Bret Devereaux

So, that is the standard method, yes. I've been through my share of searches from the candidate end. Here's the thing though: almost all of that work is basically worthless? My understanding is that most of the research suggests interviews are poor predictors.

Teaching demos are a better idea. I haven't been asked to do one yet (so good on you guys for doing them). I have given job talks, of course, but if you wanted to know how I delivered a paper, one could save the cost of a flight and just watch at an annual meeting of <society>

I’m getting away from your original point but I hope I have made a contribution to supporting it.

Yes, indeed. The situation of the department I adjunct in, while larger, is not much dissimilar. New hires don't even remotely match retirements, so it is slowly shrinking. This semester the college was in a panic because they didn't have enough classes...gee, I wonder why?

They didn’t have enough classes because they didn’t have enough teachers? Or enough students?

Enrollment came in higher than expected after a year and a half of a hiring freeze. So too many students, not enough classes.

A whole lot of different people need to be in charge of a whole lot of different things!!