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Tue May 06, 2008 3:53 am |
OK, my background. I have a two year old ph. d. in general linguistics, and as you may guess, the job market is a bit difficult. Until now, I've had a slightly relevant (but underpaid) post. doc. (research position), plus a teaching (aka slavery!) position in a rather irrelevant field (where I'm qualified), and I didn't quite know what to do next.
Well, yesterday I got an offer from my local uni; they wanted me to teach two full courses; one at the beginners' level, the other one a master's course (graduate level), plus some seminars at the crash course/introduction to languages that everyone has to take. Of course, I'll eventually have to accept, but I think they aren't really treating me in a nice way. That's how it turns out when money is more important than anything else.
(I had no intention with this thread apart from getting the opportunity to complain a bit). |
_________________ *Norway*Early 40s ,dry/sensitive skin. fair neutral/olive complexion (blue/green eyes). Slightly sensitive to anything interesting ingredient-wise. |
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Tue May 06, 2008 10:12 am |
Wow, I'm a BA in linguistics and I always assumed I'd go on to grad school and get my PhD... but I realized I don't want to have to compete in such a tricky field! That sucks they aren't treating you well, but it does sound like this position will be an upgrade, right?
And linguistics is such a fascinating field, I bet you'll have fun in the entry-level crash-courses, when you see that light bulb of understanding light up in certain students' minds once you explain some complex UG concept, ya know? I hope you can have fun with it!
I still really miss nerdy ling academia sometimes, and I occasionally find myself wishing I could justify going back to grad school. I still may someday -- I do simply love the discipline. Good luck with this career transition, and I hope it works out to your advantage! |
_________________ 32, fair hair/eyes/skin, always a mix of dry/oily/sensitive/acne/clogged pores. But I keep getting compliments on my skin, so something must be working! Beauty blog at http://heliotro.pe; online dating coaching at http://theheartographer.com |
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Thu May 15, 2008 10:42 am |
Yes, good luck- in the new position, if you do decide to take it!
I certainly understand agonising over career , as I've done it forever. I am so tired of it.
But unlike yourself- I don't even have a Bachelor's yet! (long story).
I hope your hard work pays off and you end up enjoying the teaching position-- it could be worse, you could be in MY position! lol |
_________________ 38, normal skin, not a sun worshipper since early 20's,love this forum, welcome all comments, questions! |
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Thu May 15, 2008 4:01 pm |
Nemi: are you being offered an Assist. Professor position or a lecturer? Outside of the sciences 2 courses a semester is pretty usual. Do you get to do research also? I know that the job market is bad now. Many people have to do 2 post docs before a faculty position.
What type of position do you eventually want? Do you want a teaching position where research is a major component? I know the teaching field if you do not have a regular faculty position the pay is awful. I'm at a wealthy liberal arts institution and we pay adjuncts a pittance for teaching each course (7-10K). The 10 is for someone who is well known. Nobody could make a living at this.
It depends on what you eventually want. If they've offered you an assitant professorship I'd take it. You'll work your way up. If it is a lectureship depending on what your long term goals are I might stay as a post doc live as a student and try to publish enough to make a record. It also deoends on where you are in your life (are you married, do you have children?). I am tenured and our department has a very low tenure rate (about 17% before I was tenured it was 17 years between me and the next person who was tenured). The grant situation is grim (but hopefully will improve with an administration change). I know how grueling it can be at first but it is worth it if you can stick it out. I remember my third year was really tough I spent maybe 3 months straight with about 3 hours of sleep a night and then I crashed.
Good luck if you want to pm me with questions feel free. I know people outside academia do not understand but teaching 2 classes a semester can be brutal.
Good luck. To me being an academic (tenured) is the best job in the world. Also assistant professors complain a lot but if you ask any of them whether they'd switch jobs I do not know a one who would change. |
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Sat May 24, 2008 1:30 pm |
Oh, I forgot about my complaint post
I decided to say yes; after all, it's relevant, and hopefully I'll enjoy it, as well. I finished my ph.d. two years ago, so I'm pretty fresh to the whole thing (apart from being a post.doc). I'm in Norway, where the system is a bit different, I believe. Assistant professors/full professors have 50/50 of teaching/administration and research, while the type of position that I was offered (for one term only, mind you) involves 75% teaching. In an ideal world, I would of course like a more even split, but as things are right now (and I don't want to move right now), I don't really have much choice. But I'm writing a project proposal right now, which might, if I'm among the lucky less than 5% who get funding, secure me a full-time research position for 3 years.
Well, at least I'll get to do what I like. |
_________________ *Norway*Early 40s ,dry/sensitive skin. fair neutral/olive complexion (blue/green eyes). Slightly sensitive to anything interesting ingredient-wise. |
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Sun May 25, 2008 5:18 pm |
yikes all the BA linguists unite! I'm in a similar boat, one of my majors was Linguistics & Language teaching, so I did have some practical experience but it is an industry where they want someone superb but have no time to train and develop newbies. Ended up in an industry that I never gave a toss about EVER during my university days - banking...
I think the best thing about getting out of academia life is the end of the ongoing research portfolios... Actually tutorships get paid quite well in New Zealand although I don't think it is a particularly promising career path unless you aim for lectureship or field research. |
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