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[oseph]

Just for the record, I am in a VAP at a fancy SLAC (top 20) and two others in my seven person department got their TT jobs here in the last 3 years as ABDs. They both were expected to finish in the first semester, neither did. But both defended within 12 months or so, no one got fired or, as far as I know, even threatened. And they did get a little raise upon filing. I'm not trying to be delusional, I'm just saying in some fields, especially with specific subfields, etc etc, it happens.

I can't believe I'm posting here.  Anyway...

The point is, yes, you might end up at a school where your filing date and/or conferral date are no big deal - but you won't know that until very, very late in the game in most fields (Blue Amber, if you're in Management, you should know sooner rather than later, since your market is earlier).

My own experience was that I applied to everything, regardless of the restrictions on when PhDs had to be completed.  I got a job offer in the spring.  One offer.  For that particular school, I had to have the dissertation not only completed (defended, filed, everything) but conferred (as in I had to have graduated) before the start date mid-summer.  Many schools confer degrees in early to mid May.  I hauled ass to finish and graduate by May.  If I hadn't, my contract would have reverted to a one-year visiting contract, with two chief consequences:  1) a 20% reduction of the already meager salary, and 2) the job search would be reopened for that line, and my finishing the dissertation would have been no guarantee that they would have hired me at the end of the new job search.  In fact, given how annoyed they would have been to have to do another search, I almost certainly wouldn't have gotten the job.

This was the one opportunity that I was handed.  So while there are many schools that will be more lax, you never know whether you'll get an offer from one of them.

[berkeleygirl]

It's really helpful to have an idea of the different scenarios. Thanks everyone for posting!

[prephd]

I've only applied to positions that clearly state "ABD will be considered." I won't, by any means, have the degree in hand by next fall. I will have defended, yes, if all goes as planned, but the inordinately drawn-out and inconvenient timelines at my U. will keep sucking up my tuition until the following May. This, annoyingly, puts me out of the running for many jobs this year.

[firstgeneration]

I am ABD at a top R1.  My defense is scheduled for February, all revisions are due in March, and if all goes well, I will graduate in April.  I've already sent off more than two dozen application packets, and will send a few more within the next week.

Thanks for starting the thread.  I'll be avidly following along.

[oseph]

I am ABD at a top R1.  My defense is scheduled for February, all revisions are due in March, and if all goes well, I will graduate in April.  I've already sent off more than two dozen application packets, and will send a few more within the next week.

Thanks for starting the thread.  I'll be avidly following along.

You sound like you're in a great position.  Some advice:

1. I assume your letter writers have directly addressed this schedule.  If not, they should.
2. Your cover letter should directly address this schedule.
3. You should make certain not to use the phrase "if all goes well" when you get interviews.  Focus on the fact that you have a defense scheduled.

[firstgeneration]

I am ABD at a top R1.  My defense is scheduled for February, all revisions are due in March, and if all goes well, I will graduate in April.  I've already sent off more than two dozen application packets, and will send a few more within the next week.

Thanks for starting the thread.  I'll be avidly following along.

You sound like you're in a great position.  Some advice:

1. I assume your letter writers have directly addressed this schedule.  If not, they should.
2. Your cover letter should directly address this schedule.
3. You should make certain not to use the phrase "if all goes well" when you get interviews.  Focus on the fact that you have a defense scheduled.

Thanks so much for the advice!   I provided the defense date in the first paragraph of each cover letter, but not the revisions/graduation/degree conferral timeline.  On my CV, in the column after "Ph.D, Research One University" I have "Anticipated Degree Conferral:  Official Registrar Date, 2010".  My other degrees are listed as "Degree Conferred" with their respective dates. 

I'm not sure if all of my letter writers have addressed my timeline.   However, my chairs have written individual LORs for each position.  We've developed my completion timeline together, so I assume they have mentioned it in letters, and will mention it if called or otherwise contacted.

As for the interviews -- again, any and all advice is greatly appreciated.   I'm very confident that my draft is strong, my defense will be successful, and all revisions will be submitted in a timely fashion.  I just didn't want to seem arrogant!  I'm not sure how to sound confident without turning off SCs.

[madhatter]

As for the interviews -- again, any and all advice is greatly appreciated.   I'm very confident that my draft is strong, my defense will be successful, and all revisions will be submitted in a timely fashion.  I just didn't want to seem arrogant!  I'm not sure how to sound confident without turning off SCs.

You can be as confident as you like without being any more credible to an SC.

[obscurereference]

It's absolutely true that every ABD swears blind that they will have defended by the time their job starts but, unless your advisor agrees, you're just another ABD. In my field that gives some Search Committees an excuse to throw out your application. I had a late-fall defense date the year that I was on the job market. I was so mindful of this issue that, when some jobs asked for more materials after I defended, I made sure to include an updated CV so that the SC would see that I wasn't ABD.

[explorer1]

I wonder whether there is any ABD who apply for a position of lecturer rather than assistant prof?

[prephd]

I wonder whether there is any ABD who apply for a position of lecturer rather than assistant prof?

Yes. Lecturer, Instructor, and Asst. Prof. are all gigs I have applied for. Of course, I'd prefer the latter, but I'll take the former if it's a decent offer.

[promovenda]

Hi all, thanks for the thread. As I'm ABD too I just want to be part of the group here. I hope to finish the writing by spring and defend in summer. Best wishes to all of us for success in the finishing and in finding positions!

[firstgeneration]

As for the interviews -- again, any and all advice is greatly appreciated.   I'm very confident that my draft is strong, my defense will be successful, and all revisions will be submitted in a timely fashion.  I just didn't want to seem arrogant!  I'm not sure how to sound confident without turning off SCs.

You can be as confident as you like without being any more credible to an SC.

That is very true.  One can take absolutely nothing for granted.  I'm gambling on the fact that others in our field know and trust my advisors, and know the track record of my doctoral program. 

I've watched several cohorts go through this process before me using the same timeline:  go on the market in the fall, defend in the winter, submit revisions and graduate in the spring.  All of my friends who received their PhDs last winter began tenure-track positions this fall, even after last year's horrors.  In fact, all of our graduates have secured tenure-track professorships for the past decade.  There is considerable pressure not to be the first who messes up.

[berkeleygirl]

As for the interviews -- again, any and all advice is greatly appreciated.   I'm very confident that my draft is strong, my defense will be successful, and all revisions will be submitted in a timely fashion.  I just didn't want to seem arrogant!  I'm not sure how to sound confident without turning off SCs.

You can be as confident as you like without being any more credible to an SC.

That is very true.  One can take absolutely nothing for granted.  I'm gambling on the fact that others in our field know and trust my advisors, and know the track record of my doctoral program. 

I've watched several cohorts go through this process before me using the same timeline:  go on the market in the fall, defend in the winter, submit revisions and graduate in the spring.  All of my friends who received their PhDs last winter began tenure-track positions this fall, even after last year's horrors.  In fact, all of our graduates have secured tenure-track professorships for the past decade.  There is considerable pressure not to be the first who messes up.

Same here....Im worried I'll be the first too....yikes! So much pressure on top of the already hideous market...come on interviews!

Hi all, thanks for the thread. As I'm ABD too I just want to be part of the group here. I hope to finish the writing by spring and defend in summer. Best wishes to all of us for success in the finishing and in finding positions!

Welcome!!!! Good Luck!

[monita]

Hi, everyone.  I thought I should chime in so this thread shows up on my list.  I had planned to defend in November, but it's been pushed to January due to some health issues and busy committee members.  Yargh.  Here are my stats so far:
   -1 non-profit (120 applicants(!), so big NO to me)
   -2 teaching-based post-docs
   -1 3-year VAP
   -4 TT

Still to go:
   -2 research post-docs
   -1 more VAP
   -4 more TT positions

[this_is_my_username]

Good luck ABDs. A firm defense date and a letter of rec from your adviser reiterating that is an absolute must have. I'd say maybe 30% of ABDs who promise to finish do not.

I have so far found that the job market doesn't substantially improve once your Ph.D. is in hand, at least in my social sciences field. So focus on what you can control, finishing the diss, teaching well, submitting a pub or two when you can. You'll find that the search makes little sense, is usually poorly run, and is even humiliating at times. Keep struggling.