Check-In Thread

[Depressed]

I am an ABD, first time on the market. I have a completed dissertation and will be defending in the spring. Tons of teaching experience and conference presentations, two articles in mid ranked journals, a mid ranked phD program. I am probably best suited and most interested in a teaching school or SLAC.
I have applied to about 50 schools and had 5 conference interviews but nothing since. I am honestly feeling pretty desperate and depressed at this point. Everyone keeps telling me my materials are good and that something will come, but I am not sure... anyone else losing hope...?

[ohh]

@depressed: it just stinks to be looking for an academic job in these times, I feel you. BUT, remember that the spring is more of a SLAC market, and you seem to be a good candidate, so I would say don't lose hope yet.

[anon]

also @depressed: I totally feel your pain. I would second ohh's bit about what kind of market it is here on out. So many of the December and January (and even February!) deadlines are for places that sound like they'd suit you nicely. Are you still waiting to hear from some of these places?

It was agonizing to watch everything pass me by these last few months. I felt pretty good about my materials, too. I'm ABD, first time on market, too. I've been fortunate to receive an interview invitation this week, so I'm feeling incredibly fortunate right now.

Hang in there. So many people get offers in January, February, and March. It's a long process.

[anon]

I'm in my 4th year at a R2 school and applied to about 10 non-sociology dept jobs (TT positions in an allied field that is my specialty area). Came from a top program, did a post doc at a fancy school, and have a bunch of middling articles and a forthcoming book.

My first year on the market (as an ABD) I applied to maybe 15 jobs (mix of soc and non-soc TT positions) and made a couple of short lists but had no interviews. The next year (PhD in hand) I applied to nine jobs, had three interviews, and had two offers.

This year I have had one phone interview so far (which appears unlikely to result in an on-campus interview), and know that two of the other positions I applied to have invited candidates for on-campus interviews already. But I also know that the field I'm applying into moves a bit slowly, so there may be some hope yet.

Good luck to everyone!

[ttttt]

I don't want to give anyone false hope, or anything like that. It is a very tough market and jobs aren't guaranteed.

But for the ABD folks above: it is my experience that things become significantly easier when you have degree in hand.

My entire cohort struck out our first time on the market. No one got a TT position. We all ended up with VAPs, project specific, non prestigious postdocs, and other general adjuncting and temp positions. The second time around, all with degree in hand, we've done much, much better. From no tt offers (and just a couple of tt interviews), we now have people with jobs at top 50 SLACs, R2s, and I had an interview at an R1. Not that this is the norm, but degree in hand seems to help things quite a lot.

[anon]

I agree that it is much easier with degree in hand. Departments are looking to reduce uncertainty--they want to make sure you will be done, and that they can be fairly confident you will thrive at their institution. With the economic future uncertain, they are looking to protect lines. It sucks, but it is not a reflection on your worth or potential. Keep working and publishing. Try for postdocs or research positions where you could transfer into academia later. This is my third time on the market, and I am *finally* getting interviews. I did not have any interviews as an ABD, although was shortlisted for several great postdocs. The postdoc I was ultimately offered has been very helpful, and I am finally getting interviews. But it is a tough process. Hang in there.

[dumb question]

ABD and first timer on the market here.

One thing I've felt too silly to ask is what's the best way to communicate in a cover letter than you're almost done (about a month or two out) from completing your dissertation, but won't have it officially defended until the spring (because, without the funding, I'd starve)?

Thanks in advance for any serious replies.

[ABD indicating readiness]

Dec 7, 2011 19:28:06 GMT -5 @dumb question said:

ABD and first timer on the market here.

One thing I've felt too silly to ask is what's the best way to communicate in a cover letter than you're almost done (about a month or two out) from completing your dissertation, but won't have it officially defended until the spring (because, without the funding, I'd starve)?

Thanks in advance for any serious replies.

I'd say to simply discuss your dissertation in your cover letter in terms of what you have found and how it contributes to a larger agenda. If you can speak to the takeaway points of your research at this point, this is a pretty good indication that all you have left to do is the technical writing, which people tend to be able to complete in a few months. I have seen way too many ABDs mention in their letters what they are exploring or aiming to find, which makes it more difficult to discern how much work remains to be done.

I had the advantage of writing a dissertation that consisted of several articles, so I could submit the first article as a writing sample and make mention of how the three articles tie together to give a broader picture. I even gave independent titles to each article and spoke of them using these names, so it was clear that the dissertation had a good bit of "life" to them. If you are writing one big study, then you definitely can't do this, but you do then have the advantage of needing to speak only about one set of overall findings.

[Realistic ABD]

Applied to somewhere between 45-50 jobs, made a few short lists, one R1 interview that I am waiting for a decision on. Modest publication record but includes a solo in a well-regarded journal, lots of teaching and presentation experience, a few teaching and research awards and a fellowship thrown in. My goal is to go R1 (coming from a Top 20 department, that's how we are "raised"), but I also greatly enjoy teaching and am open to a SLAC that rewards research success to some degree alongside the obvious regard for quality teaching. Given this market and how my profile matches up with others on the market, I am fine with starting low and working my way up.

[styles]

RE: dumb question

not a dumb question. If you are indeed close to being finished and are only holding off defending until spring for funding ask your letter writers (actually just ask your chair) to indicate this in his/her letter of rec. This happens all the time and SC members understand your position. Don't waste your time (and limited space) trying to “prove” this in your cover letter.….we will only feel confident hearing this from your chair.

[less depressed]

To everyone who responded to my "depressed" post earlier in this thread. Thanks so much! I was feeling really down when I posted but your positive comments made me feel a bit better. There do seem to be lots of jobs in the SLAC and teaching focused ares with deadlines in dec and jan, so maybe I shouldn't lose hope yet!

[ohh]

@less depressed: I'm glad that you find some comfort in this forum as well! And when I said that jobs open in the spring, I really meant all through the spring, it sure doesn't stop in Jan.

[drbearjew]

Around 50 apps out right now. Made short lists at two very good R1s, and just had a phone interview with a solid LAC - 1st phone interview of this year's market for me. It's a nice feeling to have right now.