What to do next year with no funding and no job

[worried]

I am starting to become seriously concerned about what I am going to do for money next year while I wait for the next job cycle if I do not get something this year. I am wondering what others have done during that in-between year. I have heard it is best not to defend your diss if you are just going to be adjuncting or working outside of the academy. Any thoughts?

[gugol]

Regarding completing the dissertation: the general belief is that it is easier to get a job with the PhD in hand (and not merely defended), but the general belief is also that it can get significantly more difficult to get a job if youve been out of grad school for a few years without an academic job, so you'd have to weigh these possibilities accordingly.

As for what to do next year: if you are in one of the major metro areas there are usually several part time opportunities for grad students in sociology, be them in research firms, marketing firms, government, etc.

Another possibility is working in the administration in your school.

[n somnia]

I've started to think about that as well. What can I do with no funding and no job? In this market it could happen. I sat down during a particularly horrid night of insomnia and wrote out a long list of potentional plan b's. I felt better afterward. Here's my somewhat serious, mostly ridiculous list of alternate plans:

1) go to Costa Rica, teach English and live on the beach
2) get a masters degree that supplements my soc background (gerontology, crim, statistics, curriculum and instruction, gender studies, etc)
3) apply to the United Nations
4) scrap this whole sociology business. start over and earn a degree in theoretical physics. Become world famous. Win a Nobel peace prize.
5) Work at a local coffee shop. Submit dozens of amazing manuscripts for publication in my free time.
6) Apply to a job at my university. Academic advising, for example...

My list needs some work; I admit it. But seriously, start brainstorming every possible option you can think of and write it down. You'll feel better when you realize you have options!

Also, keep your chin up my friend! Know that the market is full of people in the same boat. Hopefully employers in the next few years will keep in mind that the market was tough, and will be a little more understanding of folks who had to step out of academe for a year or so to earn their keep.

[hope this helps]

If you are interested in teaching, the obvious first step is to check with your department and related departments for adjunct positions. Check also with all local community colleges--make an appointment with the chair and at least submit an application for their adjunct pool. Do this in January because they finalize schedules for the next semester quite early.

If you are interested in research try also research orgs. such as RTI, University of Michigan, National Opinion Research Center, etc. They are always looking for field interviewers (it actually pays pretty well), but you may also find several open positions suitable for a PhD.

Don't wait to do your dissertation. Finish it and move on.

I went on several interviews last year and did not land a job, but I planned early and am now employed---although working for 4 different institutions/companies is not at all what I had in mind, it pays the bills, the people are great, and I've even had to turn down a few part time opportunities. The part time work is out there for us, it's the full time tenure track work that is hard to come by. My advice is to shake off the fear, anxiety, and depression and get moving on Plan B while still applying for positions and finishing your diss. This year I was able to work on my diss, get my first pub, and teach courses that look great on my vitae. Living in "limbo" is certainly not ideal, but it's not bad, and the career will happen eventually.

[tnrd]

"hope this helps" makes a good point above about checking in your own department and university first for opportunities. Mind you, this is a good reminder of why it is important to be a good departmental citizen and get along with people. If you've been around and people care about your situation then they're more likely to try hard and find a situation that helps you out.

Those of you wondering about what off-campus jobs you can get should remember that you're at least in the fortunate position of being able to get an off-campus job. International students don't have the necessary paperwork to do that, which makes their situation that much more difficult.

[stillhope]

And another thing - don't give up yet. I had a friend on the job market last year who had heard NOTHING by winter break. This person ended up getting something like 9 or 10 campus interviews in the spring (a number of which materialized into job offers) and is now gainfully employed in academia and is quite happy. Just continue to apply, apply, apply...all over the place, and hang in there!!!