Late Cycle Decisions: Need Advice!

Late Cycle Decisions: Need Advice!

choices 27 Jun 2016 17:21

Hi all,

I need some help. I'm going to summarize my current predicament while trying to not be too specific. I'll use aliases of jobs to make it distinguishable while I go through the details.

Ok, so I've been on the job market this year (2015-2016), and have gotten considerable interest (14 phone interviews, 4 campus interviews), but none have turned into any offers. Currently, I'm still on the job market, hoping one of these last things turns into something, at least temporarily. Here's where I stand: Job A (preferred) is a VAP (1-yr) with an August start date. I'm currently waiting for a decision. I recently returned from a campus interview for Job B (1-yr Asst Prof), and am currently waiting for a response from that. Last, I have an opportunity to adjunct at Job C in a city where my parents live (obviously for considerably less salary than the other two full-time gigs). I told Job C that I'd let them know at the end of June my decision (since they're holding the courses for me, but understand that I'm looking for full-time). Unfortunately, it's nearing the end of the month and I don't know a single thing about A or B. As for updates on processes, I'm up-to-date on all info at the moment.

The kicker about all of this is that it's not only me looking for a job. My wife, though not in academia, needs to pursue a transfer with her current job, and with each job in different cities, she can't tell the recruiters which city she needs to look into. We have to leave our current city by the end of July, with a destination, and a plan for that destination, as we have a toddler and another one on the way. Staying in our current situation/city is not really an option, because it will be too expensive for us as I will not have a paycheck after July.

I hope that makes sense. My question is, how do I approach all of this? How would you? Do I ask for an extension of my decision for Job C to wait for Jobs A & B decisions? Can I ask/request for a timeline for Jobs A & B, and should I explain my predicament? My wife and I are at our wits-end with this whole thing and the uncertainty is obliterating our positivity. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

Re: Late Cycle Decisions: Need Advice!

juniorfaculty 28 Jun 2016 01:41

I understand this situation is extremely stressful, especially considering the timeline. You should definitely ask job A and B. At a minimum, you DO have an offer from C that you can use as your excuse to contact them, but I even think the family excuse is sufficient. You need to know for your wife.

All of that said, there is an unwritten rule that you can agree to adjunct somewhere and then bail at the last minute if you want. Not so for TT or VAP, but universities dick around adjuncts so much that it is pretty much expected that adjuncts will do the same back at the school from time to time. Granted, if this is a school you might apply to someday for TT you might not want to burn that bridge, but it is understood that people bail on adjunct positions for better jobs on a pretty regular basis.

So my advice is to first inquire about A and B. If the response is "wait/we don't know yet" then tell job C you can adjunct for them. If you can tell them in a way that is honest but leads them on, that is best.

Now…I don't mean for this to sound mean, but as for job C, why would you upend your whole family in order to adjunct? And what if you said yes to any of these positions but your wife was unable to get a transfer? If she gets a transfer, will she still have maternity leave comparable to what she gets if she stays? Is there an adjuncting possibility where you are right now, so that can be your fallback if A&B don't work in order to avoid a gap in your CV? Or could you maintain a university affiliation and use the year to get some lingering papers out? Perhaps you can get some other temporary income on the side, like editing, tutoring, etc? Part-time stay-at-home parent plus nanny for another person's kid? You said that staying where you are is not an option because you won't have a paycheck, but it seems like going to job C is worse than not having a paycheck (in other words, being an adjunct doesn't cover childcare costs.)

I'm sorry to be a downer and to bring up things you've certainly already considered. But the scenario did surprise me because with so many family members involved I'd think there would be a lot of inertia to stay put.

Re: Late Cycle Decisions: Need Advice!

choices 28 Jun 2016 16:13

Thanks for your input, juniorfaculty.

I've contacted all three with all of the information I'm willing to give. Job A still said I needed to wait, silence from B, and I just asked C about extra time to see what they say. I'm hesitant to say Yes and then have to back-out. I understand what you're saying about adjuncts vs. departments/colleges, but that's not the type of person I am.

As for your other input, I didn't take it as mean. I appreciate the unsolicited exploration of options, actually, because you honestly didn't have to. You may have missed it, but Job C is in the same city as my parents, so we would get free childcare. We currently live in an expensive city with no childcare and the possibility of having a newborn and a mother on a severely reduced maternity leave income in a really expensive city. No amount of my cobbling together odds and ends would make the costs surmountable, unfortunately. Having an adjunct's salary in a far less expensive city is more desirable in the long-run than staying put (especially with the close-by familial support). It's not just housing too, it's all the other living costs, like car insurance, utilities, etc. That stuff adds up!

The good news is that everyone is rallying around us in this crazy moment in our lives, so we feel really loved, at the very least.

Re: Late Cycle Decisions: Need Advice!

juniorfaculty 28 Jun 2016 16:47

Honestly, curious, I'm not that kind of person either. I'd ask for more time from Job C but I wouldn't be able to take my own advice above to commit to something and then back out. For my first TT job I said "yes" (because it was already an extended deadline) and literally the next day was offered a position I wanted more. I stuck with my initial decision and enjoyed it for several years, but eventually left a few years later for a completely different position that fit my and my family's needs best. I just wanted you to know that it's more acceptable to bail from an adjunct position.

I did notice the part about your family but for a lot of people having grandparents around doesn't mean free childcare so I didn't assume that from the post; just assumed that you would like to live near them. We have lived near (like under 5 min distance) both sets of grandparents at different times in our kids' lives and both sets made it clear that they would NOT be regular childcare. They didn't even do that much incidental childcare — we almost always got babysitters — but it was always nice to have them around and they did do some childcare, including a number of sick/emergency days, daycare vacations, etc.

I did figure that the differences must be mainly COL. Those things do add up fast. I really hope that you get an answer soon!

Re: Late Cycle Decisions: Need Advice!

vapanon 29 Jun 2016 01:05

You have every right to ask for an extension with C, especially considering your situation. The worst is that they say no, or hopefully the request will buy you some more time, even if it is for a few days.

Like juniorfaculty say you should ask for a timeline with A and B, especially with your offer in hand. You can even be forthcoming with A and B about Job C's timeline, to see if they're willing to work around that schedule. Bring up your family as well- if A and B don't answer, is it worth waiting to take a job that wants to jerk you and your family around?

How long did Job A tell you to wait, and how long ago was the interview? August is only a few weeks away. Would it be more difficult to scramble to move and prep for Job A (or B) with even less time to work with than you have now? Is there any other indication that A is actually leaning toward a yes? Waiting, and having them keep you hanging on for a 'no' would be hard to deal with. I understand this is an incredibly stressful time but I would give yourself a timeline, no more than a week, to make some serious decisions about taking or leaving C (if you don't want to accept and back out later). If you are able and willing to work on new/ongoing projects during your year or two as an adjunct with C, finding something better in the future is not out of the realm of possibility. There is no right path to the TT- especially when your family is a huge part of your life- and many successful academics have unconventional journeys. I don't think there's any shame in taking C if A and B don't work out, but I do hope they give you concrete answers very soon. Best of luck to you!

Last edited on 29 Jun 2016 01:11 by vapanon Show more

Re: Late Cycle Decisions: Need Advice!

choices 11 Jul 2016 19:05

Thanks, vapanon, for the advice.

As it turns out, Job A decided to go with someone else and I am completely in the dark as to whether I was considered for hire or if anyone is actually going to get hired at Job B. So it looks like we're headed to Job C, which, as both of you pointed out, a little bittersweet, considering it's a part-time gig and I've gotta move my family.

Well, the cycle starts anew and I am on the hunt again.