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Temporary work tips between academic jobs?

In our most recent "how can we help you?" thread, a reader asks:

I have managed to secure a job for at least another year, and I am very happy about this. However, my current position finishes at the end of May, and my next position won't start until September. So, I'll be unemployed for three months. I'm wondering if anybody has any experience or ideas about kinds of temporary work that might be available to help make this transitionary period a little easier on my finances?

Good question. Do any readers have any helpful tips?

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4 responses to “Temporary work tips between academic jobs?”

  1. Not a Provost

    This was me in the past. Remember that if your last paycheck is paid out in May, you can file for unemployment until your new position begins. The only requirement is to maintain an active search for work. I sent out applications for upper administration academic positions to jump through that hoop until my position began in August. Surprisingly, no one wanted a former VAP three years out of his PhD as Provost.

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  2. once unemployed

    I also collected “employment insurance” while I was contingently employed, one summer between contracts. I actively applied to academic jobs advertised from mid-June or so, until the end of August. (in Canada, they started calling unemployment insurance employment insurance in order to reduce the stigma). (they also started calling short people tall, and all sorts of other helpful things)

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  3. anon

    Yeah, gaps between contracts are tough!
    Things people I know have done in a similar situation include:
    – Take unemployment insurance while taking a break / writing / etc.
    – Teaching a summer course (or more than one) at some other institution that needs it – sometimes these are on accelerated schedules and last well under three months.
    – Contract work for dissertation editing, article editing etc. (Someone on PHILOS-L sometimes posts job advertisements for a company whose name is escaping me right now)
    – Seasonal non-academic work (garden center, etc.)

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  4. Paul

    one summer while i was adjuncting and had three (!) kids in daycare, i worked partime on the electronic library at my university. Not great pay, but the library always needs folks, expecially in the summer. I waited table and did some bar tending in grad school, and if your feet and knees will hold up you can make really good money at the right places. Also, ACT/SAT tutoring is pretty big business. And I second the summer adjuncting idea. Lots of schools want online instructors, and while it doesn’t pay great, you can often get away with a lot of auto-grading which really helps…

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