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[coendou]

Yay! I have a Skype interview on Thursday, with Big State U where my husband is currently tenure-track! The second-best possible outcome! (After both of us getting offers in a city we'd rather live in, which... is not happening

Comments

[sushidog]

I would think your best bet is to acknowledge the two-body problem; even academics are allowed to have lives, and chances are, your interviewers will recognise and understand your situation. But hopefully you can also find some positive things to say about the role you're applying for, and/or the department you'd be working in, and/or the people you'd be working with?

[coendou]

even academics are allowed to have lives

The devil you say!

I do have things to say about the department. Especially teaching-wise, after my adjunct stint I have some very concrete ideas that would be building on strengths rather than saying "you're doing this wrong, here's how you can do it better," so I'm hoping that will go over well. And there are a few people doing things that definitely sound interesting, though I need to actually read some of their papers (that's my homework for today).

[i_strannik]

I would have thought two-body problems were receiving more attention and understanding... Did your husband ask about that when he got his tenure-track position?

I'd be rather open about it, but not make it the main reason for coming. Find something else, which interests you in this BSU.

On the other hand, if there is really nothing else that interests you there... Then you may have a bigger problem on your hands than you think.

In either case, good luck.

[coendou]

I can certainly find things to talk about as far as why I'd like to work there, though the honest truth is if it weren't for the location it wouldn't be on my radar to even apply to. But I didn't apply to other schools in the area where I know I wouldn't want to work. The real problem is if they ask me why I'm already living here when I'm clearly not a grad student here.

[brittdreams]

My last few Skype interviews have all used a standardized list of questions that was asked to all applicants. And, I wasn't asked about why I decided to apply for the position in any of those. So you may be worrying about an issue that won't actually come up...

[coendou]

That's good to hear. Everything I've been reading says that the "why here?" question is pretty standard.

[brittdreams]

Yea, I know. Everything I've read says that too. And yet I haven't been asked that at all. I'm happy to share more via PM if you like... But seriously, that's a question I've been prepared to answer on multiple phone/Skype interviews but not one that I've been asked.

[coendou]

Oh, I will take any and all advice, experiences, or commiseration you are willing to share. :)

[biascut]

I think if you nod to the fact that your husband/life are in this town, but then go on to talk about the specific positive factors of the department and this particular role and how you/the role match, the latter is what they will remember. It's not a black mark against you that your husband is also here as long as there are plenty of other positive reasons why you and hte department are a good fit for each other

[coendou]

I know, right? In any other field, nobody would question a person applying for jobs that happen to be in the city they live in. It's ridiculous that academics are expected as a baseline to be willing to move literally anywhere in the country for their next job.

[brittdreams]

So, so true. But, at least in some fields, there's some recognition that people shouldn't be expected to move literally anywhere.

[coendou]

There is a bit, now. The entire work/life thing is slowly, slowly getting better. But even if you aren't expected to be willing to live anywhere, you're still generally expected to apply for positions all over the country. You might be able to control whether you're looking at urban vs college town vs rural, for example (I'll admit I'm really only looking at urban schools or a handful of the larger college towns), but if you only apply to schools in the one city you want to live in you're likely out of luck, especially if you've got your heart set on research. The mere fact that my husband and I are both very research-focused and would not accept 4/4 teaching loads limits our options. Big State U is the only school in this city where I would have an acceptable teaching load.

[rokeya]

If you are hesitant to mention your spouse at all because you're not sure how people will react to the two-body problem, you might simply put it this way: "I have close family living in the area."

Edited to add: congrats on the interview!

[coendou]

Thanks!