Universities Weblog

Not that kind of early decision.

No, I'm talking here about a different use of the term. Consider my latest Chronicle of Higher Education column:

As elite universities balance social equality with magazine rankings in the debate over early-admission programs, I, too, am wrestling with a question of early decision.

I have unsuccessfully pondered my question quite often, and recent forays into hiring have brought it to my attention once again. Now I would like some answers. My question is this: At what point should you end an interview with someone who is clearly unqualified for the job?

During the past 16 years, I have been a part of countless job interviews — as a candidate, a search-committee member, and a hiring manager. I would guess the number lies I've been involved in lies somewhere between 105 and 219, give or take a few.

Interview marathons usually follow a familiar formula of phone interrogation, in-person grilling by the search committee, and a beauty-contest parade around the campus. Typically we subject three or four people to that treatment, collect reactions from our colleagues, call handpicked references, and attempt to reach a decision based carefully on a complex prescription consisting of one part scientific algorithms and two parts navel gazing.

Finish it here and draw your own conclusions. Would you end an interview prematurely?

Oh, and what's with Beaker? Read the column and find out.

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