next »

[liverwurst]

I'm being considered for a tenure-track job at my spouse's institution (different departments).  The Dean wants to make sure my spouse stays; that's why they're considering hiring me--there's no open line otherwise.  I've done some teaching there already and some people know me.  Some people know my spouse.   

Would it be wierd if my spouse came to my job talk?  Would it be wierd if my spouse didn't come to my job talk? 

[georgia_guy]

Have your spouse ask the Dean.

[yellowtractor]

Excellent answer.  This is really between your spouse and the dean or SC.  If it's fine, it's fine; if it's not, it's not.

[dismal_sci]

I would say no spouse at job talk, especially since he is in a different department.  If the university brought in someone else to give a similar talk, would your spouse go?  This isn't a performance at Carnegie Hall where you invite all your loved ones.

[yellowtractor]

Dismal, under any normal circumstance I would absolutely agree with you.  (We've had several threads on this topic before.)  But as the OP explains, this is a different sort of experience, on home ground.  If in fact the OP's spouse already works there, and if in fact the OP is being considered for a permanent or full-time job as part of the administration's plan to retain said spouse, then I think it would be appropriate for said spouse to ask for the dean's feeling about attending.

[yellowtractor]

(That said, if it were my spouse, I would not want him or her at any job talk I might be giving.  It would just be too weird.  I'd feel like on some level I was auditioning for both a job and a marriage.)

[tenured_feminist]

I'd say no spouse at job talk. Everyone knows what's going on; why give the appearance of pressuring? Besides, you will have to have an independent relationship with your new department if you get the job. Best to start out on that footing at the outset.

[dr_stones]

Your spouse should not be at the job talk, in the search meeting, or even talking with anyone about this process.

Take it from someone who just had a bad experience in the spousal job hunt process despite doing *all* of these things . . . but it still matters. 

A spouse has to stand on their own . . . and then you live with the consequences.

Sometimes professional ethics are painful.

[procra]

Would it make a difference in the OP and spouse were in the same department?  I ask because the situation has come up a lot in my department, where there are a number of couples.  Spouse at the job talk seems to be standard operating procedure--but then, the spouse would be there even if he or she weren't married to the candidate. 

[dr_stones]

Would it make a difference in the OP and spouse were in the same department?  I ask because the situation has come up a lot in my department, where there are a number of couples.  Spouse at the job talk seems to be standard operating procedure--but then, the spouse would be there even if he or she weren't married to the candidate. 

It is a sign of respect to your colleagues to not involve yourself in any collective decisions involving your spouse.

No matter what you do, you cannot be counted on to be objective, and your presence will be an impediment to the unbiased participation of others.

[historian]

I've seen it *hurt* someone---not fatally, but it was damned awkward for all involved.  Many felt uncomfortable giving any sort of rigorous questioning and then resented it.  Certainly not the fault of the candidate or the spouse by any means but that displaced discomfort that the hiring dept faculty involved put on themselves made the whole process much more difficult when the hiring meeting came around. Some felt that the candidate in question got more "softball" questions (and, frankly, the candidate did) because of the presence of the spouse.

Whether fair or not, the question is: do you need complications of any sort? Aren't their enough in the process itself?

[mdwlark]

You are already someone your prospective department is being pressured to hire because of your spouse.  You need to convince them that you will be a valuable addition to the department on your own merits, and that they would have wanted to hire you even if your spouse were not a factor.  So, having him there would serve what purpose?

[mdwlark]

him or her.  Sorry.  Didn't mean to make assumptions. (It is a bad idea regardless of spouse's gender.)   

It was suggested that you ask the dean whether spouse should attend.  You could ask the dean, yes, but s/he may say "Yes" to your spouses presence, when s/he isn't the one with the potential problem.  You have to deal with any hidden, lingering resentment in the department.  The dean is already in favor of you.     

[john_proctor]

You really want to advertize any more than is already the case that you're being considered for the job, even in part, because of your spouse?

I'd think mission number one would be to clarify and establish that you, of your own merits, are an absolute asset to the program in question.

Why undercut that in any way by the visual reminder, during your job talk (the moment when your work is most the center of attention) of your spouse - from another department with no dog of her own in the professional-credibility hunt - sitting in the room.

Even people like me, who would try to disassociate the relationship from a decision making process, would: a. get grumpy (the implication being that the two of you together are working to force my department into a hire - probably not true, but it'd hit my mind - and now coming to celebrate the formality of the interview); b. wonder, even if I pushed away those sinister ideas, why I am thinking of a colleague who has such a tin ear in terms of politics and public perception.

I can't imagine any positive outcomes from this; I can readily imagine a host of bad ones.  It's what we call a "no win."

[charlie00]

I'd say no spouse at job talk. Everyone knows what's going on; why give the appearance of pressuring? Besides, you will have to have an independent relationship with your new department if you get the job. Best to start out on that footing at the outset.

No spouse.