Factors you wish you considered when applying for a job

[insp]

Inspired by a thread in this forum elsewhere, I thought I'd ask this here from people on the tenure track. When deciding to apply for a job, there are a number of things we all look into. Generally they involve salary, location, teaching load. What are some other things that have had a significant impact on your career at your current institution that you hadn't considered before? Is there something that you now look for when looking at other positions that you didn't before you became an assistant professor?

[endowment]

The very small endowment restricts a lot of things we might otherwise be able to do at my institution (SLAC). Of course having a healthy endowment doesn't mean everything will be perfect, but we are very tuition-driven and have no other money to fall back on.

[Lots more]

Start up money, computer resources, faculty morale, money to travel, library resources, student skills and commitment to learning. Etc

[two]

Two that I think are frequently ignored:
- Ratio of senior to junior professors. A department that is too top heavy may have multiple negative connotations. Are they not tenuring assistant professors? Or are assistant professors simply leaving? It also means you wouldn't have anyone with recent experience to talk about the tenure process. It also means that a lot of undesirable service work may fall to you, and that you may be stuck in an endless cycle of admin obligations when the senior folks start to retire. You don't want to be the most senior person in your department 5 years into your tenure clock.

- Student attrition rate. Either grad or undergrad, depending on the department. Too much attrition and it means that you will be teaching 1st year type classes for a while, and will have reduced opportunities to mentor or collaborate with students.

[styles]

Although I agree being too top heavy can be problematic, especially if senior folks are not active and/or near retirement, being too bottom heavy is just as problematic (if not more so) and for many of the same reasons. Forget 5 years from now, being bottom heavy means that service often falls onto junior faculty now! Besides after tenure you should be picking up more service work.

As with any population, you generally want a diamond-shape, where the middle is the largest segment, as it has the potential to be the most active and productive segment.

[styles]

I would also add the importance of the department within the college and university. When I was a newly minted Phd and then postdoc, I always asked this question because it was on “a list” of questions to ask (both the admin and dept chair) but as an advanced AP I’m just now learning the importance of this question. At most places Sociology is always going to play second-fiddle to medical, business, economics, etc. but it is still important to know whether Sociology as a field is valued by the larger admin. This can impact job security, tenure, salary, raises, faculty morale, etc.

[Sure]

Aug 31, 2015 17:18:58 GMT -5 styles said:

I would also add the importance of the department within the college and university. When I was a newly minted Phd and then postdoc, I always asked this question because it was on “a list” of questions to ask (both the admin and dept chair) but as an advanced AP I’m just now learning the importance of this question. At most places Sociology is always going to play second-fiddle to medical, business, economics, etc. but it is still important to know whether Sociology as a field is valued by the larger admin. This can impact job security, tenure, salary, raises, faculty morale, etc.

I totally understand this, but how likely are you to get a truthful answer?

[how]

The way they answer the question will be enough to give you an idea. Vague, generic answers will tell you a lot about how they really see the department.

[SocMcGotes]

Aug 31, 2015 19:42:44 GMT -5 Sure said:

Aug 31, 2015 17:18:58 GMT -5 styles said:

I would also add the importance of the department within the college and university. When I was a newly minted Phd and then postdoc, I always asked this question because it was on “a list” of questions to ask (both the admin and dept chair) but as an advanced AP I’m just now learning the importance of this question. At most places Sociology is always going to play second-fiddle to medical, business, economics, etc. but it is still important to know whether Sociology as a field is valued by the larger admin. This can impact job security, tenure, salary, raises, faculty morale, etc.

I totally understand this, but how likely are you to get a truthful answer?

Another way to figure this out is to compare the department's resources/offices/building to others in the college or on the campus.  If, for instance, the Soc department is in an old crumbling building that lacks AC but has plenty of stained ceiling tiles, while next door there's a shiny new Econ department building, then you can get some indication of where Soc ranks in the college's priorities.  You can also ask about the size of the major (and # of faculty) compared with other departments in the college (though this is likely available on the university website somewhere).  A Soc department that has the largest major and most faculty in the college is likely getting a lot more resources/status than one that's relatively small and overshadowed by a huge Psychology or Criminology department.

[colleague output]

Another thing to consider if you are at an R2/ R1 is colleague output. Is there a climate of productivity? Could colleagues be potential collaborators on papers and grants?

[styles]

In addition to the intervening points made, in response to the post: "I totally understand this, but how likely are you to get a truthful answer?" Part of it is about being able to read people (verbally and non-verbally) and part of it is looking for consistencies/inconsistencies in responses (within and across students, faculty, admin). Sometimes you simply will never know for sure but this can be true for any question.

[office space]

One thing that I wish I had considered is office space. I am at a place where junior faculty generally share offices. My office mate is someone who will say outloud anything that he reads, and will talk to himself as he does so. It is annoying, and essentially kills my productivity while I am in the office. I will say something, he will stop, but then later on start again.

[oh wow office space]

Oct 1, 2015 8:09:15 GMT -5 office space said:

One thing that I wish I had considered is office space. I am at a place where junior faculty generally share offices. My office mate is someone who will say outloud anything that he reads, and will talk to himself as he does so. It is annoying, and essentially kills my productivity while I am in the office. I will say something, he will stop, but then later on start again.

I didn't even know this was a common practice in some departments. I am finishing my PhD in a department where all grad students have their own offices. It would definitely be a shocker if I had to give that up as a junior faculty member. I will pay attention to this on my visits. Thanks!

[Thanks!]

No idea that sharing office space was a thing once you were an AP. Perhaps I should ask about that?

[What?]

Wow. Grads and adjuncts share offices here, but not APs or instructors... That's absurd!