Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Rejected, Being

After interviewing for a library job, it is customary to send thank you notes to the individual search committee members. If you suspect that there's a chance you won't get the job and you plan to send a follow-up voodoo death curse, be sure to collect a strand of hair from each of the committee members during the interview.

5 comments:

Idun said...

you can also use nail clippings and personal belongings (rings, bookmarks, ink pens, etc...)

Lisa said...

As a search committee member, you know this custom and will do all you can to conceal your name from candidates. Mumble your name at introductions time, fail to provide a business card, and do not wear a name tag.

Anonymous said...

You can also take a photo of each committee member and later pull out pins to inflict momentary pain. Usually it works just as well as a voodoo death curse.

Anonymous said...

When interviewing at a large academic library, don't bother with thank you notes. They'll only get lost in the shuffle. Besides, you probably won't hear a peep from them at least until 4 or 5 months have passed. They won't remember your face, so why would they remember you sent a thank you note?

Anonymous said...

Actually, my experience has been that the decisions get made before you have time to get home, write the thank yous, and get them in the mail (and we're not even counting delivery time).

As a search committee member, I just wish that people who send thank you notes would remember that they are professional correspondence. I feel embarrassed for the candidate when I get a handwritten note on thank-you stationery. I'm not your Aunt Grace, who sent you that bizarre or lovely gift.

Of course, a thank-you note has never changed my impression of a candidate, either.