Still chicken to apply for two jobs together near my Dad (see here), I came up with the suggestion that Hub ask his "boss" whether he thought Hub was ready to move on. This was meant to be a way to gain entry to the subject of applying. Hub approached his PI who then waxed at length about the future of the project, including Hub at every stage and in the end said "I and Colleague (my sabbatical host) have been really impressed with PUI Prof. We're hoping to expand our program and looking to add new people, especially at the undergraduate level. She could use her sabbatical to really get her foot in the door here."
Semi-wrong non-answer, Boss! Yes, we want to solve the Two-Body Problem. Being together there would do that (insert me whining about life in soulless suburb in a glorified instructor position, still far from family). I would consider it, especially since it's all about compromise, right?
http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_development/previous_issues/articles/0000/partners_in_science_part_two_looking_for_and_negotiating_faculty_jobs_together/
But that sheds no light on what to do right now. I talk to my Dad every night on the phone, and it is abundantly clear that he would like to have me around, nearly begging for me to come home at Thanksgiving- two weeks after I was there last. UGH. I love him so much, I do want to. But...
With the caveat that I know little to nothing about academic jobs although I have negotiated for a few industry positions, I would like to make a few comments.
ReplyDeleteI and Colleague (my sabbatical host) have been really impressed with PUI Prof. We're hoping to expand our program and looking to add new people, especially at the undergraduate level. She could use her sabbatical to really get her foot in the door here.
I've heard things that were very similar in tone. My issue with this sort of answer is that managers and the like - especially if they have a vested interest in keeping you around - like to paint a picture of the best possible outcome. You have to think carefully about how realistic they are being with their assessments.
This was meant to be a way to gain entry to the subject of applying.
This reminds me of things I've done in the past. I've definitely fallen into the trap of creating elaborate scenarios so that we would end up talking about a difficult-to-broach topic! Eventually I dived in and talked about what I really wanted to talk about. I found that my bosses were much more understanding that I expected them to be. Yes, they would have liked to keep me around, but they seemed to understand my decision-making process and I'm still on very good terms with all of my ex-bosses.
Thanks. And yes, I agree that it was a general answer to a vague question. *bawk, bawk* Its because I/we are are more afraid of burning bridges than any other consequence.
DeleteNice unhelpful emotional blackmail there by DH's boss. Also sounds like boss doesn't have kids or wasn't there much for their childhoods.
ReplyDeleteHere's a recent repost about spousal hires: http://scientopia.org/blogs/proflikesubstance/2012/11/14/repost-are-spousal-hires-a-tool-for-faculty-retention/
Welll, actually:
ReplyDeletehttp://thetwobodyproblem.blogspot.com/2010/06/survival-paying-for-services.html
Yes, I read that article. I agree.