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> In particular, I was asked to help hire an algebraic geometer -- algebraic geometry not being my specialty. Why were you selected then? > For me to read and
by gioele 12y ago
> In particular, I was asked to help hire an algebraic geometer -- algebraic geometry not being my specialty.
Why were you selected then?
> For me to read and understand the highly technical papers of each of 500 job applicants
Why did you, as a professor, wasted your time even reading the 500 names of the applicants? Wouldn't your time be better spent if somebody else did some background research, filtered 95% of the candidates and you were provided only a short list of the best candidates that you could carefully inspect?
- dubya 12y agoEven in a large department, individual specialties may have one or only a few experts. Sometimes none if the department is looking to branch out or fill a gap. There's also typically competition between groups for hires, so no group gets the final decision on which candidate to present (to the department, then the dean, and on up the chain...) As for the filtering, there aren't any widely accepted ways for a nonspecialist to rank candidates. Hiring committees are a standard part of a professor's job.