Ghosttown U. wants to renew my contract for the next academic year. Apparently, I'm not as much of a failure as I sometimes fear I am. So hey, job for next year!
This, of course, doesn't mean that I'm throwing in the towel with that other place inviting me to a campus visit. I mean, hell, I already bought the airfare. My position on these matters is that I should never turn down a campus visit: it's a chance to make myself a little more visible to colleagues, and possibly seed the ground for a tenure-track job that might crop up a few years down the line. And you never know, after all: maybe this other place will not only offer me the job, but will offer a salary so high that it would compensate for moving expenses and general aggravations of resettlement.
I told my chair about this other possibility when zi let me know the good news that I need not go unemployed for next year. It sounds like I can do the campus visit and wait at least a bit to hear from the other place before giving a final decision to Ghosttown U. Given the practical constraints of a contract at a public university, I doubt there's much room for horse-trading here, but I'll see if I can use the competing opportunity as (modest) leverage for a salary increase.
I definitely have mixed feelings about staying in Ghosttown for another year, but ultimately, when I look at the cost-benefit analysis in terms of my professional development, it pretty much makes the most sense. I'd have minimal summertime costs, since I wouldn't be moving. I'd have virtually no prep work to do, since my courses would be just the same as this year. I'd have plenty of time, relatively speaking, to work on my publications. (That would definitely not be the case with the other job.) It would be useful to build up some positive reputation with a university department as a faculty member, rather than as a grad student. As much as I gripe (and will probably continue to gripe) about Ghosttown and its discontents, there's something to be said for the professional benefits.
On a side note, it seems that Haphazard Musings and I continue to follow parallel tracks in our respective careers. Eerie, right?
And no, none of this is an April Fool's joke. I gave those up years ago. Long story.
This, of course, doesn't mean that I'm throwing in the towel with that other place inviting me to a campus visit. I mean, hell, I already bought the airfare. My position on these matters is that I should never turn down a campus visit: it's a chance to make myself a little more visible to colleagues, and possibly seed the ground for a tenure-track job that might crop up a few years down the line. And you never know, after all: maybe this other place will not only offer me the job, but will offer a salary so high that it would compensate for moving expenses and general aggravations of resettlement.
I told my chair about this other possibility when zi let me know the good news that I need not go unemployed for next year. It sounds like I can do the campus visit and wait at least a bit to hear from the other place before giving a final decision to Ghosttown U. Given the practical constraints of a contract at a public university, I doubt there's much room for horse-trading here, but I'll see if I can use the competing opportunity as (modest) leverage for a salary increase.
I definitely have mixed feelings about staying in Ghosttown for another year, but ultimately, when I look at the cost-benefit analysis in terms of my professional development, it pretty much makes the most sense. I'd have minimal summertime costs, since I wouldn't be moving. I'd have virtually no prep work to do, since my courses would be just the same as this year. I'd have plenty of time, relatively speaking, to work on my publications. (That would definitely not be the case with the other job.) It would be useful to build up some positive reputation with a university department as a faculty member, rather than as a grad student. As much as I gripe (and will probably continue to gripe) about Ghosttown and its discontents, there's something to be said for the professional benefits.
On a side note, it seems that Haphazard Musings and I continue to follow parallel tracks in our respective careers. Eerie, right?
And no, none of this is an April Fool's joke. I gave those up years ago. Long story.
That's great! Hooray for continued employment!
ReplyDeleteWhoo-hoo! It's always good to not have to live under a bridge. And the difference in both time and stress level in re-using (tweaking) courses vs inventing them is just amazing.
ReplyDeleteIs the other one a permanent or a visiting gig?
Oh, it's all just visiting. Permanent is not on the table for me, this year. Still, given the drubbing I took from the market this year, I'm not complaining.
DeleteHooray, Dr. Koshary! It's a nice dilemma to have.
ReplyDeleteThat's great, Dr. K! Woohoo!
ReplyDeleteGood news! Of course, go to the campus interview. However, unless it's significantly more money, it would likely be easier to stay at Ghosttown U. If there is more prestige to the other place, that would weigh in, of course. Still, I'd give the campus interview my all, regardless. At least you have something set up for next year at any rate. There's certainly something to be said for that.
ReplyDeleteYay for retention! Good luck at the interview. It might help to be able to walk in there knowing that you aren't desperate. Anything to take the edge off, y'know?
ReplyDeleteHooray! Hurrah! It's a good thing to know you've got that security as you interview.
ReplyDelete