Top ten reasons that faculty hiring is just like dating

1. The AALS book of candidates feels a bit like like eHarmony or Match.com.
2. Timing is everything: a bad fit at a particular time could be a wonderful fit at another time.
3. Showing too much interest is counterproductive. So is showing too little interest.
4. Looking for the perfect match is a fool's errand.
5. The unavailability-attractiveness relationship is just as true for schools and candidates as it is for people: the less available you are, the more intriguing you seem.
6. Sometimes, the “sleepers” are the true “finds.”
7. Sometimes, the ones who look the best on paper are also fixer-uppers.
8. If you leave a message and there’s no callback, the reason is that the candidate or the school is just not that into you.
9. Politeness counts, and a sense of humor is crucial.
10. There’s more than one fish in the sea.