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[pinky]

Background: Husband and I are in the same field.  He finished his PhD several years ago and I am finishing this semester.  He has a job as a full-time lecturer with yearly renewable contracts at a major R1.  I am currently searching for a job.  Due to the economy, we decided we would NOT do a full two-body search this year.  Our compromise is that I would search for options in our metro area which would allow him to keep his job (he really likes it, and I respect that).  If I am unsuccessful this year, we go forward with a national, two-body search next year.

The issue: one of the jobs I applied for is at a small up-and-coming school.  They are growing their department quickly as they expand (think adding degrees, moving campus, etc.).  I had a phone interview with them back in Jan.  One of the interviewers was very excited that I was at school XYZ.  Interviewer said something like, "Oh, XYZ has this really cool course in ABC."  And I replied, "Oh yes, I know that course.  My husband teaches that."  And then we proceeded with the rest of the interview.

I didn't specifically talk about the two-body issue, but I didn't hide it either.  My general policy is to be upfront about it and let the chips fall where they may.  We also have a very distinctive last name, and a Google for the last name turns up both of us and it's very obvious we're an academic couple.

Fast forward to yesterday.  I get an email from the small up-and-coming school's dean, with whom I've had limited communication with (mostly centering around "are you sure you'll graduate this semester?").  The email is one line: "Is your husband also looking for a job?"

What the hell do I do with this?  The answer is, "Well, he could be..." but I don't know if that's the right answer or not.

[dundee]

If I were in your position, I would certainly let the dean know that your husband is open to accepting a new position. Afterall, he is on a one-year contract. I'm in a dual-career couple myself, and I know that you have to take your chances when they come up, because they might be very few and far between.

[locutus]

Something a long the lines of "If you are interested he would be happy to discuss the opportunity. My interest in the position in not dependent on your institution's interest in my husband"

Only with better wording.

[boringmember]

You can say something about how he's always open to opportunities or something like that.

[larryc]

This is great news--the dean has googled your husband and likes the idea of hiring you both. Maybe. Explain that your husband has a term appointment in town that he really enjoys but of course would always be interested in something more permanent. Attach his cv.

Fingers crossed for you! 

[pinky]

Well, I emailed the dean and mentioned that my husband "would be happy to discuss any opportunities at [school] with you or the search committee." blah, blah, blah.

The dean immediately responded and asked for my husband's email and "what is his background?"  The last question kinda flummoxed me.  If he didn't know my husband's background, how in the world did he come up with the idea that we have a two-body issue?

At any rate, I decided not to overthink it and send the dean my husband's email and mentioned his degree from our school.  I also included a link to his CV.

We'll see what happens.  I'll let you know how the entire situation shakes out.  Thanks for the advice.  It was very useful.

[hegemony]

I don't quite understand your confusion about the question of his background -- it seems to me the question was, "Where did he get his degrees from, and what else should we know?"  That seems reasonable.

It seems to me that you've fallen into every academic couple's dream situation.

[totoro]

Or does the Dean want to hire your husband in your place?

[pinky]

Or does the Dean want to hire your husband in your place?

We're not worried about this possibility.  Given a choice, husband would choose to keep his current job (indefinitely renewable contract) rather than the tenure track line at the school that I applied to.  He's willing to consider a step down (for him) for the sake of my career and a potential solution to the two-body problem.

[pinky]

Thought I would come back and update this situation.  I hate reading threads that have no resolution.

I never heard from this dept. again after the question/response about my husband.  I have no idea if they made a hire or not. 

[mad_doctor]

Perhaps I'm missing something here...  Is there a reason why you wouldn't forward the message to your husband, talk it over, and either let him answer it for you or advise you how to answer?

[larryc]

Thought I would come back and update this situation.  I hate reading threads that have no resolution.

I never heard from this dept. again after the question/response about my husband.  I have no idea if they made a hire or not. 

Thanks for the update, and sorry that you did not land the job.

[pinky]

Perhaps I'm missing something here...  Is there a reason why you wouldn't forward the message to your husband, talk it over, and either let him answer it for you or advise you how to answer?

Yes, that is exactly what we did.  After consultation w/ my husband, I responded with a brief bit about what my husband did, a link to his CV, and his contact info.  Neither of us ever heard from the dept. again.  Either they never hired the position (certainly possible in this economy) or they thought I was going to try and wrangle a two-body hire out of them and dropped me like a hot potato based on my husband's occupation (certainly possible as well).  I have no way of knowing which outcome (or both!) actually occurred.

[compdoc]

Thanks for letting us know how it resolved--or did not resolve.

I read this thread when you started it.