!

Full post as published by The Faculty Lounge on September 15, 2009 (boomark / email).