Hello colleagues,
I am sure that someone had already asked this before more than once, but I couldn't find similar questions quickly.
I have a PhD and have been working in science for a few years, but I never was a postdoc before. Currently I am actively searching for a postdoc position and sending many applications to different institutes, usually via specialised sites on which you can track the status of an application. While I got a few rejections pretty quickly, my other applications continue to have status "under review" or like this for about two months. I have initially thought they were rejected too and I just haven't been notified, but later I saw that the corresponding positions are still open for applying which means they haven't been filled. I also saw a job ad with clearly specified dates for application, and there was a three months span for collecting applications with a notice that it can be prolonged if needed.
So, does all this mean that an application can be "under review" for more than three months and still have a chance to be accepted?
Welcome to the world of subjective hiring. . . . also known as the "BIC" hiring process.
BIC stands for "Because I Can." Individuals and organizations have the option of doing literally whatever they want to do in manipulating their hiring process. They are free to define whether a position will be filled, what the criteria for a "fit" happens to be, and when a position will be filled.
It's an employer's world in academia with many "qualified" candidates for full-time positions. Money is tight. Decisions are made subjectively. . . . or not at all.
Remember that fewer than 30% of all Human Resource Professionals have any significant academic training in their profession. . . . and that "seat of the pants" management decision-making is quite common.
CC
Well, I anticipate the harsh competition and I know that employers can afford to be picky here and take their time. But surely they would lose money if the position is not filled for a really long time? Like, the grant opportunities would expire, or the expensive equipment they invested in wouldn't pay off if it stays idle? So I'm trying to understand if my applications that were not explicitly rejected but I consider them old are actually new for the usual postdoc hiring time-frame and still can be successful? Or I can forget about them completely?
I concur with Dr. Caldwell. Most HR professionals are not well-educated in their field and have no clue what they are recruiting for, specifically in scientific industry. Most companies barely understand their actual cost of hiring/no hiring practices. Remember, "politics is married to businesses"....
I see. So all that was submitted through the institute site goes to the HR department. But what about some academic job ads that require you to send your CV and cover letter directly to the PI? Can the PI usually afford to take a few months to compare the applicants before hiring one of them?
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