I received an email from my interviewer. He introduced his full name at the beginning (without a title - no Dr.), but he signed off with only his first name at the end. I googled his name and found out that he actually got his PhD from Harvard (and his AB from Stanford!) So, in my reply email, should I address him as Dr._____, or just go by his first name?
Sorry if this is a trivial issue, I just want to make sure I don’t mess anything up…
If you haven’t been given his title, either from him or from the university, he is a “Mister” to you until he says otherwise.
^^ I agree. If you address your interviewer as “Dr.” you’ll be tipping your hand that you googled him, and addressing any adult that you have not met before by their first name is too informal and disrespectful, so address them as “Mr.”
you should also know that many ppl who earn PhDs do not go by the title of “Dr.”
“Mister” is the correct until told otherwise.
I agree with the others. Mr. [last name] is the proper address. If the interviewer wanted you to say Dr., he would have indicated something of the ilk in the email. If you are truly stumped, starting off with just “Good Morning” or “Good Afternoon” may suffice.
Can’t resist. From the Honeymooners.
Norton to Ralph on addressing the ball in golf:
“Plant your feet firmly. Hello, ball!”
Just for future reference, is googling your interviewer generally seen as a bad/creepy thing? I thought it would be expected that one would try to find out a little information about his/her interviewer before the meet-up. I ask because I was in a similar situation where my interviewer just addressed herself by her first name, and I responded with her title, “Dr. (Insert last name here)” and she seemed to be pleasantly surprised that I had responded as such.
Yes, it is a little creepy and nearly everyone does it.
@go4cornell , many people do it, but you have to be make an effort to stay on the right side of “interested to know who the interviewer is so that I can be prepared for the meeting” and being stalker-ish.
Thanks for the replies!
Is it ever a good idea to let your interviewer know that you’ve done some background research? I’m assuming generally no, but maybe there are special cases? An anecdote: One of my friends googled his interviewer, who was a writer for a newspaper. At the end of his interview, my friend told his interviewer that he was really touched by one of her pieces, and the interviewer seemed to be really flattered.
One more follow-up question: What’s the general opinion of exclamation points? Can I use one to indicate enthusiasm, or should I stick to periods to convey a more formal tone?
@JustOneDad and @IxnayBob, Thank you for your responses. Ironically, I actually had a big debate over whether addressing her as “Dr.” in response to her email would seem stalker-like or simply well-researched and ‘professional’.
Many, perhaps most American PhDs never identify themselves as Dr. _____, and don’t encourage anyone (including students) to address them like that. So you can’t assume that addressing an interviewer as “Dr.” will seem professional, unless she’s an MD (or an EdD – they seem to looooove being called “Dr.”).
Googling the interviewer, or interviewee, is specifically banned by my alma mater. The student should not google the person offering to interview them, and the interviewer agrees not to google the student.
I have NEVER heard that “most” American PhDs do not identify themselves as doctor. Most I have dealt with both in industry and academia DO in professional settings, and an alumni interview is considered professional not casual. Perhaps y’all run in different circles than I do.
The exceptions are obviously social (barring the most formal social events) where your first name would be appropriate (“Mary and John Jones”, not “Dr. Mary and John Jones” because no one is being called “Mr.” or “Mrs.” either) and businesses where being “Dr. Jones” would be looked upon as snobbish by clients and/or co-workers. Of course you’d call your co-worker “Mary” if you got to know her, but initially, “Dr. Jones” would be appropriate, especially if you are a subordinate.
My answer would be yes, it is stalker-like, so do NOT mention it, and some colleges specifically ban it. Alumni interviewers also do not get the student’s application to review at my alma mater, so it’s not like they know you any more than your name, your intended major if any, and and intended college of matriculation. As well as brief contact info.
As a college professor, I feel that too many students are lax about using proper titles. When you enter a four-year college, expect all professors are to be called “Dr.” whatever unless told otherwise.
In this case, the interviewer did not offer up degrees, so best to say “Good morning” or something without a name. I also tend to leave a student’s name out of emails, because very often I get the official name, whether working or doing an alumni interview, and I have no idea what they really would want to be called.
Also he may not have wanted you to know that he did not attend Harvard as an undergrad. Don’t ask him about Stanford vs. Harvard by the way, and he shouldn’t be mentioning Stanford nor interviewing for them this application cycle.
Going slightly off-topic, but since this is the Harvard forum, I offer up this from the [url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2010/10/29/paul-math-one-student/]Crimson[/url] on Paul G. Bamberg, Senior Lecturer on Mathematics:
Getting back on track, I agree that it is best to address the interviewer as Mr. until/unless told otherwise.
I agree. FWIW: Admissions Officers have admitted to googling applicant’s and looking at their Facebook page. Student’s google professors prior to taking their classes. Businesses google candidates prior to interviewing someone as part of their hiring practices. Everyone does it. However, admitting to someone that you’ve googled them prior to first meeting them is RUDE and CREEPY. So don’t mention it – and don’t tip your hand that you’ve done it by calling them “Dr” when they haven’t indicated they are one.
Would you mind telling us what your alma mater is?
Is this requirement akin to an honor code? They don’t issue civil subpoenas for data records obviously.
EDIT: Do they?
@JHS Wow, that is the complete opposite of the situation in my country. Here, when persons have a doctoral degree (e.g. PhD, EdD, etc.) it is expected that you will refer to them by their titles. In fact, some people are insulted if you refer to them as Mr/Ms/Mrs once they have a PhD, and I’ve been made aware of several cases where someone would say, for example, “Hi Mrs. _________ …” only to be abruptly interrupted and corrected with a wry “It’s Dr. _______.” It truly is interesting to see how customs vary from place to place.
As a not-that-kind-of-doctor teaching college, I’ll say that in my experience whether PhDs go by Dr. X is entirely dependent on the institution. I’ll second what others have said that you’re safe with Mr. or Ms—in fact, that’s the standard title used in the Chronicle of Higher Education for everyone, regardless of degree, so we’re pretty much all used to it from that route, if nothing else.
It shouldn’t be too much of a surprise that the United States is more egalitarian. What you describe is more often heard as a joke here and is only done by people who are insecure about themselves, or, in some cases to someone who is already showing inappropriate disrespect.