I hesitated to send this in today. I accepted a t-t job offer today. Terri from Tucson has my empathy, because in my own job search I've had a ton of close calls as well.The market, as everyone knows, is shitty, especially in the humanities. There are terrible conditions out there and lots of heartbreak.
We get put under a magnifying class along with hundreds of other specimens. Who stands out and why? The sheer numbers of applicants makes it more like a lottery than anything else.
Sometimes it works, though. I'm not any better than others who didn't get my job; I think I just got lucky. I'm not fooling myself. I don't have any answers about what Terri and folks like her should do. Keep trying? Look for something new? There's no one answer for everyone.
Adam
That's excellent news! Was it the first campus visit? They sounded really nice.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Adam! That's really good news, especially since you realize the role luck plays. As long as we're all in this mess together, I'd far rather have t-t colleagues who have no illusions about academia being a meritocracy (which in no way detracts from the fact that landing a t-t job in this environment is a real sign of merit and achievement, as well as the result of some good luck).
ReplyDeleteGreat news, Adam! It's sad that during a time when we should celebrate a job, there's also a sense of 'survivor guilt' for achieving such a job. One more win for the humanities!
ReplyDeleteThat's great news! It's awesome for a member of the snarketariat to move up the ranks!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations. Because you get that it's a capricious process at best, you'll be a humane and decent colleague to everyone, including those who aren't so lucky, and that's what counts.
ReplyDeleteIs it the state U. you unexpectedly loved?
Adam, that is great. Congratulations! It seems like just yesterday that you were trying to decide what to wear to your MLA interviews. Best of luck in your new job.
ReplyDeleteFélicitations, vous venez d'obtenir cette position, mon ami! Soyez le bienvenu en enfer!
ReplyDeleteI overheard a successful concert pianist advising a really excellent undergrad pianist once: "To be successful, you need lots of talent, a ton of hard work, and an amazing amount of luck."
ReplyDeleteThat applies here. Congratulations!
From Adam:
ReplyDeleteThanks to RGM for forwarding me so many emails, and thanks to the commenters here, too.
Yes, it was the large state school that was such an unexpected surprise. I feel so absolutely blessed and happy. I keep thinking of all of my peers who have not had their break yet. They deserve it, too.
Congratulations! I look forward to more posts about your new experiences on the t-t.
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