If you're the number two and end up taking the job in the end, wouldn't that affect your level of loyalty to that institution? I.e., you didn't really want me, so why shouldn't I be ruthless is pursuing resources and seeking outside offers?
Always the bridesmaid
-
Why would it? You are still good enough/they like you enough to give you an offer. You're going to get the same resources/money/teaching load whether you're first or second. If you like the job and you want tenure there in a market like this, why do you care what number you are if you get an offer?
-
If you're the number two and end up taking the job in the end, wouldn't that affect your level of loyalty to that institution? I.e., you didn't really want me, so why shouldn't I be ruthless is pursuing resources and seeking outside offers?
Uh. Why wouldn't you be ruthless in pursuing resources and seeking outside offers if you were the first choice?
-
Yeah but since you were second fiddle you're gonna have a hard time attracting good suitors. Good luck!
If you're the number two and end up taking the job in the end, wouldn't that affect your level of loyalty to that institution? I.e., you didn't really want me, so why shouldn't I be ruthless is pursuing resources and seeking outside offers?
-
If you're the number two and end up taking the job in the end, wouldn't that affect your level of loyalty to that institution? I.e., you didn't really want me, so why shouldn't I be ruthless is pursuing resources and seeking outside offers?
My loyalty to my institution is driven by two things:
1. How they treat me
2. My ability to generate interest at places that I preferWhether I was initially their first of second choice wouldn't matter at all. Why would it? Bizarre.
-
I was the #2 choice in my search. So was the most productive assistant in my dept. No hard feelings in either case, and I doubt that anyone on the faculty remembers at this point anyhow.
That being said, both of us are actively trying to get the hell out of here now.
-
Op is right to be annoyed bc it's bad etiquette. Yes the second place person cannot often afford to say no but that's beside the point. Do you see this practice as widespread in the private sector, calling people to tell them that you liked someone else more and offered a position to someone else? then saying "hold on bc we might want you." Jackasses do this kind of thing. It would be far better to say nothing and give candidate one two weeks to respond, THEN contact candidate two. It just needlessly starts things off on an awkward potentially sour note if you have to go to candidate two, and perhaps most importantly, it's simply unnecessary. Usually candidate two will gladly wait the two weeks bc most candidates aren't getting multiple offers. Search committees do this kind of thing only bc they can get away with it and don't care/are oblivious to how they come off.
-
^ truth. You will find out later that you were the number two choice, and you shouldn't be offended by that, but you shouldn't be told that ahead of time. It's unprofessional. I have been told I was the second choice by a school before, but only after the first choice accepted, as a way of saying hey your interview went well it was a close decision etc.
-
Ignorance is never bliss. I'd rather know where I stand during the whole process instead of wasting precious time speculating about what's going on. Besides, if you're confident about yourself, and you know what you can contribute to the department, you shouldn't take it personally if they told you you're number 2! It could've been due idiosyncratic factors (e.g. department politics) that do not speak of who you are or their "honest" thoughts about you. So I'd rather know that I'm number 2 immediately instead of torturing myself for the whole two weeks.