next »

[randomlife]

Without an alternative offer, would it be possible to negotiate salary up for 1 or 2 points? If so, should I negotiate based on my experience (xx years out of PhD) or needs (family, child, etc.)? Also, would it be OK to ask Chair for questions regarding child care or house hunting? Thanks.

[wegie]

Experience is pretty much the only thing that you can use to negotiate a bump up the spine over here. But it is always possible to make the attempt, particularly if they've put you on the lowest point.

A competing offer would be more likely to get people asking where you want to go for your leaving drinks. We're really not into the "this is your one job ever" stuff over here.

[babbinacara]

We all have needs, but nobody cares.
Your only hope to negotiate on salary is experience, and it must be something concrete. XX years out of your PhD is pointless, and might work against you, unless you have above-average publications, research funding and/or teaching during that time.

Look on the university website for housing and child-care--there should be that kind of stuff for new staff or married grad students. If you can't find it, only then ask the dept administrator or your new chair.

[randomlife]

A competing offer would be more likely to get people asking where you want to go for your leaving drinks. We're really not into the "this is your one job ever" stuff over here.

Thanks.. So you mean UK academics are more 'mobile' than their US peers?

[randomlife]

We all have needs, but nobody cares.
Your only hope to negotiate on salary is experience, and it must be something concrete. XX years out of your PhD is pointless, and might work against you, unless you have above-average publications, research funding and/or teaching during that time.

Look on the university website for housing and child-care--there should be that kind of stuff for new staff or married grad students. If you can't find it, only then ask the dept administrator or your new chair.

Yeah, you're right that everyone has needs ;)

I guess I'll pass, 1-2 points do not make that a difference anyway.

[wegie]

A competing offer would be more likely to get people asking where you want to go for your leaving drinks. We're really not into the "this is your one job ever" stuff over here.

Thanks.. So you mean UK academics are more 'mobile' than their US peers?

*Much* more. It's very common to do your first lectureship at one university, move to get a S/L post, and move again at the professorial level as well. Probation just isn't as much of a hurdle as having to start again on the TT, and as we advertise posts at all levels of seniority, it's a lot easier to make a mid career move.

[randomlife]

Nice, great to know. But if you prefer to stay in the same university, it's also easier to survive the probation (say, 3 years), than a pre-tenure in the US, right?

[/quote]

*Much* more. It's very common to do your first lectureship at one university, move to get a S/L post, and move again at the professorial level as well. Probation just isn't as much of a hurdle as having to start again on the TT, and as we advertise posts at all levels of seniority, it's a lot easier to make a mid career move.
[/quote]

[expatinuk]

Probation usually isn't 3 years... more like 6mos to 1 year.

[randomlife]

Probation usually isn't 3 years... more like 6mos to 1 year.

I know there are some universities have that long probation (including mine). Is this a bad thing?

[scotia]

Probation usually isn't 3 years... more like 6mos to 1 year.

I think this is rare - all the universities I know have 2 - 4 years, and most are 3 years. In 6 months - 1 year we cannot assess the development of research capability.

It is possible to fail probation, but in the cases that I have seen most people have seen the writing on the wall and jumped before being pushed.

[randomlife]

Thanks Scotia. Now I guess a 3-year probation is not that bad. It actually leaves you time to move on if you know you are not going to get pass the probation.

[mingus]

There are only two ways to fail probation in the UK:

(1) Incompetence at the level where it is doubtful that the person is even still alive.

(2) Sexually molesting the dean's dog.

[yoyoid]

A competing offer would be more likely to get people asking where you want to go for your leaving drinks. We're really not into the "this is your one job ever" stuff over here.

Thanks.. So you mean UK academics are more 'mobile' than their US peers?

Definitely true, I think. Same here in Aus I think.

[scotia]

There are only two ways to fail probation in the UK:

(1) Incompetence at the level where it is doubtful that the person is even still alive.

(2) Sexually molesting the dean's dog.

Propagating this myth as a universal truth does a great disservice to those starting a lecturing career in many UK universities. I know of a number of cases where people have failed probation/been warned that they were likely to fail probation because of a poor research record. The requirements will vary from institution to institution (I have always been at research intensive universities) and are, in my experience, becoming more rigorous. As is the case in the US, it is important that people starting as probationers understand what the requirements are now.

[randomlife]

I heard during my interview visit that new lecturers in the department have to meet certain pre-set goals to pass their probation, such as publications in certain journals, certain amount of grants, teaching performance, etc. I guess it is easy in the sense that the there is a clear goal for you to reach. But it's not like you can pass it just by being there without any efforts...