Applying in future years to jobs one didn't get?

In our December "how can we help you?" thread, Annie writes:

My questions concern applying for jobs in departments that one has in previous years been short-listed but ultimately rejected from. Is this something one should acknowledge in one's cover letter? Should one hedge by keeping the same materials like a writing sample (since they worked last time and they might not be remembered) or do something new (to show you've developed or something)? Anything else worth knowing? Thanks everyone

Interesting questions. My reaction here is pretty unequivocal: I don't think it is worth mentioning or doing anything special with one's application materials. Let me explain.

First, the search committee may or may not be comprised by the same people as in the previous year(s). Search committees are a lot of work, and some people might not want to serve on one multiple times. Second, even if you were rejected, that doesn't tell you very much. My experience serving on search committees is that a committee can like a lot of candidates, but then face very difficult decisions about who to interview, who to invite to campus, and who to hire. So, you never know: regardless of whether you submit the same materials, a new search committee might like your candidacy more, the same, or less than the previous year's committee. Finally, I think there's a non-zero probability that mentioning your previous year's candidacy in a cover letter could backfire - as it could look presumptuous (viz. presuming that because you fared one way in a given pile of candidates, you should fare the same way in a new pile of candidates).

So, my recommendation here is to just apply to a job in the same department you were previously rejected from like you would apply to any job. Sure, I think it can be a good idea to update your materials: you teaching portfolio (e.g. with more recent student evaluations), your recommendation letters (if you've accomplished significantly more since they were written), your research statement (for similar reasons), and your writing sample (but only if you have written something better or more relevant to the advertised job than your former one). But, of course, these are just my reactions. What do you all think?

Comments

[Michel]

Agreed--apply, and apply fresh!

[SC member]

I second Marcus' advice, with the following qualification: say something if you made it to the on-campus stage. First, you have information that gives you a real opportunity to explain why you want to work *there*. Second, at non-R1s, you're almost guaranteed to have some overlap in committees and it would be weird not to mention it.

[n]

I would definitely not mention that I had interviewed there before (I am assuming you had an on campus). Indeed, I think the person applying should NOT count on getting a job there. I would guess that if they remember your past experience, they will be inclined not to interview you. This is human nature (and not necessarily just). They may be embarrassed that they hired the wrong person last time, for example. But I think you should really not count on that job.

[SC member]

n,

I think this is bad advice. First, I don't think anyone is counting on getting the job, especially not the OP (why ask for advice if you're counting on getting the job?). Second, I personally know *several* people who got jobs in departments where they previously got to the on-campus stage and yet didn't get the offer.

[Annie]

Thank you for the advice (albeit conflicting) so far, Marcus and everyone. I am very grateful. To be clear I meant places where I have previously interviewed. I agree that it is not a good idea to mention it if you have not made it that far.

[Another SC member]

Unless you came away from your in-person interview with a distaste for working in that department, I think it would be a mistake not to apply again. In the current job market, with so, so many good candidates and few jobs, committees may often find that they'd love to hire several of the people they flew out. Not getting the job might just have had to with your fit with last year's job description, but perhaps this year, you'll be the right fit.

I think it would seem odd not to allude to your previous interview in your cover letter. If I were on the committee, it would make me feel like you weren't tailoring your letter enough and thus weren't really that interested. (And even if committee composition changes, other members of the dept may well remember the names of the few people who came to campus for the previous search!) Just make sure that your allusion to your interview is more along lines of what SC member suggested: giving a reason why you're interested in working *there*, such as something you really liked about the university and/or department. You wouldn't want to say anything that would make it sound like you feel entitled to being interviewed there again (in line with Marcus's worry about seeming presumptuous).

For the writing sample, I'd recommend sending whatever you think is your strongest writing sample. If it's the same piece as before, then so be it. If you have a newer piece that's approximately as strong, send that instead.

I'll also add that I know of three departments that have brought the same person to campus for two different searches. So it does happen.