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Post by fsfds on Dec 4, 2023 21:48:51 GMT -5
Last year I had 2 on-campus visits by now. This year, my CV is significantly stronger, but have zero campus invites. It's all so random and frustrating. I have the exact same experience. I'm so sorry. All I can say is, keep submitting those applications. I have the same experience. Last year and the year before last year I only applied 30 positions and got 4 campus visits in total. This year everything in my profio (research, teaching, funding,pubs) gets stronger and I applied more than 30 positions but only received one zoom interview.
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Post by A Hopeful Note on Dec 5, 2023 14:28:41 GMT -5
Hi everyone, I spent 2 years on the job market while working as an adjunct before finally landing a full time position. I applied for over 100 jobs in that time. It was one of the most hopeless times in my life and really pushed me to the brink emotionally. Now that I am a few years removed from graduate school I am realizing just how common this experience is. Many of my colleagues at my current institution, friends from grad school, etc. spent years on the job market before landing a stable position. Some friends of mine with ultra impressive CVs took even longer than me to find full-time work in academia, having full years where they did not get 1 interview. As others have stated above, your worth is not determined by where you land in academia nor do your qualifications always translate to job market success. It is not always the case, but I do know many people who ultimately landed a tenure track job after years of dealing with this horrendous process. Keep up the work if you are willing and first and foremost take care of yourselves.
With love, A friendly stranger
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Post by yes, and... on Dec 6, 2023 9:20:42 GMT -5
Hi everyone, I spent 2 years on the job market while working as an adjunct before finally landing a full time position. I applied for over 100 jobs in that time. It was one of the most hopeless times in my life and really pushed me to the brink emotionally. Now that I am a few years removed from graduate school I am realizing just how common this experience is. Many of my colleagues at my current institution, friends from grad school, etc. spent years on the job market before landing a stable position. Some friends of mine with ultra impressive CVs took even longer than me to find full-time work in academia, having full years where they did not get 1 interview. As others have stated above, your worth is not determined by where you land in academia nor do your qualifications always translate to job market success. It is not always the case, but I do know many people who ultimately landed a tenure track job after years of dealing with this horrendous process. Keep up the work if you are willing and first and foremost take care of yourselves. With love, A friendly stranger Thank you for this! I'd like to emphasize that it's perfectly acceptable for those, like myself, who haven't seen progress in the job market this year, to consider pursuing an alternative career path. Approaching 40, with a child to care for and a spouse currently unemployed, this marks my second attempt in the job market. Realistically, I can't endure this process for another couple of years, both for my mental well-being and to meet my family's immediate needs. While it's disheartening to not achieve my goal of becoming a college professor, a dream I was deeply committed to, it's essential to recognize that there are various paths to a fulfilling and meaningful life. Sometimes, we need to let go of certain aspirations, and in doing so, we often find ourselves in a better place. Sending love to everyone facing similar challenges.
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Post by absolutely on Dec 6, 2023 9:57:12 GMT -5
As much as we want to be professors, the reality is that the low pay, brutal job market, and geographic limitations are major issues. There are simply not nearly enough sociology (and many other fields) professor jobs for the number of qualified applicants. This will likely be my last year on the market as well and I'm trying to figure out what will be the best alternative since I always wanted to be a prof. I'm not sure, but at the end of the day, it is a job and all jobs have pros and cons. Best of luck to all as we wrap up this cycle.
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A friendly stranger
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Post by A friendly stranger on Dec 6, 2023 12:58:33 GMT -5
I totally understand that decision. My spouse and I had fully come to the same conclusion before landing where we did - I didn't get a job offer until the late Spring of my last year on the job market. The academic job market broke me over the course of the two years I spent on it. There is nothing wrong with leaving academia. I know people who left academia to work in different industries that have just as much satisfaction with their careers, live in better locations closer to family, etc. I just wanted to pass along that hopeful note so that those of you who are in the thick of it know that it can happen.
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Being second doesn’t feel good
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Post by Being second doesn’t feel good on Dec 6, 2023 15:07:39 GMT -5
Just got a call that I am second in line for the job (if the first one doesn’t accept). It’s my only fly out and while I can hold on to another year, I feel kind of bad since I know that the person they gave the offer to has a much better publication record than me. It feels shitty. I honestly rather not know that I’m second and just get a flat out rejection. I know I’m still in the game but now my fate depends on this person rejecting the position for something better. I don’t know how to o feel. It’s mixed emotions.
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Post by youredoinggreat on Dec 6, 2023 16:28:38 GMT -5
Just got a call that I am second in line for the job (if the first one doesn’t accept). It’s my only fly out and while I can hold on to another year, I feel kind of bad since I know that the person they gave the offer to has a much better publication record than me. It feels shitty. I honestly rather not know that I’m second and just get a flat out rejection. I know I’m still in the game but now my fate depends on this person rejecting the position for something better. I don’t know how to o feel. It’s mixed emotions. I once got a job (post-college) where I was the second candidate. They weren't supposed to give me that information, but they made a mistake, and I saw an email not addressed to me. It didn't feel good. But I did the job well enough, and I don't think the employer ever thought, "Oh, I wished the other person had said yes." Do you see yourself producing good research, teaching well, mentoring, and establishing collaborations in that dept? Then, the other person's publication record does not matter. Last year, I was second in line for a job and didn't get it. I wish I got it (even though I wasn't their first choice) because I would have been great at that job! I know my colleagues wouldn't regret offering me the position. But I didn't get it, lol that's why I'm still here. Anyway, this market sucks. I hope the outcome is what you wish for. Take care <3
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Post by providence on Dec 6, 2023 19:17:07 GMT -5
one. here is a theory i once heard anecdotally attributed to weber, although i have not found it in writing. "it is the third-best candidate that gets the job." the theory went like this: there are always two opposing factions on a hiring committee. they cannot agree, they are at an impasse. the third candidate is acceptable to both, even though neither thinks they are ideal, but as a compromise candidate they get the first offer. perhaps true in some cases, i don't know. but it is a reasonable enough theory to help explain the seeming randomness of decision-making that happens after three top candidates have been identified.
two. my own story. i know (i won't tell you how) that i was the third-ranked candidate from the search committee. the dean had complete control over the hiring decision. the dean was a complete ass, by the way, although i don't know that it matters here. both of the top two candidates declined the offer. it came to me, and i accepted it. turned out to be my dream job. i'm still here, the dean got fired the next year.
take those for whatever they're worth. once you get into the top three, it really is a crapshoot and not necessarily a meritocracy. the order doesn't really mean anything at all. all of the top three, after all, have been identified as qualified for the position. so much is out of our control.
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Post by 2nd on Dec 7, 2023 9:18:19 GMT -5
I know a few professors who were "2nd choice" and are outstanding professors. If you get to the campus invite stage, you are an outstanding candidate. Everyone who gets to that stage can do the job extremely well. It just comes down to weird nuances and randomness at that point. So basically, if you get a campus invite, you already proved all you need to. Heck, I'd argue that's true even if you get a zoom invite with how competitive the market is.
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Post by Applicant on Dec 7, 2023 9:55:58 GMT -5
I second this - being 'runner up or 'second choice' is not that you are less than. This market is super competitive. We are all great candidates, but as others say, it comes down to randomness and 'better fit' based on arbitrary things
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Post by 100 percent on Dec 7, 2023 18:04:09 GMT -5
As much as we want to be professors, the reality is that the low pay, brutal job market, and geographic limitations are major issues. There are simply not nearly enough sociology (and many other fields) professor jobs for the number of qualified applicants. This will likely be my last year on the market as well and I'm trying to figure out what will be the best alternative since I always wanted to be a prof. I'm not sure, but at the end of the day, it is a job and all jobs have pros and cons. Best of luck to all as we wrap up this cycle. Yup, it is just a job at the end of the day!
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Post by Yup1 on Dec 7, 2023 18:08:41 GMT -5
I second this - being 'runner up or 'second choice' is not that you are less than. This market is super competitive. We are all great candidates, but as others say, it comes down to randomness and 'better fit' based on arbitrary things As a faculty, making it to the short-list is a huge win. Everything is beyond you at that point, because anything—seriously, *anything*— can happen in a faculty meeting.
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Post by Cactus on Dec 7, 2023 19:19:13 GMT -5
Had my first interview (zoom) this week for a post doc & was told to expect to hear back by the end of the semester or early January/that they plan on making decisions quickly. It is the only interview I’ve gotten this cycle & the waiting and hoping I said the right things makes this part excruciating. I know many of you have had to play the waiting game too & idk I guess I am posting because I know I am struggling to stay busy with other things & focus on what’s next whether or not I land this.
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Post by Thank you on Dec 8, 2023 0:02:26 GMT -5
Thanks everyone for the reassurance and honestly the kind words. It’s hard not to take it personally but all of your perspectives has helped me think about this differently. Good luck to us all.
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Post by tortoise on Dec 8, 2023 0:13:57 GMT -5
@cactus I had a campus visit last week and am really struggling with the waiting too. I know I’m in a lucky and privileged position to have a shot at a job in academia. At the same time, the fact that so much hinges on their decision is really hard. I’m trying to exercise, meditate, eat well, and sleep, but I am not getting much done these days.
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