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Post by hades on Jan 24, 2012 19:36:22 GMT -5
I just want to vent about how many jobs want three letters of reference upfront. For example, UNC Charlotte has a 1 year lecturer position with a 4-4 load, and they want 3 letters of reference. I feel bad asking my advisors to continue to pump out letters for things like this!! I've applied to 80+ jobs, post-docs, etc this year and now am starting VAP and lecturer apps and I feel bad for my advisors and dread having to do that for students one day.
I know I could use interfolio, but I don't have the money to spend on that and my university doesn't give us a deal on it.
Can't search committees just ask for letters if you are an actual contender??
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ok
Junior Member
Posts: 64
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Post by ok on Jan 25, 2012 9:48:36 GMT -5
In short, no. Ask your writers to do a generic letter and pony up for interfolio. You don't have to pay for postage on most applications, as was the case in the past, so you have to accept this as a job searching expense -- keep track though, you can write this off on your taxes.
Perhaps your university has a portfolio service? Will your department administrators do this?
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Post by gt on Jan 30, 2012 13:57:53 GMT -5
I started to feel similarly recently, but realized that, of the 20-30 jobs I've applied to so far, fewer than half have asked for letters up-front. My letter-writers seem fine with it. If I were applying to 80+ jobs (as the original poster suggested he/she is/has) I might be more concerned, especially since I'd have to be applying WAY outside of my areas to get to that number.
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Post by silentbub on Jan 30, 2012 20:18:15 GMT -5
It's usually not a big deal because most people write generic letters and have administrators take care of stuff like this. It doesn't take much to change the address. It's even easier when it's in electronic format (via e-mail). However, I agree that 80+ hard copies per referee can be a pain. If your department is too poor (or too cheap) to hire administrators to do this, you may want to be a bit more selective when applying. Each time I'm on a SC, 50% of the applicants are not a good "fit" for the position. I realize that if you don't try, you'll never find out if you would have gotten a position. However, if your specialty is soc of the family, it's highly unlikely that you'll get hired for a CJ position (and vice versa).
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