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[southeasterner]

Need a piece of advice..there are two identical positions both members are qualified for in a dept. in a remote unversity in the  west that are posted. both members of a couple have their degrees from the same university and department, though in slightly different areas of research. Should  the couple indicate this is a joint application...(it will be evident from the addresses in the cv and covering letter) as neither one can take an offered position if the other isnt hired?

or should the couple apply independently and wait til a hoped for interview to spring these facts on the hiring ctee? (again the addresses on the covering letter and cv will make it evident they are a couple...so what point would it be to disguise this fact in the application process?)

Secondly, would it matter if the couple was gay, lesbian or heterosexual?

PS I say "remote university" to indicate that there isnt much prospects of other university teaching jobs within a commuting radius of this university.

[social science anon]

There's really no right answer to this question-- I've been studying the "dual body problem" for about 5 years now in anticipation.

One stream of thought is that if there is absolutely no way that you will take that position without the other person being considered, to make that clear in your cover letter.  

Another stream of thought is to wait until one of you gets an on campus interview (when they've committed) and then try to bargain for either an adjunct positon or shared position for the other (some colleges are more amenable to shared positions than others-- I believe Grinnell has a how-to create shared positions manual on their website somewhere).  

A final stream of thought is that it depends on how much in demand you are compared to the place to which you are applying-- I know a couple going on the market where they're both top top students with interviews at the top 5 schools--  their advisors have said, "the colocation problem doesn't prohibit you from getting jobs" (assuming that they would be willing to say, commute should one be at Stanford and the other at Harvard) "but it opens up a lot more jobs" meaning that if they tell lower tier places about their problem, those places will not throw out their applications at the screening level as "unattainable."  So their advisors contacted the lower tier schools during the cover letters stage, telling those schools that they have a chance at getting this couple.

It probably does matter whether the couple is gay, lesbian or heterosexual-- for one thing, if gay or lesbian, that same address thing may be taken to show that the people in question are roommates rather than a couple.  

I don't think it's a good idea to wait until the job offer stage if you're positive you wouldn't take the position without your partner, since it takes time to work out job sharing or other kinds of arrangements and the college generally only has a couple weeks.

[Anon]

Spousal hires is a very touchy subject, so I suggest you think carefully. Although what you propose is not a traditional spousal hire, but rather a couple where both are hired together, you are suggesting that your applications be considered jointly. I can't see how this could help your position, unless the pair is a strong candidate and a weak candidate (in which case the weak candidate would benefit). I would suggest that you put the applications in without mention in the cover letter. This is something to discuss when and if someone gets the offer. For one thing there may be other job opportunities, other than the advertised position, for the other person in the couple. Also, if you get an interview, but not an offer, than at least you have interview experience. This is something to bring up at the interview or prehaps even the offer stage, not now. Just my opinion though.