How many applications?

[rerun]

PhD in hand. Top 20 school and famous advisor. Applied for 9 jobs (geographic limits). Only one was actually in my main area.

Tons of teaching experience, including 7 separate courses, many taught multiple times (at my own school and as an adjunct elsewhere).

I have one first authored forthcoming pub in a decent journal that I did not have when I put out the initial apps. I have 5 co-authored pubs in which I am not first. I also have several things in the pipeline, including an R&R piece in a major journal.

I made one short list and did not get an on-campus interview. I am currently on two other short(ish) lists. The place where I would most like to work (closest to my home) has not moved on apps yet.

I wish so much that I could cast a broader net. I had to turn down a job last year because I got desperate and applied for jobs that were too far out of my geographic range, so this year I tried to get serious, and I still wound up applying for a couple unrealistic possibilities. As it stands, I would have a 90 minute commute each way for the job for which I am the best fit.

I would really like to remain in academia, but if I'm on the market again next year, I'm going to apply for non-academic jobs as well.

[for fun]

Third year on market (sort of - this year I didn't need a job).

Year 1: 40ish applications
1 interview
no offer
1 post-doc offer (accepted), 1 post-doc shortlist after first one accepted

Year 2: 40ish applications
2 campus interviews
1 tt offer (I declined)
1 multi-year post-doc interview and offer (accepted)
late requests to see if I was still interested from an additional 2-3 unis

Year 3: 2 applications
1 interview
no offer

Profile: 1 AJS/ASR sole-authored, 1 top sub-specialty journal in my field sole-authored, 2nd of 2 authors on another AJS/ASR, some things I am first author on R&R at top journals.

Unless pubs arrive soon, no applications next year but I plan for 30-40 the year after. I think it's smart to apply widely but anywhere over 50 starts to get a little crazy in my opinion. It's just so much work, and I do think I've been able to tell pretty well where I have a decent shot. The people I've known who have done over 60 just feel so worn out - and I don't think it really increased the number of interviews they got.

I am glad, however, that I applied for places that I might not have first considered - keep in mind that you know very little about a place based on the state or the town that it is in. If you can move, be willing to look at different places.

[needajob]

First year on the market
I am ABD, not from a top ranked school. Have one sole-authored book chapter. Experience teaching multiple courses from intro to Sr. level across the discipline (5 courses with multiple sections of each). In a good, but not hot area. Well-known faculty in some circles. Very active in service at local, regional, and national level - good connections. Worked on funded projects (State & NIH)

I have applied to 25TT (R1, regional MA, and SLAC) positions and 5 post-docs nationally.
4 short lists (that I know of) (R1s, regional MA, and postdoc)
2 phone interviews, 1 more scheduled (R1, regional MA, postdoc)
1 campus interview (R1)
Informally offered a post-doc locally with a research institute - haven't accepted and saving for back-up.

Still waiting to hear from some post-docs and other positions that had later deadlines that I haven't heard anything about.

I am about at then end of what I can handle for the year. There are two more post-docs that are appealing, but I am getting a little worn out.

[yipe]

Amazed by "for fun"'s numbers with the pubs you have! What variation in these stories!

[asluckwouldhaveit]

ABD from a top 10 dept, edgy research area, 1 second authorship in another discipline's top journal, 1 solo authored piece in print in top speciality soc journal, another solo author R&R in subfield journal, various other unimportant pubs. Lots of teaching, TAing, etc, including adjunct gigs at local schools. Famous committee member, semi-famous advisor.

Applied to 22 schools including lots of top depts (of which 1 was cancelled and one failed), 9 postdocs.

For jobs:
2 phone interviews
3 campus visits
1 offer (declined)
[heard in rejection emails or through contacts that I made the long short list for three other schools, but didn't get interviews]

Postdocs:
1 campus visit for plum postdoc
1 offer (accepted)
(3 rejections, rest of apps pulled)

Am happy with this first run. One of the campus visits was for my dream job, but I didn't get it. Another was for what on paper looked like a dream job, but in person, seemed like a somewhat hostile work environment. Didn't get that offer either. Offer came from a lovely, small department, but declined for personal/family reasons. And glad I did, because the postdoc I ended up with is plain awesome.

Now just trying to finish the damn diss!

[taketwo]

This is round two for me. I've applied to 68 positions: mostly soc positions, some women's studies, a few administrative positions, and a handful of postdocs. I've had two conference interviews, three phone interviews (two of which I hope to hear from this week or next). I'm also "on hold" for two positions. As far as I can tell I'm still in the running for 25 positions total. Now that I have a few pubs under my belt and three papers under review, I feel that this year has been much busier than last.

[mystory]

I am ABD and this was my first time on the job market. I am from a med- ranked R1 department, but I have a well known dissertation chair. My area is moderately popular.

I applied to a little over 50 TT positions in a mix of Sociology, Women's Studies, Justice Studies, and Criminal Justice Programs. My search was very targeted to only those jobs that I fit and had a reasonable chance of obtaining. The results:

2 requests for more information at R1's
2 invited conference interviews
3 phone interviews (SLAC, tier 1 regional (NE), tier 2 regional)
5 Campus Interviews (SLAC, tier 1 regional, the others-tier 2 regional)
2 job offers (I took one )

I did not apply for any jobs past January 15th, but there have been 6-10 that have come up since then that would have been a fit.

[anonamundo]

ABD, second year on the market. Mid-ranked R1, advisor well-respected in their field but not a famous name. 2 pubs in mid-ranked journals, first author on one, sole author on the other. Both forthcoming at the time applications went out. My areas are popular, so much so as to be considered rather general. Have taught 3 times as solo instructor.

Year 1: ~30 apps
2 phone interviews
2 campus interviews (one was via Skype, they could not afford to bring me out)
1 prestigious postdoc shortlist
1 t-t offer at regional university (declined; not a good fit)
1 postdoc offer (declined; family reasons)

Year 2: ~50 apps
4 phone interviews
2 campus interviews
1 t-t offer at R1 (accepted)

I am very happy with this second run, but also happy that I tried last year--it gave me a leg up for preparing apps this year and didn't derail my work as much. Now I have to finish up this dissertation!

[congratsamundo]

Congratulations on your tt! And thanks for sharing the stats.

[cyclorama]

My Final Tally:

Year 1 - ABD at 2nd tier R1 (according to US News, whatever that's worth), some pubs, experience teaching 4 different classes. Advisor at the top of the field.

24 jobs (R1, SLAC, VAP) - Got 2 interviews (both teaching positions), 1 TT offer declined (Not a great fit).
10 post-docs - got one offer, accepted

Year 2 - Post doc at 1st tier R1, no additional pubs.

35 job applications (R1 and SLAC) - 5 on campus interviews (4 R1, 1 teaching college), on 4 other shortlists at R1s (based off of calls/emails gauging my interest). 2 tt offers at R1s, one accepted that was the right fit!
5 postdocs

I got so much more action this year, perhaps because my area was popular (not crim), had the degree in hand, and have a post doc at a department that is seen as more prestigious then my previous.

[laughthroughit]

I'll do my final tally as well - good call, cyclorama So here's what I posted on February 20th:

Feb 20, 2011 14:42:36 GMT -5 laughthroughit said:

I'm ABD with no publications. I've taught 10 courses as the sole instructor with excellent evaluations and teaching awards. Some research grants, though they're several years old now.
I've applied to 33 positions so far (TT, VAP, Instructor, postdocs).
As of right now, I've had one phone interview.

I applied to 40 positions total.
One phone interview.
One campus interview.
One offer (VAP), which I accepted.

Interviews and offer were all for the same position, which happened to be one of my favorite positions on my list. It was application #30. My advisor had been telling me for months that "it just takes one." She was right.

[adding to the list]

I'll add mine to the list:

I'm finishing a 1-year VAP with 5 articles in a range of publications and a book contract with a top press (esp for what I do). Good names on my recommendations, which were enthusiastic in their content. Not a 'hot' field.

My second time on the market: 50 applications, 8 long lists (where they asked for additional information and/or made a contact with one of my letter writers), 3 campus visits for TT lines, with 0 offers. 3 VAP offers, 1 taken.

I'd say it's a rough market.

[the market is not over yet]

I've applied for about 40 jobs running the entire gamut. I very recently accepted a postdoc--my first offer. Within one week of accepting the postdoc, I was contacted by 3 other places (2 postdoc, 1 TT). I've since withdrawn any outstanding applications.

I was under the impression that April concluded the job market, and before I received my offer I thought all hope was lost, so I just wanted to reiterate this market hasn't concluded. More jobs are being posted, and there is still hope.

[crayon]

First year on the market, top 10 program, ABD. Applied to 7 positions (post-docs and tt included), got three campus interviews, two offers, one accepted.

[excited]

ABD. Top 30 school. Two sole authored publications. Tons of teaching experience.

Applied to over 90 schools (stopped counting)

6 campus visits (declined one)

2 phone interviews

2 offers

Accepted the offer that was the dream job in a dream location

Did get interviews from unexpected places, but the two offers were from places that were excellent fit for my qualifications.