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Post by curious on Oct 8, 2010 6:32:16 GMT -5
I had a lot of friends on the market last year and some of them applied to 70+ positions and honestly just wanted to crawl into a cave by the time it was all over. My committee doesn't think that I "need" to apply to that many - whatever that means. How many jobs are people applying to? Are you being selective about which jobs you apply for based on something in particular? I have about 25 on my list right now - including fellowships and non-TT jobs that I'd love to have for a few years just to be there. Obviously, I cut out jobs that I'm substantively not qualified for, but I also decided not to apply to places that were somewhere I'd never want to live. I also didn't apply to a lot of the "top schools" because I don't think I'm competitive for them and I don't want a position that's too research-focused - I really love teaching and mentoring. Just curious about how other people thought it through and how many jobs are on the list for you right now
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Post by rerun on Oct 8, 2010 6:49:42 GMT -5
In my own experience and that of my friends, what I have seen is that people become less picky as the year wears on. This is not to say that your dream job won't materialize, but that if you don't have to be picky (e.g you aren't constrained by an SO or other such factors), I would push your boundaries a bit. If you'd rather have the job than be unemployed, I would recommend applying for it. The worst that will happen is either they won't ever contact you, or you will interview and be offered the job and decide it isn't for you. Of course, if the application is a huge hassle, you might take that into account too, but once you've done 25 applications, you are likely to have most of what you need for any application.
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Post by docanonymous on Oct 8, 2010 7:20:34 GMT -5
So far, I've applied to 27 positions, 1 postdoc, and about 10 government positions. There are 15 more jobs and 4 more postdocs on my list, and I add to it almost every day. I'm sure by the time I'm done I'll have submitted at least 70 applications for academic jobs alone. And I feel like I'm being selective! There are several jobs I could have applied for but didn't for various reasons, and I've ruled out a couple of places purely based on geography. I am still concerned that after 70 academic applications, 5 postdoc apps, and probably 25 government job applications that I'll still not have anything lined up for next year. Therefore, 25 applications sounds way too low to me, but perhaps you're just a more competitive candidate than I am.
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Post by wonderboi on Oct 8, 2010 7:37:26 GMT -5
I applied to about 30 TT positions. I'm wondering if I should have applied to more, but I feel like I am a strong candidate. And there is always next year.
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Post by abc123 on Oct 8, 2010 9:27:44 GMT -5
I'm with rerun on this one...if "there's always next year" than you can afford to be a bit more selective. My first year on the market I applied to about 25 schools (and didn't apply to a bunch of positions for the same reasons as the OP), got a job interview, but no job. This year I've applied to more than 30 and have another 10 or so on my list, but I'd like to get that number up even higher because - at this point - almost any job is better than the alternative.
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Post by widenet on Oct 8, 2010 9:42:21 GMT -5
To date, I've applied for 53 positions and have 90 on my list so far. I will likely add more as more ads are posted.
This is my 1st year on the market, and I'm going into it with the mindset that casting a wide net will yield a decent job--maybe even having options. I eliminated all jobs I'm not substantively qualified for, top-tier schools, and those seeking advanced assistants. I have few geographical constraints but want to be in a location supportive of my family. My thinking is that I'd like to get the ball rolling, career-wise.
I'm ABD expecting to finish late this year, or early next, so have no doubt about being PhD by the summer and fall. My teaching creds are stronger than my research creds, and my PhD-granting institution is not the most prestigious.
My 2 cents. Hopefully my strategy will pay off.
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Post by not so many on Oct 8, 2010 10:08:35 GMT -5
Maybe 25-30 when all is said and done. But there is just no sense in me applying to certain schools. I know where I cannot get a job. I'm not being all the selective, but ruling out the schools who will not be interested in me and ruling out the schools looking for something I clearly don't do, and then ruling out schools in places I could never convince my spouse to live (and there are only a few places ruled out for that reason), that only leaves me with 25-30 schools.
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Post by cyclorama on Oct 8, 2010 10:09:06 GMT -5
Last year when I was ABD and my first time on the market, I applied very selectively to 24 jobs and 10 post-docs. I was at a non-prestigious Ph.D. granting institution with decent teaching experience and some publications. I had interviews at two schools, got an offer at one, but then ultimately decided to take a post-doc that was a better fit. This year, I'm still being selective, but it seems like there are so many more jobs. I've already applied to 20 and have a list of 20 more that grows each week. I also plan to apply to about 5-10 post-docs. So far, I've gotten one on-campus interview request and am very optimistic about this year.
Personally, I don't want to cast a really wide net, especially for jobs that are quite a stretch for me to match what the schools are requesting in areas of specialization. I think my time may be better spent on something else. However, people should do what works best for them psychologically, emotionally, and physically. My advisor asked all of his students to apply to at least 80 positions, reaching way out of our areas. I am sure my mentor knows better than I do, but I had to do what felt right for me. I don't get stressed at the possibility of having to leave academia if I'm unable to find a job.
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Post by zadkiel on Oct 8, 2010 13:22:52 GMT -5
I agree with the above post.
I am in the second year of a postdoc, so it's been awhile since I really tried on the market (although I did have a few campus interviews and an offer--which I turned down--earlier this year).
But, I know myself and I know my limits and I am sticking to about twenty or so jobs. I am also okay with trying to find a job outside of academia, if I need to.
But everyone is different!
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Post by waitwat on Oct 8, 2010 14:26:48 GMT -5
I've applied to 24 TT positions. If it starts looking unfortunate, I'll begin considering post-docs.
If you're applying to 90 positions... and that's after eliminating the "top-tier schools"... it says you have no idea what you're doing.
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Post by widenet on Oct 8, 2010 14:49:03 GMT -5
If you're applying to 90 positions... and that's after eliminating the "top-tier schools"... it says you have no idea what you're doing. Hmm. My advisers don't think so. They (and I) think it's a realistic plan for a crappy market and a person whose research and teaching interests happen to fit in 2 of the more desirable areas of specialization for which schools are hiring. I've done plenty of research to know enough about what I'm doing at this applying stage. No need to list it here to assuage anyone. Again, I'm aiming to have options and know how competitive jobs are.
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Post by beenthere on Oct 8, 2010 17:22:18 GMT -5
“If you're applying to 90 positions... and that's after eliminating the "top-tier schools"... it says you have no idea what you're doing.”
Nonsense!
There is no magic number. Apply for jobs that are a good “fit.” If you have personal constraints then you have to take them into account. Otherwise apply to all that apply….never turn down a job that has not been offered. And going on a job talk to a place that is not ideal is still good practice for one up the road that may be ideal. Plus, some places may surprise you.
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Post by deluded on Oct 9, 2010 6:58:30 GMT -5
I've applied to 24 TT positions. If it starts looking unfortunate, I'll begin considering post-docs. If you're applying to 90 positions... and that's after eliminating the "top-tier schools"... it says you have no idea what you're doing. You are fooling yourself if you think postdocs are easier to get than TT positions.
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Post by ssssss on Oct 9, 2010 15:58:47 GMT -5
I've applied to 24 TT positions. If it starts looking unfortunate, I'll begin considering post-docs. If you're applying to 90 positions... and that's after eliminating the "top-tier schools"... it says you have no idea what you're doing. I am sorry, but who are you to say that anyone has "no idea" what they're doing? Especially when you say something like "If it starts looking unfortunate, I'll begin considering post-docs?" Once you have all the materials ready, tailoring them for each specific position is easy, so the costs of applying to 90 places instead of 24 are not that much higher. And if you don't land a job out of those 24, the costs of not applying to 90 are much higher. In this market, anyone who can realistically be a decent "fit" for 90 positions would be a fool not to apply to them.
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Post by Many Applications on Feb 19, 2011 18:31:20 GMT -5
To those of you that applied to 25+ positions this year can you tell us what your experience was like? Was it worth it to apply widely? How do you feel about the job market?
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