Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Job Search Update
So Paige asked in the NOTD thread, but it's a long story so I thought I'd post separately.
1) Some of you remember me mentioning getting a phone interview for a job for which we'd have to move. I took the phone interview, and was invited as a finalist (one of three) for a campus interview to take place at the end of January. After a long, difficult process, I withdrew my application (last week). Professionally, the job seems the right fit (perhaps best fit of what I've seen) but we simply can't afford to move, in addition to the fact that B is still in grad school. We've done the long distance thing before, but I'm not willing to do that, for any length of time, with P in the picture. Plus, this was tenure track, so I would have to commit in my mind at least to living there forever.
2) I also got a phone call a few days before Christmas from the chair of a search committee for a job closer to home. I was a finalist in the job search for this position two years ago, and then they were put on a hiring freeze (as were many colleges and universities) and had to end the search; I had just found out I was pregnant with P and wouldn't have taken the job, anyway. The dean has also been in contact with me recently for adjunct work this coming semester which I had to decline as I'm already at my max load with B's course load this semester and balancing out time with P. Anyway, I am on the "short list" and my CV (scientists use these instead of resumes) is currently in administration for approval to extend an interview. This job isn't what I thought my "dream job" would be back when I started grad school and pre-family, as they don't have research facilities for faculty labs (only teaching labs), but they are upping the package from the last time I applied and offer development funds and I could collaborate with my current college. Also, I think it offers a little more flexibility and less pressure, so it may be the perfect solution to work for a decent enough salary to make it doable and still be able to be there when P needs me. Teaching has always been my passion, anyway, and I like the energy I've seen so far.
3) I submitted another application but haven't heard anything yet. It's a VERY small school so I doubt they have research facilities on campus, but it has a great pre-med/early med school admission program and they offer reciprocity for other, larger schools (including the one mentioned in #2) so I'm wondering if they also offer opportunities for faculty.
4) I submitted an application yesterday, to teach writing in a seminar course. Let's just put it this way - I'm not expecting anything - but I had to try, as they offer a ton of training, we wouldn't have to move, the position sounds like so much fun, and only one school is above it this year in US News and World Report rankings (so in addition to the amazing experience, it would look amazing on my CV). Plus, I get to develop the topic myself. And if I do get in, and do well, I can stay there for up to 5 years. But it's a reach...for the stars in another galaxy.
Re: Job Search Update
Blog
*edit* this is in response to Jo!
This is my third cycle (meaning, third year since tenure track jobs come out typically in the fall for the following fall) on the job market. It's harder still when you have geographical preferences!
Good luck on your search; hope it doesn't take as long as it is taking me! Although, having the baby slowed things down a bit.
2012 Reading Challenge
Good luck!! It sounds like you have some good prospects. The one (#2?) sounds really ideal!
not to post-jack, but Jo, it took me 11 mo and over 40 applications (I lost count) to get an offer. I applied to basically anything I was willing to do (at an appropiate professional level) within a commutable distance of C's job (spanning both IR and Student Services (not student affairs or admissions)). All that time, and I had 5 interviews with one offer (which is a little lower than I wanted and not my ideal location, but within the circle so to speak). It is really frustrating esp since I think I am well qualified. It is just a really hard market in higher ed right now with the funding issues, and I think this extends to professional and faculty positions. And I do not think it will improve much, particularly in the tenure track position realm.
::butting in to your response to Jo
::
It's depressing, isn't it? I have a feeling that tenure is on its way out. Especially when an adjunct desperate for any job is willing to take less than half the pay to teach the same course.
The one really promising lead is a non-tenure track job, but they don't offer tenure to anyone; they do long term contracts. Several of the faculty have been there 20-30 years (and this school is relatively young - it started admitting students in the 60s) and they achieved university status about 18 months ago (formerly a liberal arts college). The president is VERY motivated, and while they don't have the facilities for research, they do have funds for off campus work but the pressure is a little lower. They very much value the teaching, which is exactly what I want. It's still an Assistant Professor position with the ability to get promoted to Assoc and then full, so tenure in this case is more of a formality. I taught at a very similar school (and one of their main competitors) for several years as an adjunct and I know I would be comfortable working in that environment, so I'm optimistic. Plus, my mentor at my current job (she was my research advisor when I was an undergrad) taught at this school before she got her current job in the mid 90s, knows most of the faculty, and thinks I would fit in well. We'll see!
2012 Reading Challenge
I've been looking at everything around here and like you, Emily, am open to other departments. We have 3 education agencies, 1 public community college, 1 public university, a technical school, and 2 private colleges in town. Nothing that is appropriate for my education and experience in the past 6 months. I'm also looking within a 30 minute commute and at other government offices and even the private sector. I'd love to stay where I am if they can offer me a promotion once I finish my degree, but I'm not confident that it will happen.
Becky, most of the Illinois community colleges use a lot of adjunct faculty, so I can see why tenure track jobs are hard to come by. Like you said, why pay someone so much more in salary and benefits when you can hire an adjunct? Obviously there are some negative aspects to using adjuncts over tenured faculty, but with the current financial status that higher ed all across the country is in, colleges really don't have much of a choice. (this would be interesting to study... maybe I just found a topic idea for my closure requirement....)
Blog
A+S | Met 8/24/06 | Married 9/27/08
Started TTC 12/2008 | dx PCOS 5/2009
6 failed clomid/femara/TI cycles, 1 failed clomid/ovidrel/IUI cycle
Successful Cycle: 5/12/11 - 1000mg Metformin + 100mg Clomid(late response) + TI = BFP
? 2/13/12 - We proudly welcomed our daughter, Hadley Teresa! ?
? Lots of Luck to all of 3T/IF ?
Yeah, this is a big problem. You're sure to find a ton of info!
2012 Reading Challenge
Thanks, everyone, for your comments!
Thanks, especially, for this last part. This was such an emotional decision for me - the carrot was finally in grasp, but it wasn't the right situation for my family - and I still had to fight my ego the whole time.
2012 Reading Challenge
Thanks!!
It's not the bio degree in my case that's the problem - it's my chosen profession (which already pays well below what I could make at a pharma company in my field - long story short if I really wanted to go that route, I know of opportunities I could explore, based on my degree, experience and friends/former colleagues who run labs). But you're absolutely right; I worked in med school labs from 2000-2009, which spanned the height of amazing funding to almost rock bottom. I got my degree done before the crash, which made things easier for me. I talked to my ex-boss about this who is in his mid 60s and he said this is normal, funding does this, and we just have to wait it out. But it's easier to do that when you're at the top of your field, like he is!
I feel for your friends working below their qualifications. That must be incredibly frustrating. My college roommate finished her MBA two or three years ago (BS in bio) and she's still working the same lab tech job she got out of college. But it could be worse - a lot of people were let go.
2012 Reading Challenge
I mean it too. I mean, there are so many people who would do everything they could for themselves and not care about what implications it has on their families, you know?
Making this decision shows that you value your family, and I believe that's the most important part of any decision. P and B are your LIFE. Work is work, you know? You're awesome
A+S | Met 8/24/06 | Married 9/27/08
Started TTC 12/2008 | dx PCOS 5/2009
6 failed clomid/femara/TI cycles, 1 failed clomid/ovidrel/IUI cycle
Successful Cycle: 5/12/11 - 1000mg Metformin + 100mg Clomid(late response) + TI = BFP
? 2/13/12 - We proudly welcomed our daughter, Hadley Teresa! ?
? Lots of Luck to all of 3T/IF ?