tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15231380.post5758159462642635481..comments2023-10-19T07:54:32.841-04:00Comments on Quod She: Finding myself: meditations on the job marketDr. Viragohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03960384082670286328noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15231380.post-82730564080687652012007-10-12T11:37:00.000-04:002007-10-12T11:37:00.000-04:00I could gladly live in a different, warmer locatio...I could gladly live in a different, warmer location, but I could hardly be happier professionally. And this at a place I never heard of before I applied for the job.<BR/><BR/>I know for a fact that the Internet has made my contentment possible. That and my wonderful colleagues, and the fact that you can make a difference at a small place like mine.Steve Muhlbergerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18136005762428407135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15231380.post-29593742327596507362007-10-06T17:39:00.000-04:002007-10-06T17:39:00.000-04:00Thank you, and we'll each buy you a celebratory dr...Thank you, and we'll each buy you a celebratory drink, Associate Professor V!Feirefizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00024919688932951601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15231380.post-76414123980541356952007-10-06T16:50:00.000-04:002007-10-06T16:50:00.000-04:00Feirefiz - Woo hoo! Congratulations!!! I'll buy...Feirefiz - Woo hoo! Congratulations!!! I'll buy you guys each a drink next time I see you.Dr. Viragohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03960384082670286328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15231380.post-1431097569575846462007-10-06T16:37:00.000-04:002007-10-06T16:37:00.000-04:00An update: we both got unanimous positive tenure v...An update: we both got unanimous positive tenure votes.Feirefizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00024919688932951601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15231380.post-58637989195645554122007-10-02T23:31:00.000-04:002007-10-02T23:31:00.000-04:00Fizzy - Well there's another reason to avoid it: ...Fizzy - Well there's another reason to avoid it: Boomers. I *hate* the old farts! (I kid! I kid my big boomer brother!)<BR/><BR/>Feirefiz - If they don't tenure you, there's something crazy-making in the water there!!!!Dr. Viragohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03960384082670286328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15231380.post-34439565745046485482007-10-02T23:23:00.000-04:002007-10-02T23:23:00.000-04:00HU's city was just ranked as one of the best retir...HU's city was just ranked as one of the best retirement places in the country for Boomers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15231380.post-59251592229706183452007-10-02T11:41:00.000-04:002007-10-02T11:41:00.000-04:00Hi,I found your post really thoughtful and thought...Hi,<BR/>I found your post really thoughtful and thought-provoking. I am going to send out a few applications since it's tenure year and I'm pretty paranoid--department vote's coming up soon. We're not unionized so I have no idea what my external letters say! (By the way, congratulations on the positive vote and the kick-ass letters you got!) I'm keeping my fingers crossed. But I really get what you're saying. It makes sense to appreciate what one's got and not apply aimlessly. Plus when moving wastes time and energy, not to mention money!Feirefizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00024919688932951601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15231380.post-2305886295140220962007-10-02T07:41:00.000-04:002007-10-02T07:41:00.000-04:00Meli - Well, one year was actually post-doc. But ...Meli - Well, one year was actually post-doc. But yeah, it takes us medievalists a long time.Dr. Viragohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03960384082670286328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15231380.post-71242286140595732802007-10-02T03:42:00.000-04:002007-10-02T03:42:00.000-04:00Nine years of graduate school? Gosh you have it to...Nine years of graduate school? Gosh you have it tough over there. Though if you count my honours year in Australia and my masters (one year each), I suppose I'm now going into my fifth year. But I'm hoping it will be my last. I'm glad looking further afield makes you realize you're happy where you are.melihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10026675747253438229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15231380.post-52320054990593700172007-10-01T09:46:00.000-04:002007-10-01T09:46:00.000-04:00Actually, I would have felt guilty had you made th...Actually, I would have felt guilty had you made that change and I was the only one living away.<BR/><BR/>And yes, the definition is correct. It started with access to UPS and Fedex and the reduced need for distributors in the middle. Moved on to direct to consumer models.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15231380.post-65467658930658786052007-10-01T09:01:00.000-04:002007-10-01T09:01:00.000-04:00WN -- I just saw your recent thoughts on the "achi...WN -- I just saw your recent thoughts on the "achieve! achieve! achieve!" urge (having been a little behind on your blog, but all caught up now) and thought, "Wow, we're on the same wavelength this week." And I've been thinking of you in general, because I know you've going through this kind of (re)evaluation for some time now.<BR/><BR/>V Sis -- Thanks. I was worried you'd be disappointed. And now I've learned a new word: disintermediation. Does that mean "getting rid of the middle man" (given the direct-to-the-consumer environment of e-business)?Dr. Viragohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03960384082670286328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15231380.post-33005331460733071052007-10-01T08:47:00.000-04:002007-10-01T08:47:00.000-04:00Wow, one of your posts to which I can actually rel...Wow, one of your posts to which I can actually relate. Coming from the same family, the pressure to achieve (from two non college graduate public U partiers no less!) is something that still drives me and I am trying to escape it. As I try to figure out a change in career at such an advanced stage/age I actually use you as a touchstone. I told someone the other day that you are so lucky to have found something you love so much. So the thought process around staying where you can have an impact, prospects that excite you - love the Chester/Toronto idea - and a great life is understandable.<BR/><BR/>As to definitions of success depending on your surroundings, I think I might be able to use a business analogy here. The age of communication and economic disintermediation has meant that we no longer need behemoth corporations to drive us forward. In fact it is the small and nimble that have made the most strides in the last 20 years and now. When they get too big (Microsoft?) they get top heavy, bureaucratic and lazy. And personal success can be achieved anywhere.<BR/><BR/>Great post, and as much as I would love for you to be nearer Dad et al, do you see me moving back??<BR/><BR/>Love,<BR/>Virgo SisAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15231380.post-58506861169202932872007-09-30T14:23:00.000-04:002007-09-30T14:23:00.000-04:00Such an interesting post, and I'm so glad to hear ...Such an interesting post, and I'm so glad to hear that you have such a clear sense that you've got choices, options. I appreciate the insight into your thought process about the choice you made. And sounds like you have chosen well; I'm glad that life is looking good these days!<BR/><BR/>I've also been thinking just this week about the "onwards and upwards," "achieve! achieve! achieve!" culture of Grad School and the extent to which I internalized that as my definition of success.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15231380.post-80554871767593266842007-09-30T11:10:00.000-04:002007-09-30T11:10:00.000-04:00Bearded Guy -- OK, you crack me up. I love your p...Bearded Guy -- OK, you crack me up. I love your pseudonyms, especially "Touchdown Jesus University," which I am going to have to find some occasion to use someday. But more important: yay! I'm glad to hear that TJUP now has the book and it's officially "in press"! Woo-hoo!<BR/><BR/>Flavia - While writing, I was actually thinking of the similar post you wrote on this topic. When I was at your stage there was a job I briefly thought about, but like you, I decided that it was too early and that I needed to stay put for a little while longer. That was a much easier decision to come to that the one I made this year, which involved a lot of concentrated thinking, a lot of weighing of pros and cons. And when one's on the verge of tenure, there's the added pressure/fear of this being a "last chance" (which it really isn't, but it *is* harder to move later). But yeah, in the end I think I made the right decision for *me*, which wouldn't necessarily be the right decision for someone else.Dr. Viragohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03960384082670286328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15231380.post-10643033392747507282007-09-29T22:34:00.000-04:002007-09-29T22:34:00.000-04:00Good for you, Dr. V.I also will not be going on th...Good for you, Dr. V.<BR/><BR/>I also will not be going on the job market this year, even though it is tenure year. I've decided to roll the dice. If they come up snake-eyes, well, then I'll go out on the market next year.<BR/><BR/>BTW, Touchdown Jesus University Press has the complete manuscript now. I've been told that it's going into production. Disaster averted!<BR/><BR/>P. S. Yes, I've used a very transparent pseudonym for this comment. I just don't want any searches on my name to bring it up. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15231380.post-87971831939108785982007-09-29T18:43:00.000-04:002007-09-29T18:43:00.000-04:00This is so interesting to read, and I'm glad that ...This is so interesting to read, and I'm glad that you're at peace with your decision--it sounds like you've made the right one for so many reasons. <BR/><BR/>I'm not as far along professionally as you are, but I also had a few days of thinking very seriously about going on the market this year and applying to similar institutions: ones that made sense, that were a step up but only a reasonable step up (lesser R1s with generally mediocre PhD programs) and in appealing regions, etc. And like you, I finally decided that--in addition to its really being too early for me in a lot of ways--I was trying to talk myself into it more than I was actually excited about the institutions themselves.<BR/><BR/>It's hard not to feel that pressure to run after an opportunity just because it's there and because it seems to conform to the values we were taught in grad school. But it's such a good sign of job- and life-satisfaction not to!Flaviahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17832765671541392835noreply@blogger.com