The advice I've received so far has been:
- Have your Ph.D. by the time you go on the market (I won't)
- Have at least finished the dissertation by the APA meeting in January (I won't)
- Have published something or have it under consideration by the time you go on the market (I won't - Because I need to finish my goddamned dissertation.)
- Don't worry (I will)
- Don't let the application process control your life (It will)
Funny story, kids.
I'm on track to have finished my degree in 6 years, and that's not bad considering people used to regularly take between 7 and 10. That means I'm defending my dissertation this spring. After that - boom - Ph.D. I will be Dr. Harker. Huzzah.
I'll also be done with graduate school. Which means... I'll need to have a job that starts in the fall of next year, the 2012-2013 school year. Hence my going on the market.
Now pay attention, because here's where it gets interesting.
Even though I'm on track to defend my dissertation sometime this spring, even though I will have had my Ph.D. in hand well before the start of the 2012-2013 school year, my application will very likely be dismissed immediately upon realization that, as of the job-search season, I do not have the degree.
And keep in mind, search season has already begun! I've got applications due in roughly six weeks. Six weeks! I am applying for jobs that will not begin for another twelve months, for which I am probably disqualified because as of late August 2011 I will not have finished my dissertation.
The alternative is to finish the dissertation this spring as planned, not graduate and then stay on for an unnecessary seventh year for which there is no funding, solely for the purpose of having an academic affiliation when I eventually go on the market for a job for the 2013-2014 school year.
It's a delightful situation. And there's nothing to be done about it except to apply as many places as possible and maybe sacrifice a black dog to Hecate for luck.*
So hear this, Job Search People (especially those of you at SLACs):
- My dissertation will be finished and defended in or before May 2012.
- It will kick ass.
- You should to hire me.
*Not really.
5 comments:
Good luck, oh wayward one!!!!!
Yeah, I remember writing all about this, way back when:
http://academiccog.blogspot.com/2007/09/timing-job-market-trial-run-and-gap.html
And, I have floated along long beyond any sort of "gap year" and into the uncharted wastes of postdocdom. Sigh.
That said, it seems that even sending out an article for review, even if you don't have something actually published and out, really helps people on the job market, so I'd suggest you really try to get something out.
Again, good luck! I will pour out libations for you and your search, in the form of craft beer.
I suggest you put your last two bullet points on every letter of motivation and CV you put out.
Here's hoping that everything works out!
Good luck, Hark.
From what I've seen, most people just want you to have the PhD in hand by the time your appointment starts. So defending in the spring is not a problem. Or it shouldn't be. I agree with Sis that tossing an article out to the world is a good idea, even if it's not going to be picked up. At least you'll have something out "for consideration."
For SLACs -- they care more about your teaching than your research. Let me repeat -- teaching is king in SLACs. If that were not the case, I'd never, ever have gotten a job. But this is advice that your profs at your current institution can't give you because it hasn't been their experience. They don't teach at SLACs, so they don't know what they are looking for. Teaching! Teaching! Teaching! Unless you want to be at an R1, focus on that teaching philosophy, getting your evaluations ready for review, and prepare yourself to gush about the kiddos. It's ALL about the kiddos!
And yeah - applying for a job that won't start for a year feels super weird. But that's the life we live. Once more - good luck!!
Sisyphus - That was a very informative post! Sounds much like what's going on over here, though we've all but been assured that there's no funding for all of us to take a gap year next year...
Tamayn - Oh, definitely! The CV would at least stand out, then...
Fie! - Thanks for the advice on that front. I do dread the 'teaching philosophy' exercise, though... "I want students to learn. I try very hard to help them learn. End." I'm fairly sure that won't cut it...
Ask around about the teaching philosophy. If you know anyone in your field who has gotten a job, ask to look at their philosophy. If you want to look at mine, I can send it to you. Just email me. I'm not sure how much will translate to your area, but the teaching part is probably about the same. Anyway - it helps to look at philosophies of folks who have gotten jobs. At least, it helped me.
word verification: nessery (necessary? nursery? :) )
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