Is it too soon to leave my non-TT job?

[Hegemony]

I'm familiar with the advice to "Bloom where you're planted," and I think to some extent that's excellent advice, at least for the short term. It's only reasonable to take maximum advantage of the pluses of your location, whatever they are and however small they are. And there's also the saying "Wherever you go, there you are" — in other words the place may change, but you don't change.

But I also feel for you in sensing that your current location is not optimum. Through complicated circumstances, I have homes in three very different locations: Wonderful Location, Desirable Location, and Undesirable Location. If I had my druthers, I'd live full-time in Wonderful Location, as I did for some years. But that's not possible unless I have a job there, which I conspicuously do not have. And much as I recognize the virtues of Desirable Location, I am miserable there. Meanwhile, I love Undesirable Location. Everyone else in the universe would consider it subpar, but I just love it. I am the same person in each location, perhaps, but I feel very different in each.  The most miserable place is the one where all the amenities are great, the politics match mine, and life is easy — but I just haven't been able to connect with many people there, despite a lot of effort on my part. For some reason I am just off kilter there. The prevailing ethos is just sideways from mine. And I feel the lack. It just doesn't feel like home.

This has led me to believe that where you are does indeed matter, and it's worth seeking out the places where you feel at home, whatever their other disadvantages. One of those disadvantages should not be unemployment, however. You have a lot more power and control over your destiny when you keep your eye on the prize, do a laudable job, and keep yourself marketable.

It sounds as if the optimum path would be to feel out the job market this year — it may well be miserable, with the pandemic ongoing. But you can put out feelers and apply for whatever comes up that's a good job in a good location. Meanwhile, do everything you can to keep your publishing up. And ideally you'll finish your publishing project, go on the market again next year, and get a desirable job. Someone's going to do it. Put yourself in the best position for it to be you.

One small silver lining of the pandemic is that there's so much going on virtually. If you can connect with old friends in farflung places, attend some online conferences, etc., that may make things a bit better. Maybe start an online writing group at your current place — I mean the kind where you all check in, say what you're going to write, and then check back in after two hours and say what you've written. It's a way of getting to know people in a less formal fashion than departmental meetings. A bonus is that it might make you look like a Person With Initiative on the CV.

[marshwiggle]

Through complicated circumstances, I have homes in three very different locations: Wonderful Location, Desirable Location, and Undesirable Location. If I had my druthers, I'd live full-time in Wonderful Location, as I did for some years. But that's not possible unless I have a job there, which I conspicuously do not have. And much as I recognize the virtues of Desirable Location, I am miserable there. Meanwhile, I love Undesirable Location. Everyone else in the universe would consider it subpar, but I just love it. I am the same person in each location, perhaps, but I feel very different in each.  The most miserable place is the one where all the amenities are great, the politics match mine, and life is easy — but I just haven't been able to connect with many people there, despite a lot of effort on my part. For some reason I am just off kilter there. The prevailing ethos is just sideways from mine. And I feel the lack. It just doesn't feel like home.

This sounds like it could inspire a fascinating thread on its own.

[ciao_yall]

...

That said, I would also urge you to think about your situation before changing jobs. You started your job in the middle of a pandemic that coincided with natural disasters.

I think that academic life over the last two years has been very unfulfilling. I think much white collar work has been like this, except that academic jobs might require less regular teamwork and interaction than some other professional jobs.

I am not sure if any faculty jobs are actually much better than yours. I like my job, but in the best of times, faculty members keep different schedules and I might go days without seeing colleagues. The faculty dining room has been shut down since 2020, so the only two places to eat nearby my school are a donut shop and a diner, both of which tend to close early. Most of my colleagues commute from at least 30 minutes away. Several are still mainly working from home. You like your department and colleagues, so it might be that you can reach out to them for more interaction, and that when the pandemic finally ends, you are in a better situation.

...

So my personal advice, for what it is worth, is that you combine looking for other opportunities elsewhere (focusing on places you might like), trying to improve your current situation, and having some patience.

Very good points.

What organaizational behavior types are finding is that strong ties are holding strong, while weak ties are falling off. So everyone's social circle has gotten smaller, and it is very difficult to build a new one when you can't exchange a few friendly words in line at the coffee shop.

By the way, desirable liberal cities are the least likely to come out of this first. Maybe an economist can comment, but I see too many hard to reverse trends.

Come out of what first? I live in a desirable, liberal city and while all cities have experienced out-migration to exurbs and suburbs, we are also bouncing back quite nicely. Our downtown area is starting to get more activity every day as people slowly return to work.

Meanwhile the neighborhoods are quite busy as people work at home and pop out for lunch, dinner, or hang out at a coffee shop for some noise and company.

Some of our problems are more visible than they had been in the past, but (hopefully) this is making us make the decisions we need to make. We have a glut of empty retail space that could be better used as affordable housing. The NIMBY's howl but really, you order everything on Amazon anyway. Are you really going to start schlepping across the street to go shopping when you never bothered to do so before? Meanwhile, a lot of new neighbors could really revitalize the remaining businesses.

[foralurker]

Thanks, everyone, for the great advice and perspective. I'm home for the holidays and I have a lot of feelings getting stirred up.

So my personal advice, for what it is worth, is that you combine looking for other opportunities elsewhere (focusing on places you might like), trying to improve your current situation, and having some patience. 

jerseyjay, thank you for your advice. This gives me peace of mind.

This has led me to believe that where you are does indeed matter, and it's worth seeking out the places where you feel at home, whatever their other disadvantages. 

Hegemony is spot on. While my goal isn't to return home (I'm sure many people would turn up their noses at the places I enjoy!), I don't feel a sense of place where I am.

And yes, a lot of this is directly related to the pandemic.

Thank you, again, for all of the comments and suggestions on how to view my situation with a fresh set of eyes. I didn't want to appear as though I'm job-hopping, but it sounds like (as a non-TT faculty position) the expectations are different from my previous life as academic staff.

Thank you! :-)

[marshwiggle]

Some of our problems are more visible than they had been in the past, but (hopefully) this is making us make the decisions we need to make. We have a glut of empty retail space that could be better used as affordable housing. The NIMBY's howl but really, you order everything on Amazon anyway. Are you really going to start schlepping across the street to go shopping when you never bothered to do so before? Meanwhile, a lot of new neighbors could really revitalize the remaining businesses.

Depending on what the remaining businesses are, they may not get much patronage from residents of affordable housing who, by definition, have modest incomes. In many cities, businesses in downtown cores are often "boutique" shops or professional services which can afford the rent. Often things like grocery stores (which would be useful for residents) can't justify the expense.

[Mobius]

I know you have to make do sometimes, but stopping in Midland-Odessa, Texas, was depressing. Seemed like every other house has bars on their windows. My wife commented it's a place where you get stuck at.

I know others who keep moving because of drama at every previous employer in academia. Weird how the drama keeps following them.

[mamselle]

So, back to the OP--whose thread this is--what kinds of things are within your capacity to change that might make your area more comfortable for you in the in-between-times, from now until such time as another position in a different location appears?

I have friends in Houston who, while they'd have preferred to been elsewhere, have found a community and a life for themselves for nearly 40 years now (he teaches at one of the universities there, she's an online editor and writer, so they have some disposable income and some occupational outreach options that extend beyond the immediate area, too) so, n=1, it can be done.

But what of the wish-list you enunciated at the beginning might you address for now, to make your present life better while you look?

M.

[foralurker]

what kinds of things are within your capacity to change that might make your area more comfortable for you in the in-between-times, from now until such time as another position in a different location appears?

Now that the guilt and uncertainty of leaving "too soon" has melted away, I think I can return to campus in January and focus on some quick turnarounds like upcoming conferences and presentations. Shorter term plans seem more manageable and fit my timeline. My biggest takeaway from this discussion is that my timeline is ok!

I should find a hobby or renew my interest in an old one. Maybe the new year will inspire me now that I'm no longer shuffling between guilt, feeling stuck, and unsure of what I'm doing.

This has been very productive. Thank you for all of the comments. I've read through them a few times.

[ciao_yall]

Some of our problems are more visible than they had been in the past, but (hopefully) this is making us make the decisions we need to make. We have a glut of empty retail space that could be better used as affordable housing. The NIMBY's howl but really, you order everything on Amazon anyway. Are you really going to start schlepping across the street to go shopping when you never bothered to do so before? Meanwhile, a lot of new neighbors could really revitalize the remaining businesses.

Depending on what the remaining businesses are, they may not get much patronage from residents of affordable housing who, by definition, have modest incomes. In many cities, businesses in downtown cores are often "boutique" shops or professional services which can afford the rent. Often things like grocery stores (which would be useful for residents) can't justify the expense.

Low-income people still go out for dinner from time to time. And... pick up a coffee to go, buy groceries at a small market when it's convenient (especially if that store takes EBT cards). And when things at the local shops go on sale, buy a nice gift for themselves or someone they care about.

[mamselle]

People, please remember that many people come here to find answers to pressing questions like the OP's.

Concerted digressions that run across threads are both confusing and probably dispiriting to them.

Use the "Search" function, look up a thread that is intended to include sociological nattering and political conjecturing and unrelated digressions of all other kinds, and continue those things there--not on a thread whose title a newbie might look at, read, and hope to use as a guideline for finding out actual information.

A forum is a place where people gather. Is a bit of considerate hospitality too much to ask of those who frequent it?

One gets more consideration as a tourist in Paris than one is afforded here, from time to time.

Sheesh!!!

M.

[larryc]

I taught for a dozen years iat the very buckle of the Bible Belt. Which is fine if that is who you are, but not for me. I also love the outdoors, but the immediate area was flat and boring. Cultural activities were sharply limited. Yet we were happy, here is how we did it:

1. Built a circle of friends. Universities are collections of kindred spirits. Find yours.

2. Travel. Even a quick road trip to a real city was invigorating.

3. Local engagement to make the place better. Politics, trail-builiding, volunteering. Investing your time in a community changes your thinking about it. You do it for you.

4. Hobbies. I'd pull my tablesaw and saw horses out of our tiny shed and make things.

Good luck. Ours is an odd profession that can carry you places you never thought you would live. But wherever you go there are people who love it there and have fun. Find them and make them your friends.

[Caracal]

The tricky part is figuring out whether you don't like a place because it really doesn't meet your needs, or if you being too rigid about your preferences. Personally, I think I might be fine with Houston. Apparently, it has great food and its an interesting and very diverse city. I know some people who were there for a year and hated it. Their favorite thing is hiking in the mountains-not really any mountains within an easy drive from Houston. Wouldn't bother me, but it bothered them.

[apl68]

what kinds of things are within your capacity to change that might make your area more comfortable for you in the in-between-times, from now until such time as another position in a different location appears?

Now that the guilt and uncertainty of leaving "too soon" has melted away, I think I can return to campus in January and focus on some quick turnarounds like upcoming conferences and presentations. Shorter term plans seem more manageable and fit my timeline. My biggest takeaway from this discussion is that my timeline is ok!

I should find a hobby or renew my interest in an old one. Maybe the new year will inspire me now that I'm no longer shuffling between guilt, feeling stuck, and unsure of what I'm doing.

This has been very productive. Thank you for all of the comments. I've read through them a few times.

Glad this has been helpful.  Some reassurance and perspective can help a lot in relieving the immediate anxiety and reminding you that the situation isn't as urgent as it might have felt.  You've got time to figure things out!

[pepsi_alum]

Hi, Foralurker! I'm also on the NTT track, and I think that moving is fine if that's something you want to do. I'm currently in my 3rd full-time NTT position in just over a decade. For both my 2nd and 3rd jobs, why I was leaving my old position seemed to matter much less to the hiring committees than what I strengths/skills I had to offer the new place.

I've also been on a few hiring committees in the past, and I can say that (at least for my field) job-hopping becomes a red flag only when there's a clear pattern of it that defies logical explanation. For example, I once saw thr CV of someone who had been at something like 10 different universities in 12 years, and without going into detail, we found a few major red flags associated with that person. But someone looking to leave a single NTT job after 2-3 years wouldn't have raised any eyebrows at all if they had a good record that matched with what we were looking for. In fact, one of the searches ended up hiring a a candidate with that kind of background and we were very happy with the hire.

Feel free to DM me if you'd like to chat further.

[jerseyjay]

I've also been on a few hiring committees in the past, and I can say that (at least for my field) job-hopping becomes a red flag only when there's a clear pattern of it that defies logical explanation. For example, I once saw thr CV of someone who had been at something like 10 different universities in 12 years, and without going into detail, we found a few major red flags associated with that person.

As I indicated (and as is probably irrelevant to the OP), I have noticed that at several universities it is common for administrators (including deans, provosts, and presidents) to have several jobs like this; I know of several who seem to have worked in at least six or seven different schools in the last dozen years, and it does not seem to be a problem. (Well, it's not a problem getting hiring; perhaps it is a problem doing the job, but that's another issue.) For an administrator this seems to be seen as a good trajectory. For a faculty member is is usually a red flag (unless you are talking about a super star who jumps from one elite school to another).