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In our most recent "how can we help you?" thread, a reader asks:
For those who (likely) struck out on the market this year and don't already have a permanent academic job – what are you going to do now (and why)?
I'm sorry the OP and others are facing this situation. There's still some time, as I know that jobs can be posted and filled into the summer. But still, it's a good question.
Do any readers have any helpful tips to share?
Call me Dr. Doordash
Watching university job postings and applying for applicable staff positions.
It depends a bit on your personal situation. Are you currently enrolled in a PhD program where extending your studies by another year is an option? If so, that may be a good idea – you can always try the market again next year. Alternatively, some postdocs pop up at odd times; they aren’t necessarily in sink with the academic job market. In my experience, that’s especially true for European postdocs. I’d recommend keeping an eye out for positions in Germany, the UK etc. In addition to postdocs in philosophy departments, there may be ethics centers or university-wide positions to keep an eye on. There are then fallback options: adjuncting is a possibility (though for your sake I really hope one you don’t need for too long) – or applying for nonacademic jobs. It can be difficult to get back into academia after you leave, but nothing stops you from submitting applications for academic jobs next year as well. (That said, I’m somewhat pessimistic about next year’s academic job market given the political situation in the US right now).
I’m not sure of the details of OP’s situation, but it’s important to keep in mind that the market cycle for VAPs and other sorts of teaching-oriented contract positions extends well into the spring (and sometimes into early summer). VAPs can be very attractive positions for recent PhDs (and perhaps even not-so-recent PhDs), often serving as a stepping stone to something more permanent. I did a VAP before landing a permanent position and I’m sure it helped me on the market. A quick glance at PhilJobs shows a few attractive looking VAPs being posted in just the last day or two. In any case, just something to consider. Best of luck and hang in there!
About European post-docs …
They are generally NOT on the American job market schedule. Rather, one advertises their post doc positions when one gets awarded a grant. Of course, one can delay advertising, but generally academics in Europe who are hiring post docs aim to hire as soon as they have secured the funding for the position. Also unlike many American post docs, which are tied to a university or Department, European post docs are tied to research projects and specific researchers (those who were successful in applying for a grant). So do not give up yet (assuming you are willing to move to Europe for a few years … or more).
echoing the alt-ac way
a professional staff position is desirable in the sense that whatever administration job thrown at you, with your phd training you can probably complete the task in the first half of the working day if not the first hour.
Speaking from experience, if you also have some work from home time, you get a lot of research time: you have library access, you are alone, and you have a job you hate so much that you are extremely motivated to get an academic job.
If you are in a rich country, the admin jobs may also pay as good as some academic jobs in the UK.
If you are open to considering positions in the UK, then sign up to jobs.ac.uk (and monitor philos-l).
In the past, quite a few positions in the UK were advertised over the summer. A lot of these were short-term positions, but some permanent ones were advertised too (e.g. because budget decisions were note made until May / June).
However, with the state of the UK university sector, I fear that there will be very few posts. Most unis simply aren’t hiring, even if someone leaves. Many of them have pretty catastrophic finances and the UK government has no intention of bailing any of them out. It’s really pretty grim right now, I’m sorry to say.
if you are financially secure, use this ‘free’ time efficiently! work on your papers, learn a new language, travel the world etc (that is what I am doing right now and I am so glad that I do not have to adjunct or something)
@live your life: I don’t doubt your comment is well-meaning, but it sort of reminds me of when I was in grad school at a fancy university with a bunch of students from very wealthy backgrounds (of which I am definitely not one). They were all perplexed as to why I spent the summer roofing houses instead of working on my papers or attending philosophical summer schools in different cities.
@live your life: I’m happy for you. But I think OP probably isn’t hurting for ideas about what to do in case of financial security. OP, I take it, is worried about those of us (myself included) who will have to adjunct or find other work, etc., etc.
In answer to OP: I’m going to adjunct and also try to find any old part-time job to supplement my income.
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