The job ad didn ask for [writing samples, published articles, sample syllabi]. Should I send them anyway?
There is a wide range of responses to this. In general it is not a good idea to overload a search committee with tons of things they didn’t ask for. Some search committees also look at this as an inability or unwillingness to follow the rules. This may create a bad first impression of your file. Be warned that some schools operate under the premise that any extra materials cannot be considered, as each applicant’s file needs to be equal and not everyone will have sent extra stuff. Also, sometimes the extra materials never even make it to the search committee, as the department administrative assistant may be responsible for removing any extra material. If your materials are extraordinary, however, you may wish to send them anyway. They may help you. You will have to weigh the potential benefits of having them in your packet against the potential irritation you may stir up among the search committee. A third option would be to allude to and briefly describe any extraordinary materials y
