The Philosophers' Cocoon

Given that I'll be entering the job market for the first time this fall I have been reading  and discussing different approaches to having success. Today I read an article that struck me as a bad approach to achieving such success. As I was taking a break from dissertation writing (contructive procrastination?), I came across a "Negative CV" (see here). A negative CV is apparently a list of your failures related to your field rather than your sucesses as is the case with a positive CV. Here is a quote from AIden Horner that captures what it is:

"Before I start, I should probably note that I’m not doing badly at present. I had a successful PhD, and am in my third year of a five year post-doc. I have several publications, and was even lucky enough to win a prize for my PhD work. It would be dishonest to claim I’m not doing reasonably well, but I certainly know individuals with ‘stronger’ CVs – prestigious fellowships, publications in ‘big’ journals etc. My point in opening up my CV is more to show the extent of rejection that has gone with the successes I have had. This might offer hope to PhD students, suggesting that rejections don’t spell the end of their career, or it could provoke anxiety, wondering how they could put up with so much rejection (or even that they've been at the recieving end of a lot more rejection). Regardless, I hope that the information is useful for some. Whether or not potential future employees will regard it as ‘useful’ is another matter, but one I will have to cope with when the time comes".

I immediately thought a few things. First, a negative CV would be much longer than this if Aidan was a philosopher. Would others agree? With only 14 failures out of 21 or so attempts, it seems that a 33% success rate would be record-breaking in Philosophy (admittedly I am appealing to 5 years worth of anecdotes with my "record-breaking" claim). Second,  I don't see how such a CV could be helpful (overall) for the person making it. I suppose it could show that one was determined and dedicated to the discipline (in a striking out 50 times but getting up to bat again sort of way). 

It's safe to say that I won't be making a negative CV any time soon, not one that I share publically anyway. How do others feel about this? Outisde of the hope it gives to others who will no doubt strike out in their careers is there any value in making one? I'm thinking that it would do more harm than good.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, folks. If any cocooners are in town for the annual meeting for the Society for Applied Philosophy Conference (June 27-29) do be in touch for some coffee (or beer) as I will be in attendance. I have yet to meet any of you in person and look forward to it.