My Experience on the Academic Job Market
It’s that time of year again—yes, it’s academic job search time. There’s loads of job market advice out there (as you most certainly know), and now I suppose I’m throwing my hat into the advice ring as well. I thought I’d discuss my personal job market experience because I think it deviates in some ways from the standard experience. Before we dive in, however, I want to underscore the precarity of the job market and acknowledge the university’s role in contributing to the exploitative and extractive environment that adjuncts and non-tenured college instructors face. The precariat makes up most of the academy’s scholars and educators, and we (tenured and tenure-line scholars, administration) have continuously failed to address the demands of these essential educators. I won’t attempt to smoothly transition here—I think it’s important to sit with (and then, move with) this reality; let it weigh on us.
Note: This post discusses searching for humanities/English positions (mostly composition-rhetoric, to be specific) in U.S. institutions.
I was on the market for two years before I got a tenure-track job offer. I can’t say how typical this experience is—I know it is not very common, and I recognize that I am in a position of privilege. I did not apply to a lot of jobs at all—I want to say I applied to approximately twenty-five (including three academic administrative jobs and two post-docs) during my two-year search. Perhaps because I’d been out of school as a student for several years before getting into my doctoral program (though I’d been in academia as an adjunct lecturer), I felt less prepared to participate in the rigors of applying to academic jobs—I’d gotten my adjunct position through luck (and some tenacity on my part, for sure), and was unfamiliar with the politics of job-searching in academia. I was aware that the job market was “bad,” but I wasn’t quite sure what that meant. Also, because I’d had jobs outside of the academy, I was not as tied to the idea of being a fixture of the academy—I mean, I deeply enjoyed teaching and loved being a student, but I think because I’d had non-academic jobs in the past, I was not as attached to the “professor dream” as some others. Now, I should say here that deep down, I wanted the “professor dream”—but I did not fully admit that to myself for several years (Why, you ask? That’s another post!). I also want to say that I deeply enjoy my job and my work, and I am grateful that I’m doing something that I truly enjoy.
Year One (Spring/Summer 2022):
I did not do the prep-in-August-for-fall-jobs thing that doctoral students are advised to do; I was trying to complete my dissertation and simply felt I could not also prep for the market (though that’s what everyone is doing!). I also think I was practicing avoidance, if you can believe it. Anyway, I still managed to apply to a few jobs in the fall, so I guess I should say that I did not do a full market prep. I did not necessarily have my CV in order, or research and teaching statements. I didn’t scour through job ads and take notes. I suppose I’m comparing myself to the maximally prepared, but I’ll say that I didn’t feel prepared. I’d gotten pretty far in one job application process (second-round interview), but when I was notified that I didn’t get the position sometime in early 2022, I was on edge. By June, I was very, very worried that I would not find a job in time for fall. I’d done poorly in an interview in the spring, and was quietly stewing about it on my graduation day. Sometime after graduation, one of my dissertation committee advisors had gotten wind that there was a temporary composition job available, and I applied. After an interview, I was offered the job. It was late July. In total, I got six interviews and two offers (two visiting professorships). The job I just described was the one I took for the 2022-23 academic year.
Observations / Reflections:
In retrospect, I made out pretty well, considering I did not do the (typical?) summer prep. (It did not feel that way at the time, however.) Though I did get some first-round interviews in the fall and winter, I did not fine-tune my interview narrative until the summer of that year. You should have a kind of story in your interviews. Who are you as a scholar, and what are you working toward, pedagogically and scholastically? The answers to these questions should also include applicable terms in your field. Be thematically consistent in your application documents—tell the same story in your teaching statement, diversity statement, and research statement. Also, in your interviews, find a way to get back to your narrative, with every question they ask. You may not be able to do this for every every answer, but do it for most. Talk to your advisors and visit your university’s career center. Conduct mock interviews with your peers. Your school/career center might produce a podcast or put up job market-focused blog posts. Review those (I’ll mention a few below). Also, keep looking for jobs in the spring. Both jobs I got during my two years on the market were posted “off season.”
Year Two (Winter/Spring 2023):
While I was working as a full-time, temporary instructor, I had this uncertainty hanging over me, like a dark cloud (sorry). It was made clear to me (coming from a place of care, I want to stress) that I should be looking for jobs, right now, because the next year was not guaranteed. This round, I got five interviews, two of which resulted in campus visits. I was devastated when I got the news that one of the positions for which I applied that resulted in a campus visit went to another finalist. I’d applied for the position I have now in February 2023. I remember being excited while reading the job description—I also recall thinking that the job touched on two discrete academic interests of mine, which was unique. I sent my materials, but when I didn’t hear back for a while, I figured they’d passed on my application. I heard back from them in late April—they wanted to interview me for the position. I remember having to scour the internet for the job posting, because I hadn’t saved the posting when I applied (save the job posts you find!). I also remember feeling pretty good during the interview, and it was an auspicious time for me, I think (I’d had three pretty successful interviews during this period). I’d had a good feeling about the job, but I hadn’t heard anything for a few weeks, so I tried to temper my expectations. I heard back about a month later—I got the job. Some phone discussions and negotiations ensued, and I accepted a few days (though you can take a few weeks, perhaps even a month, if you need, to weigh your options after an offer) later.
Observations / Reflections:
I was more confident interviewing the second time around—I knew the kind of scholar I was, and I was more confident in my teaching abilities as well. At CUNY (my alma mater), doctoral students are instructors of record, and I’m grateful that I had that experience while in the doctoral program there—this experience helps when you’re applying to jobs—especially teaching-focused institutions. I think that during the second year, I was just more confident in general—I really think my full-time position helped me grow into my sense of self-assuredness. You want to make sure that you come across in interviews as a potential faculty member—a colleague, not an ultra-advanced student. If possible, try to teach a class if teaching is not already part of your program’s requirements. You might also try to lead a special project related to your scholarly interests (other than your dissertation/thesis—yeah, I know, but it may help) or work in an administrative capacity during the final years of your program. These types of undertakings will help you come across as even more competent and experienced in interviews.
Final Reflections:
One of the things that makes my job market experience unique was that I applied for several jobs “off season.” Again, look for jobs throughout the year. You don’t know what you’ll find if you don’t look. I’m sure the wisdom on this is changing due to the nature of the job market, but it’s worth reiterating.
Another thing is that I got a tenure-track job at a two-year institution. I don’t know how common this thinking is now, but I think there’s this idea that working at an R1 university or a SLAC is the ultimate “professor dream,” and maybe it is. If that’s your dream, then perhaps this post won’t be super-helpful. I’ll say that I think I’m in a unique position, because although I work at a community college, there are still publishing requirements. I think that in general, however, the research output required at two-year institutions might be changing, and some two-year schools do require their instructors to publish (the department’s job description should make their requirements clear, though).
The majority of jobs I applied for were in New York City, and this (obviously) deeply limited my search. I wanted to stay in New York because of family (and also because I don’t drive, gah!), but during my second year, I expanded my search to the general Northeast. I think the logic on this is changing too, but I’ll say it here: if you want to be in a certain geographical area for work, focus on that location—at least try to hold this boundary for a year. See what happens. If it doesn’t work out, then consider expanding your search. I also want to say here that I am in a field that is still somewhat essential—English composition—so there were more jobs available to me (despite the geographical limitations I imposed on my search). Your job search luck is most definitely field-dependent.
Relatedly, think about how long you want to be on the market. After a few years, you might want to assess a few things. Are there financial or familial considerations (by the way, here’s a link to a podcast episode about searching for a position with a spouse or partner in academia)? How’s your mental/emotional health holding up? Answer these questions truthfully. You might also consider that your participation in the academy can be fulfilled or experienced in a different way. What are some alternative ways to participate in the academy? (Honestly, this is something all scholars and learners should be thinking about.)
I also loved working at my school’s teaching and learning center. I would have been happy in an academic administrative position as well. Do you like organizing school events? Leading workshops? Generating symposia themes? Consider academic administration if you do. It will expand your job options.
Your first position may not be your last (it probably won’t be), and that’s okay. If you get a VAP position your first year, build on your scholarly experience and do a talk and/or conference. Work on a publication. During your second year on the market, your experience may help to make you a standout. (Note: there are a lot of scholars who must jump from one temporary position to another in order to stay in academia, so I do not want to suggest that starting off with a temporary position guarantees a stronger foothold in the job market—it does not; I’m suggesting a reframe/approach that might be helpful if you do end up with a temporary position after your first year on the market.)
You know this already, but consider work outside of the academy. Get started now, if you haven’t already—participate in something completely unrelated to academia. Just try to envision that you took another path in life. What does that life look like? Hopefully your university’s career center has guidance on this—utilize their resources!
Important note here: You are always going to be a scholar. A job is made up of tasks that you perform. You are a scholar who performs certain tasks, which may include teaching and research in an academic institution; your task may be implementing project management at a non-profit—but in either position, you are still a scholar.
Little late in the game for this, but join your university’s union, if you haven’t already. If you don’t have a union, link up with the students organizing for one. Also, look at the organizing activity/history of the schools you’re applying to work for—does labor have a voice? If not, you can be part of the emergent one.
Again, visit your school’s career center. Inquire about both academic and non-academic career services. If your school’s center is not robust, look at other grad school career center sites—a lot of their websites have free resources.
Syracuse University has a career services podcast called GradCast. You might give this episode a listen—it’s pretty nuts-and-bolts, but there’s also grad student-developed podcasts you can find, like this one from the Criminology Academy podcast.
The job market search/interview process is invariably exhausting. Be sure to approach yourself with care during this time. Write some reflections about your experiences, and make time to decompress after interviews, statement-writing, and application-building.
A note on blind faith: I had it. I don’t suggest running with this necessarily, but because I am talking about my experience on the market, I wanted to mention my mind state when I was applying for jobs. In some cases, blind faith can help to assuage disappointment, because you always think something great’s coming around the corner. I think approaching the market with a mix of hope, faith and good data (what’s the reality of your field’s market?) is the way to go.
I came into my doctoral program five years removed from the academy as a student. I didn’t have academics for parents—in fact, no one in my family had gone to grad school when I started my program. I had no immediate point of reference regarding the doctoral student experience. I did come in with a Master’s degree, but honestly, I still felt way outside of my depth upon entering my program. I didn’t know the right questions to ask—I didn’t know that there were questions to ask, in some cases. I want to underscore here that I’d been in the academy as an adjunct instructor for a few years at that point, I was eager to excel, and I had support from the professors I’d been working with, so I still had some privilege in that space. I mention all of this to say that if you’re someone who doesn’t feel completely linked to the academy, for whatever reason, you can still be very present in it, and move through it. Build your formal and informal networks. Write about it. Hold on to that distance from the academy, too, so that we can work to be “in but not of,” as they say.
Finally, if you find any of this helpful and have questions, or if you’re in comp-rhet/Writing Studies and want to chat, send me a message.
Wishing you luck and resilience (in a non-fetishy way—is that possible?),
Chy