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[historian, tenured in 04]

So all you historians out there: I suppose you heard that this year is the best job market in years-- PhD #s have declined 3 years in a row, # of jobs is up.

So will this "trickle up" to the Assoc. Prof. level, or is it going to remain just as tough as always for the tenured to move?

I've almost finished my 2nd book, but I'll never be a bona fide star, and so if present trends continue I'm doomed to a lifetime of seeing 2-3 "open rank" positions per year, and always at the major R1s that are able to attract really major people (leaving me out).

[Professor X]

I'm in almost exactly your situation.  I am attempting to make it from a IIB to an R1.  I am way overqualified for my current institutional level, and chafing at the bit to get out.  But as you say, there are few jobs in my field and subfield at the associate level.  I did find more jobs this year that I fit, and I got farther in the searches than I have in the past five years. However, in the end, I came up dry.  I think there is no answer but persistence.  Pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will, as Gramsci said.

[historydude]

Bollocks, this year sucked - at least in my subfield.  All the wonderful stats coming out now are about _last_ year's market.  I suppose this was probably a relatively good year for medievalists and Middle East history, but I'm not sure how much of a difference it made in some of the subfields of the more traditional US and European fields.  I also didn't see many associate/full positions advertised at all.

[%sig%]

[anon]

Would you be willing to give up tenure for a move? If you are, then you have a much wider range of possibilities at the advanced assistant level.

[Professor X]

Actually, it's generally impossible to move from associate to assistant. Search committees tend to sense a whiff of disrepute or desparation.  I've tried it a few times and gotten nowhere, and I know from scuttlebutt that it's seen as impossible. Believe me, I'd give up tenure in a flash to go to a better institution.

[Artsearch]

"Would you be willing to give up tenure for a move? If you are, then you have a much wider range of possibilities at the advanced assistant level."
***
If only they would seriously consider such a candidate! I left a school as a tenured Assistant, and even that somewhat more "lateral" move is not working. And certainly this candidate is not considered for entry-level positions (see thread on this topic about senior people for junior positions on the "Job-Seeking" forum).

BTW. in my arts subfield, we also have 2 or 3 senior spots open in a good year--and many, many more people who are looking to move.

[misty]

historydude wrote:

> Bollocks, this year sucked - at least in my subfield.  All the
> wonderful stats coming out now are about _last_ year's market.
> I suppose this was probably a relatively good year for
> medievalists and Middle East history, but I'm not sure how much
> of a difference it made in some of the subfields of the more
> traditional US and European fields.  I also didn't see many
> associate/full positions advertised at all.
>

It's all relative.  When you're accustomed to 13 top-notch candidates (and a bunch of perfectly good candidates) for every 10 jobs, suddenly 11 top-notch candidates (and a bunch, but not as many as before) for every 10 jobs seems like a wide-open market.

(All numbers are made up purely for illustrative purposes).

[Poison I.V.]

The market this year did feature more openings than new doctorates, and this is part of a short term force that will pass in a year or two . . . then it is back to 125 applicants for every opening.  Don't expect a trickle up phenomenon . . . or a percolation, which is a more appropriate characterization.

[LarryC]

You are stuck.  (Me too.)