Requesting Letter of Recommendation From Search Committee Member From Past Job Search?

Question

This may sound like a strange question, BUT - last January I was personally invited/recruited by a department chair to apply for a position in a newly formed unit at an Ivy. During the search, I was actively recruited, e.g. the chair kept in contact weekly, worked to sell me on the position and institution, etc. I advanced to the finalist round and was invited to a campus visit, but ultimately was not offered the position (I lost during the faculty vote by one vote). When the chair reached out to tell me, he expressed disappointment because I was the person he wanted to hire. He has since made an effort to keep in touch via email about research topics, etc. Yesterday, I received a handwritten letter thanking me again for my campus visit (which took place months ago, in April) and insisting he'd be happy to support my work in any way he can.

My question is - can/should I ask this person for a letter of recommendation? I know it seems weird since he was on a search committee that ultimately didn't select me for a job, but also I am a junior scholar deeply unhappy at my institution and on the job market this year, and his institutional affiliation and clout the field could be helpful for my prospects.

Answer 1

This is a tough one. Someone reading your application materials does not really make them a good reference, no matter how much they like you. If you are indeed a top candidate, as it seems you are, your application materials already seem to be drawing the necessary attention and interesting search committees. On the other hand, institutional affiliation does carry a lot of weight, and just saying that Prof. Important from Prestigious U. thinks you are great, by itself, might impress people who are not in your field.

It's a judgement call, but in my judgement, I don't think this will look good on a job application. Maybe you could name-drop Prestigious U. during an interview or something, but to outright request a reference from the chair just to drop names, seems to me a step too far.