Reflecting On Job Prospects in January

This week as a way to sort through some of my options job wise the next couple of months I drew it out as a board game (no, really...)

I posted it on Twitter, as I did all things.
And it got me thinking, of how different life looks as a professor. As someone who was on the market 6+ years ago. Or was never working class. Or had a spouse to help pick up the slack during and after grad school. Or parents who were able to help out.

So off the cuff I jotted down some Tweets this morning about the way professors, those advising grad students, can help and understand what the working class and the job market looks like to us:
(I've added non-original post comments in blue)

1. Guys, I need you to understand a thing- if you're a professor, advising grad Ss: Many of us have no job prospects. Not no higher ed jobs

2. No prospects period. My TAship runs out in May. How am I supposed to pay bills?

3. I am a NBPTS teacher, certified to teach 7-12. But those openings won't post til May, hire til August. How do bills get paid May-Aug?

I went today to be fingerprinted, a requirement for NM teaching. I'll spend the afternoon finishing my application. I'll mail/submit that this week, sign up to get put on the substitute list, and wait. 

4. And that's IF I can get a high school teaching job. Which is not guaranteed. My board game has apply to Lowe's. That's not a joke.

5. And my hireable qualities there are I can pass a drug test & a background check. In every other way I am overqualified read: unhireable

One Twitter suggestion was to pull any education above BFA level off resume. I get that. But school is how I explain my gaps in work, so we'll see. Certainly it can't be stressed enough that a resume is not a CV and you have to market yourself very differently

6. My uni *may* have adjunct work for me. But I wouldn't know til August. So again, how do bills get paid May-August?

7. Years supporting my dad means I have no savings. No spouse, or family support. No one will cover my bills til I figure it out.

IF I get a job (any job at this point) I can justify putting a couple of months of bills on the credit card, because as much as debt sucks, I at least know I'd be able to make payments and get through.

8. The economy sucks everywhere. There is absolutely no guarantee I can find a job, any job this spring. And I have restaurant/retail exp.

But I last worked a customer service job in 2005 (YMCA). My last retail or restaurant job behind the line/kitchen was 1998. That's a big gap. And while I feel confident in how well I interview, the simply fact is an 18 year old kid who has been working these jobs during summers is probably a better case than I am.

9. These are the realities your graduating students are facing. You all need to be very aware of this. This is not complaining about HE jobs

10. At this point I'm not worried about getting a HE job, I'm pretty sure I'm out. I'm worried about how I'll eat in June.

11. Platitudes of "you're awesome" and "it'll be fine" don't help either. They're insulting & show a dangerous lack of experience w/problems

I know people are trying to be nice. I get that. But I need actual help, and this is not it. It's frustrating, and makes me feel even more alone.

12. Alt-ac convos ignore a lot of these problems. Profs who were unicorns and are 6+ years off market don't know about these issues.

It's good that people are more aware and more vocal about alt-ac, and are trying to make sure people have options, and advice on how to make lateral moves. But the job and economic situation is still bad, and alt-ac as it's talked about in a lot of circles, is not tenable for a lot of people.

13. It's okay if you were a unicorn & in a TT job. But if you're advising Ss, you need to understand these problems.
14. As bad as adjuncting is, poverty line, conditions, etc. No job, no food, no rent, worse. And that's what I'm looking at.

I think it's great adjunct conditions are getting more press, and people are not giving up on this issue. This is not an either/or thing. You can be, and if you're working with grad students, should be, aware of the complete picture of options that face them.

15. So, as you start the new semester with your Ss, talk to them about this. Ask how they are. See if you can offer practical help.

I like my uni. I like my professors, and my committee. But I can also tell you that not a single one seems to understand the above. I have not once while on the market this semester been asked how I was doing, if I needed anything, if I had any questions. I have not been offered practical advice on what happens in May.

I'm not blaming my uni, I'm pretty sure this is across the board. And I'm pretty sure it needs to change. 

Now, none of this offered with bitterness or animosity. I don't feel tricked. I knew what I was getting into. 

I offer this in this vein...that probably a large population of higher ed professors wer not working class or below. And/or had spousal/partner support during and after grad school. And/or had parental support. And/or was a unicorn and got a tenure track job right out of school. 

I offer this perspective on my reality in the hopes that if you DIDN'T know you do now, and can try to think through how to help and support your students. I offer this in order to model for other grad students that they can share their experiences. I offer it as a dose of reality for those still considering graduate school.

So what other advice/experiences do you guys have to share?
What does your school or program do to help your students?