In our November "how can we help you?" thread, a reader writes:
I have two questions about the role of personal websites in the job application process.
1. What are some reasons search committee members might visit an applicant's webpage?
I have a hidden, password-protected page on my website that contains all my application materials and a few additional ones. I put the address and password in my cover letters. Now that most of my applications are in, I see that people from regions I applied in are visiting my webpage, but they are not using this page. Instead, they are just browsing the website in general. Most frequently, they spend a minute or less on my homepage and research page. Sometimes it's less than 30 seconds and just my homepage. But I'm not sure what information they are looking for in these pages, since all of it is predictably contained in my dossier. The only thing I can think of is that the website gives a vibe of who the candidate is, or maybe they just want to see a photo?
2. In what stage of the process do search committees look at the candidates' websites?
For example, is it when they go through the batch to make the initial cut? It is when they decide on the long list? I'm sure there's a lot of variation, but I wonder if there are some commonalities. I'm curious because of a pattern I see on my website. Sometimes there is a burst of visitors from a certain place for a few days and then they stop vising my website. Could this be interpreted as some vague indication that there was a discussion of my dossier? If I don't hear from that department in the following weeks and they have stopped visiting my website, should I take it as some sort of signal that my dossier is no longer considered? On the one hand, intuitively, it does seem to me like a sign that they lost interest. On the other hand, this happened to me with several departments and I haven't seen reports that any of them invited people for interviews or any updates about their searches.
Another reader submitting the following reply:
I think you are overthinking this way too much. This is the sort of worrying that leads to serious anxiety around the job market. Your job is to submit an application. Then leave it to the committee to do their work. Some people will look at your webpage and some won't. The one case I remember most vividly is a very unaccomplished colleague trolling around looking for dirt on an application … and finding it! So just keep the content professional.
In one sense (as I explain below), I think the OP probably is overthinking things. But as the follow-up comment notes, one reason search committee members may visit a candidate's website is to simply see how professional and 'put together' a candidate is. So, I think it is important to reflect a bit on why search committee member might visit candidate websites.
In general, I guess I'm inclined to say that a lot of search committee members may not even have a clear idea why they are visiting a candidate's website. In my own case, I think I visited candidate's websites simply because I was interested in their candidacy and wanted to see if there is anything on their website that might make me more or less interested in them. In terms of when search committee members choose to visit, I imagine that it could happen at any stage of the process: when considering applications, before or after first-round interviews, or before or after campus visits. Generally speaking, I doubt that many search committees actually discuss websites, unless they find something very striking, such as really interesting additional content (some candidates do public philosophy, etc.) or something concerning. I also doubt there is much correlation between website visits and whether a candidate is still under serious consideration. For example, I might visit a candidate's webpage very early on, be very interested in them in general, and not visit their website again because I have it firmly decided in my mind that I want to interview them, invite them to campus, or (in the final stage of deliberations) extend an offer.
In any case, what I do agree with the follow-up comment on is that these questions probably aren't worth stressing over. The best thing to do, I think, is have a nicely put together website that reflects well on you, keep it updated, and don't fuss over who does or doesn't visit it. I have to confess: I incessantly checked who visited my website for several years when I was a job-candidate, and then gave it up. Seeing cities of who visited often got my hopes up over nothing, and so on. I eventually learned to spend my time on better things: on doing the work I needed to do (publish, teach) and otherwise try to separate myself from job-market stresses as far as possible (though I know it's tough!).
But these are just my thoughts. What are yours?
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