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Post by sad on Mar 22, 2011 9:16:40 GMT -5
6 years in grad school, leaving behind a lucrative professional position, more than $100,000 in student debt, 1 article accept for publication, in my subfield, but looking at a 16-month wait until publication, post-acceptance wait period, (3 plus years after submitting, but they require publications to hire us?), 8 conference intervews in Atlanta, 7 phone interviews, 4 campus visits, hundreds in job search expenses, and, drumroll please, a dissertation that is not completed because of the hours on the job market.... and NO JOB!
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Post by taketwo on Mar 22, 2011 9:44:37 GMT -5
As a soon to be doctor, I am prescribing that you seek out a hug from someone close. Immediately. Repeat 3-4 times daily for a week. The job market sometimes take two to three rounds before you hit pay dirt.  |
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Post by options on Mar 22, 2011 9:48:05 GMT -5
Have you considered the private sector? It's amazing how marketable a soc phd is right now. Data Data everywhere and everyone wants someone to analyze it. I have had much greater success in securing private sector interviews than academic gigs. These jobs pay great, you are well respected, and there are tons of jobs. You can always get a job teaching at some pretty SLAC in New Hampshire when you are in your 60s. It's amazing what some good offers in the private sector will do for your self esteem as well.
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Post by hugs on Mar 22, 2011 10:14:26 GMT -5
I second the hugs idea. In fact, I'm sending you a virtual hug right now.
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Post by HUGS on Mar 22, 2011 10:39:08 GMT -5
Sending HUGS!
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Post by I feel you on Mar 22, 2011 12:29:54 GMT -5
I prescribe you a big beer.  I really feel your pain, but the fact that you progressed so far in the interview process is, I think, a really good sign. Would it be possible for you to secure funding to ride out grad school for another year while you go on the market again? Personally, I have my PhD in hand, 5 publications, and book contract, tons of teaching experience, and I only made it to the phone interview level (and only twice). Zero on-campus interviews. And it's my third year on the market. I'm not really sure what else I could do at this point (I don't do the kind of work that would make it into AJS/ASR), but I've worked so hard and the inertia is so strong it's tough to jump off the hamster wheel. I know as sociologists we should be above such thoughts, but I feel like a giant failure a lot of the time. |
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curious and with you
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Post by curious and with you on Mar 22, 2011 12:51:36 GMT -5
I am with you, sad and discouraged.
For the "private sector jobs" person: how did you go about finding these jobs?
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Post by anonywolf on Mar 22, 2011 12:59:22 GMT -5
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Post by thanks on Mar 22, 2011 13:28:07 GMT -5
hey guys thanks for writing back. i'm going to try the market again next yr, don't really have any choice. don't have anyone to hug me, so appreciate the virtual hugs. much love, s&d
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yep
New Member
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Post by yep on Mar 22, 2011 13:48:42 GMT -5
For private sector jobs, if you are qualitative you look for listings such as "ethnography" and "field market research" or "product usability/human factors." If you are quant, it is easy to just look up your preferred software, or look for "statistical analysis" etc. Also market research, survey design, etc.
Take a look at a few postings, make sure to change your CV back into a resume, and make sure to translate your work so that it is understandable in a corporate context.
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Post by taketwo on Mar 22, 2011 15:07:36 GMT -5
Thank you Yep and Anonywolf! Very helpful stuff.
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Post by guest too on Mar 22, 2011 15:25:25 GMT -5
Depending on the institution you're in, your university might have a very good career advising office.
I think PhD students tend to think of those services as mostly geared towards undergrads, but many of you will be surprised how good a resource they are also for PhD's and PhD students. They have job listings, advice for converting academic CVs into one-page resumes, alumni networks to connect to, constant workshops to attend, help with practice interviews, readings to recommend. They're also often experienced in helping PhDs or grad students move away from academia. I wouldn't presume this is true of all universities, but many of you are probably at universities where you can get lots of help pretty close to home.
As you might be able to tell, I started using those services about two months ago. I've been surprised by how helpful it's been, and I also couldn't believe that recruiters and employers actually responded to my applications. I'm still giving the academic job market a go, so I haven't moved along with anything, but you might be surprised that a social science PhD is attractive to some employers. And they can move fast. For example, a recruiter emailed me three days after I sent out a resume for a job that the recruiter thought I was overqualified for. But the recruiter was 'impressed' with my resume, and so he wanted to immediately speak with me for future reference.
Like everything to do with job searches, it takes time, but you might as well get started. It might even open doors you hadn't considered before.
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Post by ditto on Mar 22, 2011 20:28:22 GMT -5
Well, I'm right there with you, sad and disappointed. Diss done. 1 AJS, 1 ASR co-authored pubs, 1 lead author 3rd tier journal, 1 sole author under review. Over 1 year of adjuncting full-time experience. This is my 3rd year on the market, no job. I got two phone interviews and that was it this year. I just don't know what else to do. At least I can keep adjuncting, but I'm also applying to teach middle school (since a Ph.D. does not qualify me). It's terrible and heart-breaking, but life has to go on at some point. If I didn't love what I do so much... If I hadn't worked for 6 years towards a career that is just out of reach... Oh well. It's very hard for me to encourage my students to pursue academia though.
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Post by last hope on Mar 22, 2011 21:40:26 GMT -5
I have one last hope (actually, a dream job, so I'm REALLY hoping). But I can say that I taught middle and high school before returning to grad school and loved it. Also, someone from the school where I taught, who had a PhD in history, got a position at an R1 after a couple of years, so it doesn't have to be a dead end if it's not where you want to be permanently.
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Post by sd on Mar 23, 2011 5:52:16 GMT -5
thanks for writing back, ditto. your comment about "working for 6 years towards a career that is just out of reach" really hit home. yes it is very sad and very disappointing. the advice to get a job outside of academia is not very helpful, is it? since the problem is we want to be academics. advice i've received ranges from try the market again next year to give up entirely, but the alternatives don't seem promising. i could very well try the market again next year and be in the same place a year from now... if i don't get to be an academic, i'm going to at least move to a large city and join writing groups, and take classes in various fields, so i can still communicate with other thinkers/researchers. have a very, very good day, you're not alone.
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