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I have decided to accept a tenure-track assistant professor offer. But at this moment, I still have a virtual on-campus interview with a different university. It is now the time to inform the university that I won't be able to participate in the interview. Three days ago when I was still waiting for a pending offer, I told them that I would attend the interview. I want to seek some suggestions about turning down the interview invite in a professional manner.

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    Time is of the essence. For your future relations with this other university, letting them know promptly is much more important than getting the phrasing just right, – Nate Eldredge Jun 8 '20 at 15:58
  • Thanks! I will do that in a moment. – jingweimo Jun 8 '20 at 16:00
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    What does virtual on-campus mean? That seems like a contradiction. – Dean MacGregor Jun 9 '20 at 13:31
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    I might just add that when you say you have decided to accept a tenure-track assistant professor offer just make sure you have that offer signed by all parties (ie all locked in). It is likely rare but I have definitely heard stories of verbally accepted offers being retracted at the last moment and in the unlikely circumstance of that happening you may regret turning down the interview invite. – Gavin Jun 10 '20 at 6:02
  • @DeanMacGregor Because saying "remote interview replacing the on campus portion of our normal interview process due to quarantine" is too long. I've had "virtual in-person" interviews outside of academia, so it seems like this is becoming a thing. – user3067860 Jun 10 '20 at 18:11
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Dear [name of person you were communicating with],

I have an update about my job search. Since we last talked I‘ve received a tenure track job offer from another institution, and have accepted it. Consequently, I am withdrawing my application at your department, and am cancelling my upcoming interview with you and your colleagues.

I do very much appreciate that you considered me for the position, and hope that we will have occasion to meet in the future.

Sincerely,

[your name]

P.S. Congrats on the job!!!

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    +1 for giving a very valid and understandable reason for cancelling. – Captain Emacs Jun 8 '20 at 16:55
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    "Since we last talked"...should be "spoke" or "communicated". Perhaps "since our last correspondence". – Dean MacGregor Jun 9 '20 at 13:30
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    @DeanMacGregor Why? – Azor Ahai -him- Jun 9 '20 at 15:55
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    @AzorAhai To be honest until you asked I couldn't say why, it's just how I was taught. I did some googling and the best thing I can find is that "spoke" is more formal than "talk". That was just a quora answer otherwise I'd link it. – Dean MacGregor Jun 9 '20 at 17:18
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    @DeanMacGregor "Talked" is perfectly cromulent in my dialect/fields. "Communicated" or "since our last correspondence" sounds overly formal, but that may vary by locale. – Azor Ahai -him- Jun 9 '20 at 17:21

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