from a post in the CHE (which is not that unusual, but has clearly kept careful track):
I started applying to jobs while finishing up my MFA in studio art 6 years ago. Since then I participated in the yearly ritual of applying to every job advertised, spending too much time waiting, refreshing my email too often, loosing sleep, not finishing projects due to stress, moving to a new location every year, and reading the Chronicle forums. Six years ago I did not have a clue and I am not an expert now, but I have finally landed a TT job and I thought I would share the data about my search for all the new job seekers out there. Every year around this time the rejection letters would start to come in if they were sent at all. I would look around and try to cobble together an adjunct gig, fellowship, residency, and / or manual labor jobs to stay afloat.
The forums were indispensable to my gaining an understanding of the academic world and how to conduct a job hunt.
To all the forum contributors – Thank You.
Here is my story by the numbers.
2005-06 (Still finishing up degree)
15 Applications
0 Interviews
0 Offers
2006-07
21 Applications
1 Phone Interview
0 Campus Interviews
0 Offers
2007-08
21 Applications
3 Phone Interviews
0 Campus Interviews
0 Offers
2008-09
29 Applications
2 Phone Interviews
4 Conference Interviews
2 Campus Invites
0 Offers
2009-2010
18 Applications
3 Phone Interviews
1 Conference Interview
0 Campus Interviews
1 Visiting Position Offer
2010-11
25 Applications
1 Phone Interview
6 Conference Interviews
3 Campus Interviews
2 TT Offers
2011… 129 Applications later and I am finally off the market. Here’s to hoping I stay that way.
finallyoffthemarket. “Re: Posting Hall of Fame–Reply 2439.” chronicle.com, 10 April 2011, www.chronicle.com/forums/index.php/topic,30991.2430.html.