Postdoc interview - somewhat positive reply but no news?eu619#
I am in a weird situation that I don't really know what this means. I had a postdoc interview on-site late May. It was two days long. I gave two presentations and a 6 hour long hands-on lab demonstration. Prof. seemed satisfied with the results and said "thank you for the successful demonstration."
Fast-forward to a month later, no news. So I send a follow up and get this reply "yes, we are positive on you for a position and we are still checking for some internal part for further official process." prof also send some questions about when is the earliest I could start and if I can abide by this and that lab rules, etc...
This was almost two months ago. Still no news. Did I get it, did I not? What's the hold up? I am very confused.
EDIT: I am located in Canada and this is a Canadian university.
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1Maybe the Prof. does not have the money right now and he/she does not want to communicate it explicitly. Did you discuss about possible funding during the interview? – Dr. H. Lecter 9 hours ago
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1Thank you for your reply. She said during the initial Skype interview that she doesn't have money problem but people problem, as in finding the right people for the job. Thats all I know in terms of funding. – Stdoggy 8 hours ago
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Do you know the school/institute? Maybe they have a bureaucratic lengthy procedure for hiring a postdoc. – seteropere 8 hours ago
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Could you specify the country? – Dmitry Savostyanov 8 hours ago
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Country is Canada. I don't know anything specific to this institution. I had applied to a Pdf job post. So I would think there would be money in the pot. Unless the prof decided to hire me but for a separate project and has no readily available funds for it. I am speculating here. – Stdoggy 8 hours ago
2 Answers
One possible scenario is that they have a preferred candidate, who has not yet accepted or rejected their offer.
Another possible scenario is that there is an uncertainty about funding. For example, they may be trying to hire you using some complicated scheme in which your position is co-funded by a third body. It takes time to organize such things. Or they may be waiting for an announcement of the outcome of their grant application submitted long ago. They may have decided to hire you anyway, but may not yet know which grant to fund your position from. Or they may have been unable to hire you in the intended way and may be looking for an alternative method to hire you.
It is rather a bad sign that they did not take the initiative to contact you and keep you updated, and such a delay seems to be too long to be caused by any official process unless this process is related to an application for some funding.
If I were you, I would be rather pessimistic and would send a frank email expressing my concern. I would ask them to frankly explain what is going on and to tell me the probability of me getting an official offer. I would also ask them when I should expect to receive an official offer. If I did not receive a convincing and credible response, I would immediately start looking for another position.
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I am inclined to agree that official process shouldn't take this long. I will send the prof an email when I get the chance and ask about the status of my application. I have already started applying around. – Stdoggy 8 hours ago
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My advice is: Assume the worst and make a strong impression in your email that you consider yourself not to have gotten the position. Make an impression that you are giving them a chance to prove the opposite. I think this is the best way to find out the truth. – Sandra 8 hours ago
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That's a good advice. I will formulate my email in way. – Stdoggy 8 hours ago
The PI told you that you got the job, so you should contact them again. I'd suggest you start being more pressing, something along the lines of "I would like to know when the contract will start, since I have to make arrangements..."
It's quite common for the internal hiring process to take a long time so there's no reason to be alarmed, but you've been quite patient already. In case you have other opportunities available you can mention it, it might speed things up if they worry that they might lose you.
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I am planning on sending an email and ask about status of my application. – Stdoggy 8 hours ago
