In the comments section of our most recent "how can we help you?" thread, Time for a break? wrote:
After another brutal year on the job market, I've managed to secure a decent two-year postdoc at a pretty nice institution. Although I've been advised to go back on the market again in the fall, I'm strongly considering sitting the next round out. Mainly, this is for mental health reasons: I get really depressed and anxious when I'm on the market, to the point that it starts to interfere with my work and personal life. I also figured that time not spent worried about the job market could be better spent making the best of my postdoc for when I do go on the market again the next time. And, of course, there's the fact that the odds of getting a job are so slim that the effort of going out on the market again could be for naught (it's happened before). But, there are very few jobs in my AOS, and passing on any of them seems like a very expensive luxury. I was hoping to hear from other people who have been faced with this kind of calculus, and how they ultimately made their decisions. In short, is it worth it to go out on the job market when you don't absolutely have to?
In response, 'been there' wrote:
Take a break. The only reason to apply for a job is if you work in a micro-sub-field, like aesthetics. Then it seems you must apply. But you only need to apply to those few jobs. But think of your health and well being.
I agreed. Despite being warned by many people that taking a break was too risky, I took a one or two year break from the market myself, and it worked to very good effect: the break not only improved my mental well-being–it also enabled me to focus on improving as a candidate, as it enabled me to publish more, improve my teaching, and engage in service to my university that I wouldn't have had time for had I been on the market non-stop. Still, upon further reflection, I have to note that I was in a unique position. I was in a year-to-year visiting position that I had reason to believe would be renewed annually for up to seven years. Given that relatively few people are in such stable long-term nonTT positions, taking a break could well be more risky for most people than it was for me.
Which is why I want to put it to you all. Did any of you take a break from the market? If so, what kind of position were you in when you took it? And how did it turn out? Did it help your well-being? Did it help you improve as a candidate? And did you end up getting a job? I think it would be really good–and hopefully, helpful to 'Time for a Break?'–to find out!
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