Comments on: Hiring freezes raise issues for PhDs in the job market http://www.universityaffairs.ca/career-sense/hiring-freezes-raise-issues-for-phds-in-the-job-market/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=hiring-freezes-raise-issues-for-phds-in-the-job-market A blog for academic job seekers - Career Sense helps academics on the job hunt Sun, 19 Dec 2010 00:05:47 +0000 hourly 1 By: Sam Ladner http://www.universityaffairs.ca/career-sense/hiring-freezes-raise-issues-for-phds-in-the-job-market/comment-page-1/#comment-57 Sam Ladner Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:36:45 +0000 http://www.universityaffairs.ca/career-sense/?p=154#comment-57 Thanks for writing this blog and this particular post. I was one of the many duped doctoral students who "did the math" and believed that I was in a good position to enter the academy. I and my colleagues are now piecing together as many course contracts as we can get, wondering how long we can hold out with precarious sessional work. I am angry at times but also pragmatic. I believe the academy will be like the federal government soon and realize that they've missed an entire generation of hiring. The middle level that shoulders most of the burden of teaching, research and service will be wiped out, and all that is left is the very green entry level and the very long-in-the-tooth senior professors. In the meantime, however, I advise people to leave the academy. There is no future in it for many. Thanks for writing this blog and this particular post. I was one of the many duped doctoral students who “did the math” and believed that I was in a good position to enter the academy. I and my colleagues are now piecing together as many course contracts as we can get, wondering how long we can hold out with precarious sessional work.

I am angry at times but also pragmatic. I believe the academy will be like the federal government soon and realize that they’ve missed an entire generation of hiring. The middle level that shoulders most of the burden of teaching, research and service will be wiped out, and all that is left is the very green entry level and the very long-in-the-tooth senior professors. In the meantime, however, I advise people to leave the academy. There is no future in it for many.

]]> By: Nancy Stevens http://www.universityaffairs.ca/career-sense/hiring-freezes-raise-issues-for-phds-in-the-job-market/comment-page-1/#comment-46 Nancy Stevens Fri, 27 Mar 2009 19:32:38 +0000 http://www.universityaffairs.ca/career-sense/?p=154#comment-46 Thanks so much for writing your article. I am currently a PhD candidate (still wondering if I'll survive with head still attached at the end of it all!!) in a non-mainstream program. I entered the program believing that my doctoral work was not intended to land me in the academy, but would rather enhance my work in the community. (I may prove myself wrong yet!) Interestingly, it was a number of the faculty in the program who seem fixated on the idea that one works through a PhD only for the purpose of entering into the ranks of the academy. Somewhat ironic, I think, given competition for faculty positions is high at the best of times. Thanks so much for writing your article. I am currently a PhD candidate (still wondering if I’ll survive with head still attached at the end of it all!!) in a non-mainstream program. I entered the program believing that my doctoral work was not intended to land me in the academy, but would rather enhance my work in the community. (I may prove myself wrong yet!) Interestingly, it was a number of the faculty in the program who seem fixated on the idea that one works through a PhD only for the purpose of entering into the ranks of the academy. Somewhat ironic, I think, given competition for faculty positions is high at the best of times.

]]> By: Andreas http://www.universityaffairs.ca/career-sense/hiring-freezes-raise-issues-for-phds-in-the-job-market/comment-page-1/#comment-45 Andreas Thu, 26 Mar 2009 15:05:56 +0000 http://www.universityaffairs.ca/career-sense/?p=154#comment-45 Thanks for the article. For those who haven't had the chance to read it yet, I'd also recommend the two installments of "Graduates School in the Humanities: Just Don't Go." I agree that only after acknowledging how tough the situation is, the student will be able to realize his/her potential http://chronicle.com/jobs/news/2009/01/2009013001c.htm http://chronicle.com/jobs/news/2009/03/2009031301c.htm Thanks for the article. For those who haven’t had the chance to read it yet, I’d also recommend the two installments of “Graduates School in the Humanities: Just Don’t Go.” I agree that only after acknowledging how tough the situation is, the student will be able to realize his/her potential

http://chronicle.com/jobs/news/2009/01/2009013001c.htm

http://chronicle.com/jobs/news/2009/03/2009031301c.htm

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