Filed under: The Academy
Art work clearly indicates who is saved and who is doomed. Because of the insights from John McNaughton, we have reliable evidence that supreme court judges, the liberal media, politicians, and the college professor are all off to hell. And, from the descriptions (yes, interactive scrolling!) it appears that the Professor is the worst of them all! I’m glad I saw this before my God-complex had the chance to fully form.
But, in good news, I enjoy the label of “educational elite.” That has a nice ring to it. (Ring to it… Ring to it… anyone?). There is an alternate version here.
Oh, Fox News. h/t Blue
Filed under: The Academy
No, Anomie, I’m not hitting on you in your wonderful green cape. Although I have now met you in person, that’s still the image that pops into my head… What I am referring to is:
Also, started orientation today. Not official OFFICIAL orientation, but pre-orientation I guess. Got my keys, moved stuff into my office, met with the chair, signed up for life insurance (come Thursday I’m worth more dead than alive), and had “coffee” with someone in the faculty (in quotes cause I don’t drink coffee, and neither does he, but we talked about meeting for coffee anyway). Got the party line from the chair, heard a little about the fractures in the department from the faculty member. I’m looking forward to Thursday when I go to my first faculty retreat. This is gonna be interesting.
If I can impart one lesson to all of you, it is this:
When picking your dissertation, try to focus your topic into only a few areas of literature.
My dissertation utilizes:
- Economic sociology
- Economics (in general)
- Sociology of immigration (also tied to economics)
- Literature on meatpacking plants (I don’t even know how to categorize this one)
- Rural sociology
- Urban sociology (don’t ask why both, it just is)
- Business management literature
- Social networks literature
- Social capital
- Political science
- Sociological social psychology
- Psychological social psychology
- Ethnic/racial identities (racialization/ethnicization … written by people who don’t read social psychology, seriously, though it makes no sense as they keep talking about social identities and don’t talk about social identity theory)
- Demography
I’m sure there is more. Problem is, I am (or should say WAS) only really conversant in three of these areas. So I have to learn new vocabularies, assumptions, main research findings, main debates, etc. of each field. Moreover, I really only care about a few fields. I’m sorry, but readings on the dual labor market do not make me giggle with joy. Nor does trying to decode overly long sentences that make little sense and actually say very little (how I classify economics). I hate a large part of my dissertation. A very large part.
I don’t know. Perhaps that is most dissertations. But I had plenty of dissertation ideas that would have been more narrow. Plenty. I wasn’t allowed to do those (not because they were bad but because of other structural conditions), so it means it can be done.
Filed under: The Academy
I have nothing to blog about. Seriously, nothing. This is my life:
1. Teaching
2. Dissertation
3. Job market
That’s it. Those three things are about all I think about, and about all I have time to work on. I’ve been asked to review someone’s paper, and by the time I have TIME to sit down with it, I end up with nothing left to give. No thoughts, no help. Nothing. I’ll keep trying.
This stage of ABD sucks. I hate my new life. So, I’ll probably not be around for a while. I haven’t even had time/energy — mainly energy, to read your guys’ posts. I miss that.
And here a plea to save me:
CAN WE PLEASE HAVE ANOTHER MARIO KART TOURNEY? PLEASE? I need distraction.
From Radio Free Newport — a discussion on what it really means to be in an R1. Great info!
CJ asked, in an earlier post,
How much work is it to apply to each place on your spreadsheet?
Short answer: A LOT!
Long answer: Umm… well, let’s look at an example position.
George State University is running the following ad:
Anticipated TT asst or assoc professor with a teaching specialty in graduate classical or contemporary sociological theory and additional substantive research interests in one of the three following concentrations: family, health and life course, gender and sexuality, or race and urban. We enthusiastically encourage applications from minority candidates. An offer of employment will be conditional on background verification. Candidates should submit: 1)letter outlining their qualifications; 2)curriculum vitae; 3)sample of scholarly work; 4)evidence of teaching effectiveness (i.e., course syllabi, student evaluations, and statement of teaching philosophy); and 5)three letters of recommendation. PhD in sociology is required at time of appointment.
So, let’s assume you’ve done your job searches and know the places you are going to apply (of course, this is an ungoing process of checking and rechecking the job boards, talking to people, looking at websites to see if anything has opened, etc.). Now you have to start fullfilling those requirements.*
- Letter outlining your qualifications: Cover letter. Blick. Okay, so you should have about 4 or 5 stock letters that you will write — one for different areas of teaching and a different version depending on if it’s a teaching or research job. These can be used across universities. Meaning, if I am applying to two jobs that are theory positions that are teaching schools, I use the same letter. But, you still have to change the letter to bring in specific details of that department (show them that you are familiar with their department). Of course, if you REALLY REALLY REALLY want the job, you should write a special letter just for that school. Really research it and address how you fit into their department — how you are congruent, how you will bring something new that is missing.
- CV: You should have different versions of this, one stressing research and one stressing teaching. I know I should do this, but I’m not sure I will. Mostly, because I don’t have much to include under teaching. I may have it just where I move subheadings around (put the teaching higher in the CV for teaching jobs).
- Sample of Scholarly Work: Now you have to consider what to send. Should be sole authored or first authored things, but sometimes you may want to send something where you are second author, if it’s to a great journal. Some places will make you send a dissertation chapter.
- Teaching effectiveness: E gads! Lots of work. You write the philosophy (how you approach classes). Then you have to include stats from teaching evaluations and comments. Which means you have to shift through them, do some data entry, and create tables and what not. Syllabi! I’ve been told only to include classes I have or am going to teach. Well, that means I now have to quickly write my Ethnic and Race Relations syllabus to include in these packets.
- Letters of recommendation: This takes more work than you would think. Of course your major writes all of them (or your chair, what ever you call the Master of your Universe). Then you should pick people based on the job type (if its teaching, do you have anyone who has seen you teach?). Also, pick people based on University (hey, if they know people there, and are liked there, and they say they like you… it’s a nice tidy Heider Triangle). Then you need to match based on area — social psych profs write for social psych, theory for theory, etc. Of course, you need to find out who is willing to write for you. Then, they may not be willing to write for you for all jobs (hey, if they are the major prof for someone else who is applying to the same school as you — they shouldn’t write for you, they’ll be writing for that other person, and that other person should get a stronger letter). Then, you need to create a Word document with mailing labels for each person. AND some of them ask you for “talking points” — things you would like them to stress.
Phew.
And, I’m sure I’m missing lots cause I’m just starting! And, different places ask for different things. Some want a seperate research goal. Some, evidently, want a statement of religion.
*See Anomie for some tips on some of these requirements.
I have some sort of faith. Probably not the kind of faith that a “clearly evangelical, genuinely ecumenical and distinctively Wesleyan” college wants who is seeking “applicants who are committed to its Christian mission.”
With the teaching philosophy, and the research philosophy, they also seem to want a faith philosophy. A “Faith Statement” of one page. What is that? “Jesus loves you! Yay God!”? I’ve kicked around the idea of having my sister write it (highly religious, probably have a problem keeping it to one page), but perhaps the moral of the story is Pitseleh is only applying to 39 schools. Too bad. I like the geographic area.
I have no problem teaching at a Christian, Catholic, Lutheran, etc. school … but I am nervous when they want me to write a statement. Most of the other religious schools have ads that say that they are in a particular religious area, but welcome applications of all faiths. I figure with those schools, you indicate your dedication to social justice. I’ve read the statements on a lot of these religious schools … about what sociology is, and I really think that my philosophy of what sociology can do in terms of equality and social justice is nicely dovetailed with their religious viewpoints.
I didn’t even know that religious statements were something that was done. Anyone have experience with these types of schools? Or the others that say they are open to a wide array of faiths? How does that appear during the job interview process?
Man, it’s crazy how much time this job market stuff takes. It’s a job in and of itself… and I haven’t even sent out my first ap yet!
I started making my excel spreadsheet that includes:
University, Due Date, Contact(s), Address, Area 1, Area 2, Area 3, Type, Job Description, 3rd Letter Writer, Website, and Notes.
The only one that needs explanation is probably 3rd Letter writer — that just means that I have the same two people writing all the letters, but I vary on the third depending on type of school and areas. Also depending on contacts to the university. I have four third letter writers. Or, four so far. The number may increase, depending on the job that comes up.
As of now, I’m applying for 40 jobs. FORTY. Is this normal? I don’t feel normal. Tell me if I’m normal! I mean as far as this job hunt goes. I know I’m not normal otherwise.
Oh, Gods of the Job Market! Please give me at least ONE great offer!
Boston this year was filled with whale watching, a short meeting with the Scatterplot people (hey, you all left before I had enough to drink to get up courage to talk), and the ASA job interviews. Here is a tutorial on how to do it (just my experience folks!):
- When you register for ASA you have to also register for the job service. This costs a bit extra.
- Go onto the ASA website and you create your profile. This will be what the contacts for the universities searching will see. This includes a CV. So update that. Actually, I updated mine about 10 times before ASA as I got feedback and advice on how to do a CV at my fellowship and sent things out for publication.
- Part of this is the calendar. This is where you put down when you will be available for interviews. I only allowed one day for scheduling (Saturday for me). I think this is a good approach, but it depends on how many interviews you want to do. I would do NO MORE than 10 in a day. I actually would suggest around seven. If you want to do more interviews than that, I suggest more days. I had ten. The schools seemed to like to schedule them back to back. This will be a problem. I suggest if you get two in a row, you block the twenty minute block before and after these two. This will give you time to review notes (more later on notes).
- Check obsessively to see what new jobs are being posted. Read the descriptions. If it fits you, look at the websites of the hiring universities and see if the department interests you. If so, apply.
- Now check your email obsessively to see if they have agreed to interview you. Some may ask you for more information via email. Basically, I would write a sort of cover letter giving them more information about me.
- After each interview is scheduled, research that university. Create a cheat sheet that has short descriptors of the university, the job, and the people who are interviewing you (what they published, research, etc.). Think about what they want you to teach, and come up with a statement (at least in your head) about how you would approach it and what books you would use.
- While some R1 schools will be there, the majority of the schools will be teaching schools. Therefore, think about pedagogy. Think about what you enjoy about teaching and challenges you will face. Think about approaches to classes you will be expected to teach. Come up for answers to questions like: If you could make your ideal schedule, what classes would you teach? What are the biggest challenges in teaching? You will be asked these things. You will also (as suggested above) be asked about text books and other assignments you will use. You may be asked about how you would teach first generation or minority students. You will be asked about the classes that you think you could teach outside of what they are asking for. If you name a class, be ready to talk about what you would include in the class — again, naming books you would assign (I know I’ve said this a lot, but I’m surprised about how much it came up, and how happy they seemed when I gave them examples of books I would assign when not explicitly asked).
- Have answers to where you are in your dissertation. Some people suggest bringing a timeline for dissertation completion. One of the big things they are trying to figure out is if you’ll be done. I didn’t do a timeline because I didn’t have enough time between my fellowship and ASA, but I think it is a STELLAR idea.
- Research 1’s will ask you what your next steps are after your dissertation. I told them about two grants that I want to pursue. One I have pursued but got rejected in late stages and the other that I want to develop. Make sure that if you go the grant route you can talk about it in some detail: what the project is, how much you think you will ask for, the theoretical issues. I think I captured some attention just because of my second grant idea that is more in a development stage. Yet, because I have a related paper I’m working on, I was able to get into discussion about it that captured the interest of interviewers. One of them asked me to define “agency” as my grant covers that concept. So, be ready for that kind of thing. Seriously, reminded me of when I was asked to define “structure” during my prelim defense. So, be ready for that kind of question if you bring it up.
- There seemed to be three types of schools that interviewed me: (1) teaching schools that were really looking to interview and make some preliminary decisions on those they liked; (2) schools that really didn’t know why they were there; (3) R1 schools that just wanted to get a sense of who was out there. The first type always had more than one person at the interview. The second just had one. The third varied.
- Remember, you are also interviewing them. Always have questions ready to ask. I generally had a tenure question (what’s the process) and teaching load question. But, it varied what I asked depending on what they covered previously. I also varied depending on if it was a teaching school or a research oriented school. If I just needed to ask a question, I may ask a teaching school what support they had for developing teaching skills. I asked Research 1’s about supports they had for grant writing. Because I was also interviewing them, I may have crossed three universities off of my list (not sure about one yet).
- Think about the geography of the schools. I had more than one question asked to me about whether I thought I could live in the area, or… why I wanted to. I also had to address questions about how I could adapt my research (on new destinations) to other areas… or if I would fly back to this midwestern state to research.
- More than two or three interviews in a row is a mistake. I actually went to the wrong table at one point. I forgot where I was during the interview, because I was in the middle of five in a row. NOT GOOD. I made up for it I think, by joking, but it wasn’t great. I also didn’t have time to review my carefully prepared notes between interviews. Bad, because sometimes I couldn’t remember what the research of the interviewers were. The jobs I REALLY wanted, this was not a problem because I know who is there and what the research is. But, we all know, we may not get that one job that we are really excited about.
- THE PROCESS: You get there a little early (five minutes is more than enough). You sit with other scared looking graduate students. A two minute warning bell goes off (not kidding). Then a longer bell goes off. You jump up and run around looking for your table number (same number as the employment number). You introduce yourself, shake hands, and then start. Bring copies of your CV. Although they should have them, they may not have printed them off. I also brought my business cards (printed for a snowball qualitative study)–but I don’t remember if I gave any of them away. ON DRESS: I wore a suit, but what women wore varied from slacks and a nice shirt, to dresses, to suits. Men tended to be in suits or slacks and nice shirts with ties. I guess wear what you think is appropriate and you will be comfortable in. But, I don’t think you can go wrong dressing as formally as you can.
- Know that during the rest of ASA, you will run into those that interviewed you repeatedly and in awkward situations… on the elevator for example. Be ready for that.
- Pay attention to how they close the interview. Some will say outright that they would like you to apply. Some of them will say it in such a way that you know that they just say it, others will seem to really mean it. I don’t know if it matters in the long run, but seems to give some insight.
- Finally, take notes. If they mention knowing someone you work with, definitely note that — especially if they seem to really like that person. Guess who you can ask to write one of your letters? Furthermore, remembering details like who is a 3-3 and who is a 2-2 will get difficult later.
Hope any of that was helpful.
