Late Spring Search Schedule/Timeline

[Bluesy]

What is the timeline for the spring job market? If I have six upcoming interviews, should I be concerned that if I get fly outs they are all going to try to cram them in before the end of the semester? Also even if I don't get past zooms I am really curious about how this works. 

Thanks for any insight- I'm coming from a department that starts their search in early fall/normally wraps up hiring by March.

[department decides]

It depends on the hiring department. Last year I had an interview that the search started on April but the campus visit was held in Sep. The department told me they wanna bring more students and faculty to the job talk so they did not want to do job talk in the summer and then postponed the job start date to the the beginning of next year. After a long time of waiting after my campus visit, I was told they failed the search.

[Tip]

It’s hard to generalize. Each institution is dealing with its own constraints that led to the later timeline.

But here’s a tip. Most universities have already published their fall course schedule by now. Take a look to see if anything has been assigned to “staff.” That should give you a clue about what they are expecting a new hire to teach. If there’s nothing there, that might be a red flag.

[Sporty Spice]

I had exactly the same question. How long is it wise to wait? Should I accept poverty wages offer from school in fear that the search is wrapping up.

[SC here]

we are hiring for a position for fall 2024. admin (HR?) took their time to get it posted; hence why it looks even more last minute than it is.
Yes, courses with "staff" are a good indication, but not always as this can also be for confirmed incoming hires who are not in the system yet.

[visiting]

Mar 28, 2024 18:33:57 GMT -5 Bluesy said:

What is the timeline for the spring job market? If I have six upcoming interviews, should I be concerned that if I get fly outs they are all going to try to cram them in before the end of the semester? Also even if I don't get past zooms I am really curious about how this works. 

Thanks for any insight- I'm coming from a department that starts their search in early fall/normally wraps up hiring by March.

Depending on the position they also might not do campus visits. I got a visiting line last year and they only did one round of interviews because of timing. One of the lines I'm applying for this year is doing a second zoom round rather than flyouts, I'm guessing because of the timing. It's still possible to end up with multiple visits close together, but I wouldn't stress it too much.

[OP Bluesy]

Only replying so future folks looking for info can get an idea too— I ended up with 4 fly outs- all TT so I’m off the walls proud of myself- (I’ve had more zoom interviews since) & fly outs have, in fact, converged on end of April. There’s one week where I’m home less than 3 hours before going back to airport (get in at midnight, next flight boards at 4:50am)... So I was correct to be concerned. My only option if I get additional that want me to fly out is to create more long weeks where I’m home mere hours before leaving again. I’m far from complaining I just wanted to share that it can get a little crazy if you are really lucky at the end. Fingers crossed I stick the landing at one of these!

[Congrats and good luck!]

Bluesy, that's super exciting, and also sounds so exhausting--wishing you the best of luck through it!

I'm curious, is there a reason you chose to go home in between those interviews, rather than just flying from one to the other? Obviously that would require telling them you have a flyout somewhere else... but is that a problem?

I did get asked on flyouts whether I had interviews elsewhere, and I genuinely wasn't sure if there was reason to keep it secret or not.

[OP Bluesyy]

So silly the board won’t let me reply with repeated name. Anyhow- to answer the question I did not ask because they are really different in ranking and I don’t know if it matters? I know people say sharing your success makes you look more attractive but late market seems really different because it’s a huge mix of programs. Will it influence an R1 to know you only have other interviews at R2s & smaller? No clue, but I wanted to play it safe because I can see it influencing R2s & smaller if they think I won’t accept their offer/will turn around and be back on the market. I absolutely welcome input- I feel like we are all out here guessing.