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[wsr88d]

This summer has had its ups and downs. I had two wonderful prospect job opportunities, one at a cc and another at a slac. Applied, had two impressive phone interviews, got called back for campus visits.... impressed them to the best of my ability - and apparently the slac called and scheduled me for a final campus interview (made the top 3, I suppose), and the cc offered me a contingent offer based on budget approvals.

Waited for almost all summer...since April/May for a followup and some type of update. Back in June, end of June/first of July... got an email from the SLAC, that my campus interview/visit was put on hold (or they temporarily canceled and asked for a re-schedule).....so I acknowledged, and replied with willingness to accommodate for any reschedule....heard nothing.

The cc, basically the same thing......waited and heard nothing.

Ironically, the last week of July.......I received a letter from the SLAC thanking me for the applying, interviewing, etc. but they canceled and withdrew the position due to budgetary reasons. Then in an email and a phone call from the cc, they were forced to rescind contingent offer and cancel the position, again like the SLAC, due to a failing budget meeting for the 2009-2010 year. But offered and encouraged me to reapply again next May when they will attempt to hire for the position a second time, and offer me an opportunity for another interview. (I then found out that I was one of only two who applied for the position - reason for the quick contingent offer). Apparently they canceled five-six other positions too in various departments.......so I wasn't the only one.

Really had my hopes up too.....because the cc is where I adjunct, and have established a solid rapport with the staff and faculty within the department. They asked me to stay on as an adjunct and continue to teach for them, and asked that I keep them in mind the next time around in 2010 when they try again for the position because they are extremely desperate to establish another position.

This provides me with the perspective on how bad economy is and how it is affecting slac's and cc's, even though enrollments may be up in some parts, it seems that some places are attempting to budget accordingly to keep their institutions running.......

I am a little discouraged and frustrated because I felt like I was so close too.......but now it appears I have to wait a whole year to try again. So I am back to teaching HS and adjuncting again in the evenings....<sigh>

[classicsnerd]

Hello,

I feel your pain. I gave up my HS job in a private school because of issues with its direction. I can't find an adjuncting position in my geographical area. In any situation, there are those who are better off than you and worse off, too. I would think that if you stay connect to your cc and deliver a positive teaching experience, you may get a full-time appointment when the "crisis" wears off.  Unfortunately, I also think that teaching at HS level damages one's credibility in the college market. One gets typed as a high school teacher. Try not to do that too long if you really want a college job.

Best of luck

[msparticularity]

Especially in this market, I think teaching HS will be considered only a sign that you want to live indoors and eat regularly! I know that the HS schedule makes if terrifically difficult (believe me, I know!), but the best thing you can do to improve your chance of getting hired as things begin to improve is to work on publications.

Good luck to both of you!

[lightningstrike]

they were forced to rescind contingent offer and cancel the position, again like the SLAC, due to a failing budget meeting for the 2009-2010 year. But offered and encouraged me to reapply again next May when they will attempt to hire for the position a second time, and offer me an opportunity for another interview. (I then found out that I was one of only two who applied for the position - reason for the quick contingent offer). Apparently they canceled five-six other positions too in various departments.......so I wasn't the only one.

Really had my hopes up too.....because the cc is where I adjunct, and have established a solid rapport with the staff and faculty within the department. They asked me to stay on as an adjunct and continue to teach for them, and asked that I keep them in mind the next time around in 2010 when they try again for the position because they are extremely desperate to establish another position.

This provides me with the perspective on how bad economy is and how it is affecting slac's and cc's, even though enrollments may be up in some parts, it seems that some places are attempting to budget accordingly to keep their institutions running.......

It isn't necessarily the bad economy.  How an institution behaves during the bad times is indicative of its true character and set of values and should be taken into consideration if they should offer you a job in the next job search.  Using the bad economy as an excuse to rescind an offer (even if it's contingent) just demonstrates that they have no stomach for what it takes to do the right thing when it comes to making decisions.  I know it's no consolation, but now at least you know what kind of boss they would be.

Good luck.

[ruralguy]

The real issue for my SLAC is that even people with money just don't want to spend it on a high tuition private that will probably "give" their child straight C's. If the economy is really in recovery then you MIGHT see some restoration of cuts starting in about 1 year, but I highly doubt this next job year will have much positive news. Though, I doubt very many positions will be cut midstream---they will simply just never go forward--not this year anyway.

That being said, even in a bad economy, some people will hire. I wouldn't expect much from SLAC's though.
But for people still in the phd, post-doc, VAP pipeline, I bet 2 or 3 years from now will be awesome for hiring at the SLACs that survive this mess.

[aneumey]

If you want to teach at a CC, high school teaching is an asset.  Dual enrollment high school programs are becoming a staple, and they eagerly search for people with some experience working with high school students.  It was key in my getting my first full time job at 25 and first/current TT job at 27 (I am in the humanities).  There were other factors, but this one was essential.