@academicchatter @sociology

Things I didn't realize about the #AcademicJobMarket

32) Interview prep: There's really no substitute for talking to someone who knows the institution. It really blew my mind how helpful this was, and how unfair. But the system's not fair.

So leverage your connections. Tell people about your upcoming interviews. There's a chance they'll know something or someone that might help.

#PhD #PhdChat #GradSchool

@academicchatter @sociology

Things I didn't realize about the #AcademicJobMarket

31) That first Zoom interview is a lifeline. Based on a robust n=2 😉, October is consistently the hardest time on the market for me. But that first interview snaps everything into focus.

I hate that my emotional well-being is so tied to decisions completely outside of my control.

But folks who haven't heard back are going through it. Buy them a drink. Let them vent or cry. It's a miserable process.

@academicchatter @sociology

Things I didn't realize about the #AcademicJobMarket

30) Sometimes, when writing is getting too frustrating, submitting a job application is a quick, "I did something productive" dopamine boost.

#dissertation #writing #AmWriting

@academicchatter @sociology

Things I didn't realize about the #AcademicJobMarket

29) You live with a constant undercurrent of fear. Fear that your application wasn't good enough, your interview responses weren't strong, your job talk wasn't interesting or novel enough...

Then the bigger ones. The fears about the quality of your work, the years spent on this degree, and whether you'll get to have an academic career.

No wonder it's so exhausting.

#phd #gradschool

@academicchatter @sociology

Things I didn't realize about the #AcademicJobMarket

28) Including transcripts, I am now submitting configurations of 16 different documents for academic jobs.

[insert recommendation for structural change here 😉]

@academicchatter @sociology

Things I didn't realize about the #AcademicJobMarket

27) I forgot that some applications ask for transcripts.

I try not to dwell too much on critiques of the job market. Because this will only make it harder to get through it.

But transcripts?

@academicchatter @sociology

Things I didn't realize about the #AcademicJobMarket

25) Some schools really do send you rejections one year later.

Fortunately I wasn't exactly holding my breath.

@academicchatter @sociology

Things I didn't realize about the #academicjobmarket

24) I sometimes get in my head abt whether applying for a particular job is "worth it" (whether I have a chance).

What I've started telling myself is that I'm playing the lottery. Submitting another application is buying another ticket. Stop overthinking & just buy the ticket.

Unsure if this is useful, but the "you miss 100% of the shots you don't make" cliche wasn't doing it for me.

#academia #phd #PhdChat

@academicchatter @sociology

Things I didn't realize about the #academicjobmarket

I guess this would be no. 23. Let's talk job alerts.

I get email alerts from 4 sources (HigherEd Jobs, Chronicle, Inside Higher Ed, ASA - Sociology specific). HigherEd Jobs & ASA have been the best ones for me.

This year, a game changer has been to set an email rule that sends all those alerts to a dedicated "Job Alerts" folder. So much less clutter. Blessed be.