How long does shortlisting usually take

[bullywee]

Typically how long would/should shortlisting take in academia?

I have applied for a few lectureships over the last 2 months but have heard nothing back. I'm thinking that if I haven't heard back within 2-3 weeks then I have not been shortlisted but would have thought common courtesy would have been to send a regret email?

I’m currently involved with a job vacancy at my university and we shortlisted within a week of the job closing. That’s for a temp job however which we need to fill for September. Are the lectureships to start in September? I’d have thought they’d have shortlisted by now if so.

Unfortunately some universities are awful at sending out notifications to non-shortlisted candidates. Including my own it must be said: people complained about it a few years ago and I hope it’s improved by now. It’s so easy to do, most systems cab set it up automatically…

Was there a named contact person on the job advertisement? It might be worth confirming with them what’s happening and if you should continue to sit tight.

We have been incredibly slow at this - months and then frantic action to get the interviews done including bringing in overseas candidates. Worth checking on the progress.

Thanks both - will chase after 3 weeks.

It's very frustrating to not even get a "thank you for your application but on this occasion we will not be taking your application further" email given the amount of time and effort that goes into the applications.

I completely agree @bullywee and universities that basically ghost people are awful. Applications take a lot of effort: intellectual, emotional etc.

Though I have stories along the lines of what @Acinonyx2 describes: months of silence then an interview invite out of the blue. Places can just be disorganised, or a panel member has been ill, etc.

Good luck! 🤞

Generally when you apply, there’ll be a scheduled date/s for interviews. We send responses to those shortlisted but we generally have around 100 applications for 1 lectureship. And university HR departments are fairly crap. So unless you’re shortlisted, I’d assume that no response means no interview.

It might be useful to run your application past a mentor - your PhD supervisor, for example? To check what you’re doing in your applications is appropriate and effective.

It’s a very competitive environment and profession.

I’m recruiting at the moment and my senior has taken 3 weeks leave from the closing date so our poor candidates will be waiting a while. It’s a time of year thing! We definitely don’t ghost though.

Also it can be really difficult to get the selection committee together for shortlisting etc. But certainly after about 3 weeks, do check back with the HR department.