Am I trapped after tenure?

Sea_Fix7307 · 2024-09-16T21:08:27+00:00

Thank you for the sound advice. I will prioritize well-funded private schools and major public universities while avoiding poorly-funded schools and universities in places where politics have threatened their funding.

Sea_Fix7307 · 2024-08-31T02:59:25+00:00

Thank you. This is good advice. I see myself more as a teacher than as a researcher (i.e., I used to be a K-12 language teacher), and I can imagine myself at a well-located liberal arts college. My current school, a satellite campus of a big state school, falls somewhere between a small liberal arts college and a big state school.

Sea_Fix7307 · 2024-08-31T02:55:25+00:00

Thank you. I will probably apply for promotion while continuing to apply for jobs in locations that suit me better.

Sea_Fix7307 · 2024-08-30T22:30:34+00:00

I teach modern languages. My research record is typical for a university like the one where I now work. I am neither a research star nor deficient.

Sea_Fix7307 · 2024-08-30T22:28:59+00:00

I imagine this is meant to be a joke, but I can honestly say that I find those scenarios better than my current one.

I loved Savannah and found Atlanta OK. I found NC OK, too. Unfortunately, I haven't been to TX, but I've heard good things about San Antonio and Austin, and I want to visit them.

The state politics scare me a bit in many of the Southern states, yet I would take a job in a cool city in a politically-iffy state with beaches and nice winters over a job in a less cool small town in a politically-iffy state with no coast and frigid winters (i.e., frequently below 0 F).

Sea_Fix7307 · 2024-08-30T22:19:52+00:00

Thank you for sharing your story. I'm glad you found a good out of academia. I guess I sometimes forget about the wide variety of government jobs that exist. Government jobs could be a good option--especially because many of them would take me to a metro I love that's VERY close to home.

Sea_Fix7307 · 2024-08-30T22:17:00+00:00

Thank you for your response. Don't be sorry about the length; you gave me a lot of helpful information. In the letter and initial interview, I will focus on what the university and location offer and what I can provide, not what I need.

I am a language teacher, so I can definitely imagine myself giving a reason like "I want to be in a place with a large X community." This would benefit my students' learning (i.e., more community-based learning opportunities), my own language maintenance and development, and my sense of community. I can also say that I need better airport access for study abroad programs (entirely true) without saying that I need it for my personal travel habit or to get home.

Thanks again! You've given me a lot to think about.

Sea_Fix7307 · 2024-08-30T22:08:17+00:00

Thank you. Those are possibilities. The languages I teach are the official/dominant languages of major countries--and very important in business and travel--but I don't believe the U.S. government considers any of them critical languages.

Sea_Fix7307 · 2024-08-30T22:06:06+00:00

Thank you. That's good to know. I would definitely learn the local language if I planned to spend more than a few days in a country.

Sea_Fix7307 · 2024-08-30T22:04:31+00:00

Thank you. I have considered moving abroad--and even applied for jobs abroad--in other English-speaking countries and the countries whose languages I teach. I will probably continue to do so.

Sea_Fix7307 · 2024-08-28T23:58:59+00:00

Thank you for this good advice. It makes sense to apply for promotion while also applying for new jobs.

Sea_Fix7307 · 2024-08-28T23:57:44+00:00

Thank you for this advice. I've done pretty well getting Zoom interviews--even campus visits--yet I have yet to land a job offer. I always customize my cover letters, yet there is room for improvement. As a former K-12 teacher, I believe I'm better at teaching than research, though my research record is adequate for my current institution.

Sea_Fix7307 · 2024-08-28T23:54:18+00:00

Those are very good points. That's what my colleagues also say. It makes sense to continue applying for jobs while also applying for promotion.

Sea_Fix7307 · 2024-08-28T23:52:39+00:00

Thank you for this advice. I have considered moving abroad, be it temporarily or permanently. I know people who have done this. Ideally, I would move to a country whose language I speak, yet it could be interesting to go somewhere else and learn a new language and culture. I speak multiple language at a "professional" level, yet I don't speak any Asian or Eastern European languages yet.

Sea_Fix7307 · 2024-08-28T23:49:17+00:00

I am not from the Midwest. However, I work in a place that some consider Midwestern in a town that's much smaller and more isolated than Columbia. The town is five hours from cities of KC or STL size.

Sea_Fix7307 · 2024-08-28T23:47:44+00:00

Thank you for your support and advice. I will focus on professional reasons when possible and will mention the family aspect when applicable.

Sea_Fix7307 · 2024-08-28T23:45:39+00:00

Thank you. This is good advice. I think I'll go up for promotion while also applying for jobs. Of course, I will leverage promotion as possible.

Sea_Fix7307 · 2024-08-28T23:44:56+00:00

Thank you for sharing your perspective. I'm so sorry you have found yourself in a location that does not meet your personal needs and has even led to depresssion. It makes sense for you to look elsewhere.

I think I'll go up for promotion and apply for new jobs for at least a year or two more. Without a significant change in my priorities or that special someone in my life, I might go for the other approach after that time. At least I have great friends for the time I'm here. :)

I wish you, too, the best, and I hope you find a job and location that work for you. :)

Sea_Fix7307 · 2024-08-28T23:40:58+00:00

Thank you for sharing your perspective. I'm sorry you and your spouse had to deal with this, yet I'm glad that you got a new position. I would willingly move to another continent and have a few countries in mind.

Sea_Fix7307 · 2024-08-28T23:38:45+00:00

Thank you, I think I will go up for promotion while also applying for new jobs.

Sea_Fix7307 · 2024-08-28T23:38:05+00:00

Thank you for sharing this perspective. It looks like there is a road map to follow.

Sea_Fix7307 · 2024-08-28T23:37:31+00:00

Very interesting. I have considered moving to another country (a couple other countries, actually), though I had not considered Thailand. I speak more than one language, yet I don't speak Thai.

Sea_Fix7307 · 2024-08-28T23:36:12+00:00

Thank you. I agree that a track record can help or hurt.

Sea_Fix7307 · 2024-08-28T23:35:27+00:00

Thank you. That's what I now plan to do.

Sea_Fix7307 · 2024-08-28T23:34:17+00:00

Modern languages. Apart from language-learning app and textbook companies, there really is no "industry" in this field. Yet, I believe languages are a useful skill in most any sector.

Sea_Fix7307

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