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[sociological]

I will be starting a tenure track job in the fall in the social sciences at an R1. It's a great job and I can definitely see myself staying in this department.

My spouse is in the same discipline (though somewhat different subfield). We got our PhDs at the same time, and have both been doing postdocs. Hu will continue the postdoc for the 2009-2010 academic year (commuting back and forth).

There are not many other schools in the area, so ideally I would like for hu to get a job at this R1. Because hu's work is interdisciplinary, hu could potentially be a joint hire or even work in another department. During the negotiations, I tried to get a spousal hire. But as a junior candidate I didn't have the leverage, and given the economic crisis, it was a bad time to ask for something like that. I accepted the offer, but I did make it known that for me to stay long term at this university, my spouse would have to have a job. We are planning to have children soon, so living apart is not an option. At the moment, we are willing to give this about two years before we get really serious about looking for jobs elsewhere.

All the advice I have gotten so far is that the way to get my institution to hire my spouse is to get a competing offer. So that means both hu and I have to be on the job market this fall, though my guess is that our chances of getting an offer with a spousal hire are slim. But it's not clear to me how broadly we should apply and what our strategy should be. Should we just apply to jobs that look like a good fit? And then if we get offers, try to negotiate a spousal hire? Or should we only apply if there are two jobs in the same metropolitan area?

Second question is, is there anything I should be doing at my institution? Having read past threads, I know I'm not supposed to bug my chair about this. I have no idea yet if any positions will be opening up at the university that my spouse could apply for. But during the negotiations, my chair did express interest in my spouse's work. Is there anything I can do to try to keep this possibility alive?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[mouseman]

If you don't get an offer somewhere else, and will be prepared to go there, it is not likely to happen.  My spouse took a job here, and the University made spousal-hire noises here, including pointing out the the Official Policy for spousal hire (1/3 hiring department, 1/3 spouses department, and 1/3 Provost's office). 
Fast-forward 4 years, and no Spousal Hire in sight.  When inquiries are made at the level of the Provost's office (where these things are ultimately decided), the only answer we get is:  "SORRY!  BECAUSE OF WHERE ARE HEADS ARE, WE CAN'T HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ABOVE THE NOISE OF OUR PERISTALSIS!!!

[sociological]

Well, that is definitely what I have been warned about. Does anyone who's dealt with this situation have tips on job searching strategies? Apply widely or selectively? Since this will be my first year on the TT, do I need a reference from a colleague? I'd like to keep it quiet that I'm applying for jobs so soon.

[prof_tournesol]

Apply widely, particularly in this job market. And, no, you don't need a reference from a colleague in your first year - you haven't been working where you are long enough. Good luck

[epinonymous]

I am currently involved in negotiating with two universities (that I received offers from) regarding a potential spousal hire, and can say from experience that this process in not for the meek or timid. Both universities have been very, very positive and are working hard to find something for spouse in a very different field and at a very different faculty level (I am asst. prof, spouse is full prof.) The one thing I have learned is that patience is critical, and it is also important to clearly articulate what it is the spouse can potentially bring to university. I am not sure where we will end up and if either university will come up with something, but was surprised (and very grateful) by their earnest efforts to find something.

Will report back if/when we have know what the status is.....

[mouseman]

I should also add the spousal hire issue is sometimes gender specific.  in my university, for example, it is easier to get financial support for a females trailing spouse than for a male.  It is possible that the opposite is true for other places, especially since female faculty are more likely to request a hire for their spouse, and more likely to leave if the hire doesn't materialize.

[systeme_d_]

A pre-tenure colleague (with a dual appointment) recently negotiated a tenure track spousal hire at my place.  Here's what he did:

He got an offer from elsewhere, and told his two dept. chairs (one with power and money, one without either) that he'd take the gig if the university was unable to find a TT position for his wife (who was an adjunct in a third department).   The two chairs and the Dean were able to put something together for her, and this in a very tight budgetary environment which includes a hiring freeze.

His offer was eventually rescinded because of budgetary problems at the other university.  But because he struck while the iron was hot, and got everything in writing, his wife will start her TT gig in the fall.

[sociological]

Wow, very interesting to hear all this. This may seem like a stupid question, but if you get another offer, does that offer have to include a spousal hire for your institution to take it seriously? Thinking ahead, for example, I can envision getting an offer from a school in a location where there would be more opportunities for my spouse (i.e. Boston, Chicago).

[systeme_d_]

Not at all, Ratih.

In the case I described above, the offer did not include a spousal hire for my colleague's wife.

But just as Epinonymous posted, negotiating for a spousal hire is NOT for the faint of heart.

[janewales]

Even going on the market may not work, if what you're after is two jobs at the current place. A friend recently did try this, in the hope that an offer from elsewhere would cause the current institution to provide the spousal. Got both the job and a spousal offer at the other place, but with no effect at the original place-- the department the spouse would have been in simply refused-- so they're off to the new job(s). In other words, you have to be willing to go, if you use the job market strategy as part of the approach.

Good luck!

[mouseman]

Just stepping back in here to wish you good luck!

[sociological]

Thanks for all the advice and suggestions! I'll make sure to update the forum about my experiences!

[tenured_feminist]

I know my advice is almost always to go on the market. But this year is going to be so bad that I think you shouldn't both kill yourselves with applications. Focus more on having a solid first year and figure this nut is just going to take some time to crack. I think it's pretty hard even in a normal year to be taken seriously as an applicant if you're only in your first year unless you were a really hot commodity last year with multiple offers.

I don't want to be too disheartening here, but coming from an R1 it took us ten years and two serious forays on the market for my partner to land a career position -- and that position is in administration. And OMG did I work my a$$ off that whole time to stay marketable. And the icing on the cake is that we had to move, because ultimately the R1 where I was just could not get it together for him, even though they loved me.

Sorry to be discouraging, but hopefully with persistence and a little good luck at the right time, you can solve this.

[epinonymous]

A positive report back to the group.... It appears that we have successfully solved (at least temporarily) the two-body problem in my family! Patience and flexibility (as well as a strong state economy) really helped in the process. There is hope out there!

[sibyl]

So, not California or Michigan then...

Seriously: congratulations!