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[tenured_feminist]

If you have a VAP position, your priorities should be 1) publishing and 2) teaching well or 1) teaching well and 2) publishing, depending on what you're looking for in a permanent job. I've been on a lot of search committees. An awesome service record as a VAP will get you nothing but a symbolic pat on the back, more concrete work on your shoulders, and maybe someone taking you out to lunch when your contract ends.

[watermarkup]

Although it is nice to have an answer to the question, "What kind of service do you like to do?" My traditional answer--"Uh, beats the heck out of me, I haven't actually been in a position to do much"--doesn't seem to be working very well in interviews.

So this year I'm trying, "Why, I leapt at the chance to serve on the X Committee, because when I was an undergrad, X changed my life, and now I want to help today's students enjoy X, too!"

[grasshopper]

Well, I actually do really enjoy working on projects as part of a team. I like the sense of accomplishment, and feeling that I've done something to improve a situation.

But that doesn't mean that the advice above isn't good. If I want the opportunity to be part of a department permanently, so that I can do all that service stuff that I enjoy, then I've first got to make myself employable.

Also, I suspect that in my case, service is a form of procrastination - much more immediate results than a research project.

[pinkmouse]

Use the time to do research or work on a book or whatever -- do the stuff needed to build the other parts of your CV that are actually important for getting hired in a TT position.

Advil is right - x100 if you are still ABD.