The Green Green Grass of the Job Market

A friend of mine once observed that even several years into his tenure-track job, he still finds himself looking at job postings. He wondered, Is that normal?

I told him that I still check out the job ads, even though I’m a tenured full professor happily employed in a dean’s role. I do it, in part, out of habit. But I also keep an eye on the market for friends looking for new jobs.

And honestly, a tiny part of me remains curious about what else is out there. Is there a better position somewhere for me? Could there be grass greener than the lush field in which I labor? Perhaps my early experiences on the market, especially as a freshly minted Ph.D., created an element of paranoia as well. I can’t help but wonder just how long I can stay happy in my job.

So even as I wonder why I do it, I still carry a copy of the job listings from my professional association or from The Chronicle along with me to read while flying to a conference.

How long do you think you will keep surveying the job postings after you have found a job? What might finally break you of the habit?