MetaChat - ugh, email etiquette

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13 May 2008

ugh, email etiquette →[More:] I applied for a post-doc position a few weeks ago and just got an update from the PI. She apologized for taking a while to review the applications and promised to get to it in early June. She, however, addressed the email to every single applicant (instead of bcc). Now I know who else I'm competing against (I googled pretty much everyone).

bcc is your friend. And the appropriate way to respond to a bunch of job candidates.

post by: special-k at: 22:13 | 12 comments

Dear applicant:

I am not going to relieve your anxiety! And here, have some more!

Signed,
Me.

posted by occhiblu 13 May | 22:22

Heh, that sort of thing happens way more than most people realise. Once, many years ago when I was working as a receptionist, I was sending out a stack of letters scheduling job interviews for my boss and I mistakenly put the letters in the wrong envelopes, so the candidates all got someone else's letter. Boss was Not Amused.

posted by dg 13 May | 22:30

Typical passive-aggressive PI crap. You should reply-all:

Dear PI,
It was great speaking to you on the phone the earlier today; I am thrilled that you have extended an offer to me! While delighted, I must ask for some time to decide. I have several other offers to consider, and I want to give each the consideration it deserves.
Warm regards,
special-k

P.S. Tell your students thanks for the brownies!

posted by Joe Invisible 13 May | 22:33

Ugh, that's the sort of thing my last PI would have done.

posted by gaspode 13 May | 22:50

What does "PI" stand for? I would google, but I'm unwilling at this point in time to revive my crush on Tom Selleck.

posted by occhiblu 13 May | 22:53

Oh, Principal Investigator, occhi. The faculty member, or senior scientist (if not in an academic institution) in charge of a lab.

posted by gaspode 13 May | 23:04

Thanks! I figured it was a very cool title (which "Principal Investigator" most certainly is), which is why I wanted to know.

Also, I wanted to stop picturing Tom Selleck and his mustache sending out improperly BCCed emails.

posted by occhiblu 13 May | 23:10

I think you should create a throwaway gmail address and start sending links to furry porn to all the other applicants (make sure to include your own address on the CC list). Open the email with "Professor X thought you might like to see this!"

She'll learn.

posted by mudpuppie 14 May | 00:19

That totally sounds like something my PI would know not to do but mistakenly do anyway. Her computer skills...not so good. I set up the whole lab's sample labeling system last summer because they couldn't really figure out how to use it. (I guess it didn't help that they're using horribly crappy, finicky software and that wrangling the printers to work correctly was half the problem.)

posted by unsurprising 14 May | 03:08

LOL at mudpuppie. That's just evil. I totally love it.

posted by ninazer0 14 May | 06:19

I am not going to relieve your anxiety! And here, have some more!

that made me totally LOL

posted by chewatadistance 14 May | 06:46

Heh. Me, too. And to relieve that anxiety, here, have some furry porn!

posted by elizard 14 May | 10:39

← I just voted. . . || When she begins to rock, honey, I begin to roll. →

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