Understand the dynamics at play in the hiring process and you can navigate it more effectively.
While faculty search committees tend to be fairly homogenous, made up of academics in the same field as the new hire, administrative search committees are often an odd amalgam of people with varied expertise and often-competing views. As a candidate, you are a step ahead if you understand the inner workings of search committees and the constraints under which they operate. Here are some things that the search committee wishes you knew but would never actually reveal:
- We often have no idea what we want. Members of the search committee may not understand what the hiring authority (i.e., the administrator making the final decision) wants, and we may even disagree among ourselves about what we are looking for in the position. That’s especially true when the committee includes a mix of people from different departments. Strong and confident candidates can use this confusion to their advantage by creating a vision of what the job and the successful candidate should look like. If you sense confusion, take control and share your bold ideas.
- We resent being used as a facade for fairness. Sadly, there are times when committees are used to make it appear that a search is truly fair and open. In those cases, the hiring authority has someone in mind and forms a committee only because it is an expectation or institutional requirement. Search committees tend to figure that out quickly and will often demonstrate a sense of apathy when communicating with you. Remember, it’s them, not you, so don’t take it personally. If you have a sense you aren’t a serious contender, you can bow out of the process or use an interview or a campus visit as a learning experience or opportunity to meet new people.
- Search committees want you to at least pretend this process is a not a hassle. Because we want to ensure that you are successful here, we have scheduled you to meet with a wide range of people who want to weigh in on your candidacy. That means: meeting after meeting, presentation after presentation. In addition to showing you around, we are testing your stamina and ability to remain polite after the 17th person has asked you to explain your views on community engagement. Act like every question is shiny and new — and answer it accordingly.
Continue reading: “What Search Committees Wish You Knew,” by Allison M. Vaillancourt
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