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[sesua]

I've just completed my 2nd first-year in a tt position.  Man are they tough!  But now my husband can't find a job.  He's been unemployed for almost a year now and he's going crazy (so am I). 

We moved to be closer to family.  I immediately got my position but we never thought it would be so hard for him.  His career is a tough one in this area but come on!!!  He's been applying to all of the universities in the area (he's non-academic) but nothing.  (And there are about 7 in the area.)  We've found out that nepotism runs rampant here...  We also have a 9 yo daughter (and she's been moved around a lot) and I so want her to have a stable life near her grandparents (and my mom has been a great help too).  But looks like we may have to move yet again (when he finds a job away we'll have to be apart for a year until I finish my 2nd year)... 

My department is aware of this.  They really tell me how much they want me to stay and how I can't go.  I've done really well my first year.  I tell them that he's been applying for positions, even with my university (and even with people putting in "a good word" for him from my dept) but still nothing.  They always pick someone who is in-house or that they already know.  Same thing for all of the other places...  It's so hard, frustrating, and feels so unfair.

Anyway, if I have to move again I don't think I can go thru another first year.  So I may have to find another type of job.  Should I think that if I tell my dept I may be leaving after another year that they may try harder to help place my spouse (they've had to go thru the hiring process 2x in 2 years already) or should we just give up and move?  I don't want to go because I really like it here and it's a great job, but I feel like I have no choice.  UGH!  Why's it gotta be so tough!!

:(  sesua   

[sappho]

Sesua, this is a tough call.  I guess it won't hurt to continue mentioning to your colleagues that if your spouse gets a job elsewhere your family will be moving.  That way even if nothing "opens" in your area they won't be surprised when you tell them that you are leaving.  Good luck and let's hope that something works out so that you don't have to give up your great job!

[euro_trash]

First, I sympathize.  My partner and I were in a similar position a few years back.  I suggest you both grit your teeth for at least another year.

What does your spouse actually do?  You mentioned they are not an academic, so why are they applying at universities?  They really cannot find anything at all?  How old is your spouse?  Any chance they can improve their qualifications by going back to school?  If you end up caving and they get their dream job while you are unemployed, will that make things any better? 

[sesua]

First of all, thanks for your replies. 

My husband (35) has taught PE and has been an athletic director and PE Dept chair (public school).  He's been applying to universities for asst athletic director, campus life, resident life, student recreation-type positions.  He has his Master's degree in education.  Public/private schools here don't have openings in PE (none have opened up all year) and he'd have to sub until one opened up (plus he doesn't want to sub again and I honestly don't blame him).  Then a hundred others would be applying for the same PE position.  It seems like a hopeless cause. 

I am not too worried about finding a job if we move.  (Plus I planned to stay here another year or until I get a job wherever he goes.)  I have many options in my field (chemistry).  Hope this sheds more insight.   

[reslifeguy]

The assistant director level positions might be too ambitious given that college athletics are a very different animal from public/secondary athletics.

If he's applying at the assistant director level in residence life he's probably not going to be taken as a serious candidate without any experience in residence life; most candidates applying for residence life positions at that level have between 3-5 years of experience in residence life as a hall director/rlc and/or area coordinator.

There are a decent number of new masters-prepared individuals with the relevant experience each year that he's likely to have trouble unless it's a bachelor's required and preferred position.

Good luck.

[sesua]

Well that tells us what we need to know.  He's not qualified for a college non-academic position.  Well how else does someone get experience in those areas anyways?  Don't they have to start somewhere??  Even asst. positions are too hard to get?  He can do those jobs just fine with the experience he's gained and his education.  The job search is so hard...  We're so frustrated and now this makes it worse.  Definitely feel like giving up now and just moving...

[octoprof]

Why doesn't he want to sub? That may be the way to get an "in" for a more permanent job, if one opens up?

[svenc]

Anyway, if I have to move again I don't think I can go thru another first year.  So I may have to find another type of job.  Should I think that if I tell my dept I may be leaving after another year that they may try harder to help place my spouse (they've had to go thru the hiring process 2x in 2 years already) or should we just give up and move? 

You have said your department is sympathetic, but that does not mean that they have necessarily already pulled out all the stops in trying to help you.

If you really plan to leave this job if your spouse does not find work, you should make that as clear as possible to your colleagues.  "If darling hubby doesn't have a job by this time next year, I will have to resign." 

It may take a definite ultimatum for them to be able to get support for your spouse's job search from higher up the administrative food chain.

Good luck.

[reslifeguy]

Well that tells us what we need to know.  He's not qualified for a college non-academic position.  Well how else does someone get experience in those areas anyways?  Don't they have to start somewhere??  Even asst. positions are too hard to get?  He can do those jobs just fine with the experience he's gained and his education.  The job search is so hard...  We're so frustrated and now this makes it worse.  Definitely feel like giving up now and just moving...

I don't know very much about college athletics; I work in student affairs and residence life in particular. Are there coordinator or support positions available in any athletics departments? What about campus activities/intramural sports? If he has a Master's in Education he ought to be able to do something there... it's just a question of open positions.

As for residence life, it's most common to start as a hall director or residence life coordinator and move up from there. Has your husband had any experience working with college students? Supervising and mentoring students, managing a facility?

I'm going a fairly traditional route. Paraprofessional experience as a student (RA and Asst. Hall Director/advanced paraprofessional role), graduate school in higher education (with an assistantship in res life), and then going on the market for professional employment.

HigherEdJobs.com is a good resource for job postings, especially on the non-faculty side.

It's frustrating, but don't give up yet!

[msparticularity]

Why doesn't he want to sub? That may be the way to get an "in" for a more permanent job, if one opens up?

Definitely true! For a HS coaching position the usual thing is either to begin as a sub, or to begin in the classroom with coaching on the side. It's incredibly unusual to get hired from outside the district as a PE instructor/coach; it usually takes at least two years to get a PE/coaching position.

Also, at many post-secondary institutions you really do have to start at the very bottom for the coaching positions. At my State U, people with HS and even CC coaching experience often come on as volunteer assistant coaches. Then, when a position opens, they move up.

[dellaroux]

Why doesn't he want to sub? That may be the way to get an "in" for a more permanent job, if one opens up?

Definitely true! For a HS coaching position the usual thing is either to begin as a sub, or to begin in the classroom with coaching on the side. It's incredibly unusual to get hired from outside the district as a PE instructor/coach; it usually takes at least two years to get a PE/coaching position.

Also, at many post-secondary institutions you really do have to start at the very bottom for the coaching positions. At my State U, people with HS and even CC coaching experience often come on as volunteer assistant coaches. Then, when a position opens, they move up.

1) While in school I got all my "good" jobs from temping situations and I nearly took a sub position in a local High School while awaiting a better spot, just to "keep my hand in." The longer those "unemployed" or empty spots build up on a resume, the harder it is to find something.

And especially if it's nepotistic, an applicant won't get "in" until they know his face and feel comfortable around him. He has to "feel like family" for them to want him there....that's what they're about, if that's how they are. He has to "smell like them" to be accepted in the litter. It's primal.

2) Also, places that favor internal candidates often don't post the opening until they've already decided who they really want for the job. They let the post run for the week, check to be sure they're not sliding someone out that could give them counterclaim problems, and go with the person they wanted to begin with.

This is of course, hardly kosher, but that's what they do. To be that strong internal candidate, you have to already be there when they find out via the grapevine, not an HT job announcement, that another one's leaving...

[madhatter]

I don't know much about these fields, so please disregard if my suggestions are completely off-base.

Has your husband considered broadening his search to non-educational jobs? With his background, he might be a good fit for management positions at fitness clubs, community centers, park & recreation boards, or similar.

[sesua]

Thanks again for replies...

Ok, well as for the subbing thing, it may be his only bet to get into the schools, but he doesn't want to do it again.  He says he's done it before and paid his dues (in NY) and feels he shouldn't have to do it again.  He said when he did it before he did not like it and the kids treat subs like crap.  I think he doesn't want to settle for a job beneath him (ego issues playing here as well).  PE positions really don't open up here anyways unless someone retires or dies and then there's a line to get it.  So he thinks he'll be a sub for 3 or 4 years until he gets in.  How do you get someone to sub who is really and totally against it??

As for the college positions, he does have his Master's in Ed so we figured he could also be good for a college position.  Some of them don't require college experience.  Grant it most of the residence positions do so he probably is not qualified for those, but a lot of the athletic and student recreational positions don't and he could definitely do those.  Still there's the problem of the depts hiring people they already know... 

I don't know how to bring it up to my dept and if I should force it, but they have to know what's going on so they are prepared just in case I do go.  Right?  Is it ok to let them know in not too many words that this may be my last year coming up?  I'm not fond of the ultimatum thing.  How soon do I tell them?  Or how hard do I push my husband to consider subbing?? 

Thanks for all your replies. 

[octoprof]

Thanks again for replies...

Ok, well as for the subbing thing, it may be his only bet to get into the schools, but he doesn't want to do it again.  He says he's done it before and paid his dues (in NY) and feels he shouldn't have to do it again.  He said when he did it before he did not like it and the kids treat subs like crap.  I think he doesn't want to settle for a job beneath him (ego issues playing here as well).  PE positions really don't open up here anyways unless someone retires or dies and then there's a line to get it.  So he thinks he'll be a sub for 3 or 4 years until he gets in.  How do you get someone to sub who is really and totally against it??

As for the college positions, he does have his Master's in Ed so we figured he could also be good for a college position.  Some of them don't require college experience.  Grant it most of the residence positions do so he probably is not qualified for those, but a lot of the athletic and student recreational positions don't and he could definitely do those.  Still there's the problem of the depts hiring people they already know... 

I don't know how to bring it up to my dept and if I should force it, but they have to know what's going on so they are prepared just in case I do go.  Right?  Is it ok to let them know in not too many words that this may be my last year coming up?  I'm not fond of the ultimatum thing.  How soon do I tell them?  Or how hard do I push my husband to consider subbing?? 

Thanks for all your replies. 

I think your husband has an ego problem. He's (apparently) not willing to do what it takes to get the job he wants. And, the result seems to be, that then you will give up the job you love so he can go somewhere else where he'll not do what it takes to get the job he wants (again) and you'll no longer have the job you love...?  Doesn't sound like the way a partnership is supposed to work to me.  Doesn't sound like a good long-term decision for your marriage, either.

Why is he so unwilling to do what it takes to get the job he says he wants?  Everyone knows this is what it takes to get a job teaching in most school systems that are not short on teachers. I suspect your husband has bigger issues here.

Based on the evidence presented here, I'd say the problem isn't your department or university, at all, but your husband.  If he's not willing to sub, what is it he has tried to do so far?  What is he willing to do?  What has he done? Sending resumes around is fine, but there's more to the job market than university jobs... what is he going to do to get himself a job (i.e. without expecting you to get your colleagues to get it for him)?

I don't mean to sound harsh, this is just the way this situation sounds to me.

octoprof (who is very thankful for her husband)

[scheherazade]

PE jobs are going to be nearly impossible to get no matter where you move.  As Octoprof says, your husband will not likely get the jobs he wants easily, no matter where you go.  He either needs to be willing to put in the time and work his way up, or he needs to find something else to do with himself.