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[honeynutichiro]

Hi all! I'm having a timing struggle, and want to run by this situation amongst anonymous internet strangers (hi!) who will hopefully give me some sage advice. I realize this is sort of a crossover thread (interview process, administrative + two-body problem), so I apologize if I ultimately picked the wrong board.

Situation:

Husband is ABD, first year on job market. I'm a non-academic working happily in a non-academic job (attorney). Husband has a couple phone interviews, gets an TT on-campus interview. It's at a highly-ranked rural SLAC.  I peruse job listings at the school, see there is an legal administrative job I'd be a good fit for.  Since interesting legal opportunities would be slim in a rural market, I apply.

Husband has on-campus interview for TT job, thinks it goes very well.  I have two phone interviews for the admin position. I'm now invited to campus to interview.

It's been three weeks since Husband's campus interview, and a week since the search committee met to make the decision.  I have no intention or taking this job if my husband isn't offered the position.  Do I make them aware of this before setting up campus interview? I feel bad having them pay for me to fly to far away rural land if they've offered the TT position to another candidate if my husband isn't being considered anymore.

I'm struggling here... I don't want to waste my time (and theirs) if I'm not a serious candidate, but I don't want to cause any form of havoc by meddling (or requesting HR meddle) in Husband's search process.

Advice?

[history_anon]

This is a very tricky situation, and I think the answer depends on your decision-making process and priorities.  Given the information that you provide (that you would not accept the legal counsel job if your husband isn't hired to the T-T), I would suggest you tell them.  As I see it, this could play out the following ways:

1.  The school has already hired someone else to the T-T.  You withdraw from a search for a job you would not accept, and the school saves money. 
2.  The school has made an offer to someone else for the T-T, but that offer has been rejected and the search is still open.  The school recognizes the possibility to hire two good people who are unlikely to leave right away.  You are both more likely to get the jobs you want.
3.  The school has made an offer to someone else for the T-T, who is still considering it.  You share your information, and both parties are able to make an informed decision.

From your point of view, I don't see a downside to telling them.  If you really wanted the job, and would take it whether or not your husband was hired, it would be a totally different matter.

My $.02.

[polly_mer]

I agree with History_Anon.

[knitknat]

You forgot a fourth option, history_anon. It is entirely possible that the committee has selected the OP's Husband as their candidate, but that the offer is making it's slow and painful way through the ridiculous academic red-tape that is HR.

It took over a month from the time the search committee chose me before I received my offer. And I was an internal candidate/hire.

[brixton]

Knitknat -- But even if this were the case, I still think it is would be kind to tell them.  For a rural SLAC, solving the two-body problem without having to create a position is huge.  Finding someone who might be happy with spouse means that a new hire might not be necessary down the road.  If they haven't chosen your partner, then it will save them the fly-in costs.