Dr. Karen published an intimidatingly long and scarily anal post on how to be in control of every second of your campus visit.
When I try to imagine a person who would be capable of memorizing that list of recommended behaviors and would retain this degree of control over his or her conduct just to be liked by people, one word comes to mind: sociopath.
Do people really, honestly, sincerely want to work alongside such a highly manipulative, completely fake and barely human individual?
Clarissa's Blog 
Do people really, honestly, sincerely want to work alongside such a highly manipulative, completely fake and barely human individual?
One hopes not, but maybe someone who is in a completely unfamiliar culture or very much non neurotypical might appreciate some clues.
LikeLike
I frankly think it’s disgusting to memorize the list of everybody at the department with their most recent publications and professional achievements, as is suggested. When people fake interest in my scholarship because they want something out of me, that’s just wrong.
LikeLike
Yes, control freak and also assumes job candidates are totally uncouth. Keeps saying do not talk down to others, but talks down in many of own posts.
LikeLike
Well, a blog is different from a professional setting. I also don’t go around calling people vicious freakazoids, no matter how much I disagree with them. 🙂
I’ve been on a search committee where people were snowed in precisely this kind of “perfect” candidate and who after being hired started exhibiting very sociopathic behaviors. No normal, healthy person can really be 100% unproblematic, likeable, and comfortable.
LikeLike
“I know I’m such a swell guy, but let me ask you something … Do you like Huey Lewis and the News?”
[says the following like Patrick Stewart]
Not sociopathy … ACTING.
This usually points to an organisational problem, one in which the people doing the hiring have let out the sentiment that nothing less than the “perfect candidate” will do. Some people, realising it’s an acting audition, prepare for precisely that.
That’s why it would be hilarious after making such pretences to start quoting lines from Patrick Bateman in “American Psycho”. The wise, of course, would understand immediately that the performance was a put-on.
“EMINENCE FRONT, IT’S A PUT-ON, IT’S A PUT-ON …”
LikeLike
But “acting” when you are not onstage IS sociopathy.
“This usually points to an organisational problem, one in which the people doing the hiring have let out the sentiment that nothing less than the “perfect candidate” will do. Some people, realising it’s an acting audition, prepare for precisely that.”
– I’m sure cannibals can also find many arguments as to how the victim is begging to be eaten. 🙂
LikeLike
Eldest daughter is back in the US and applying for jobs. Two days ago she said that she is in a short-list for possible interview. This morning, I emailed her Dr Karen’s blog on what to wear for a visit to campus. I just got her acknowledgement on my e-mail with one sentence: “Thanks mom!. I’ll go naked”…(degree of frustration???)
I think these job places should have a nearby shop renting interview uniforms for candidates. It would be a great help and relief for candidates having already enough to worry about!. WTF!!!. Stupid ‘americanadas’!.
LikeLike
Good luck to your daughter!
When i was on the job market i had no idea there were any online spaces where academic job search was discussed. And that was a great thing because I knew i would get a good job and largely enjoyed the whole process.
LikeLike
What was a great thing, Clarissa?. To ‘have no idea that there were any online spaces…”?. I find that some aspects of these online discussions are helpful but many others exhibit a great dose of inflexibility. That is in contrast with the idea that flexibility and adaptation capacity are in the essence of academic and scientific rigor.
LikeLike
I was spared all of the horror stories, the drama, and the active sabotage of competition that goes on in these online spaces. In my opinion, the best thing anybody on the market can do is stay away from all academic blogs and not discuss the search with colleagues. And most importantly – avoid the wikis!
My academic rigor didn’t suffer as a result of not wasting time on these discussions.
LikeLike