A Capitalist Brew

I think both of the campus visits went well. Honestly, I am not sure what would make them give me the offer or not give it to me now. The only thing working against me might be the fact that I am just coming fresh out of school and am up against a person who has two years on me. I did not bomb my presentation at either place or do anything to put me out of the running. I think I am a good fit at either place though I do have a preference for one over the other. Now we just wait.

I do have to mention a don’t on the part of an interviewer though. The rule is “don’t mention the web site of a disgruntled faculty member within the college.” Such a web site was mentioned to me at the first campus visit. I did not think much about it because I knew there had been a rough patch of political drama in recent years at this school. Yet, this web site was also mentioned at the campus visit with my second school. At this point, I had to see what all the chatter was about. You can imagine my surprise when I discover that I am the subject of or am mentioned in several of the site’s articles. I will not provide the site here because I don’t want to divulge that much personal information or give this person and site an even bigger audience (if you know me and want to see it, I will give you a link via email). I am really sort of taken back by this and think it is quite amusing to see my background and expectation of receiving an offer play out before my eyes on this web site.

I have also been called to schedule a third campus interview, but that will not take place until after Thanksgiving.  Right now I am planning to be home for the next two weeks, but in this market that could change at any moment.

No Comments »

We returned home from the first campus visit late Friday night.  It was nice to have a more laid back and friendly setting for my first campus visit.  My family was there and the place and many people were familiar.  At the same time, those things also made it more difficult.  Luke was up crying in the middle of the night unsettled by his surroundings, which did not leave me refreshed and well rested to perform my best.  There were also fairly high expectations about me at the school, and I felt like I was on display even more.  Although it was expected that my presentation would only draw a crowd of the 4 finance faculty members, I had many of my former professors from economics and management also show up.  I know that it was partly for support and partly because my presence had been talked up so much.  It went okay, and mostly I will just consider it a success to have survived.

This weekend we have most of our big Halloween activities.  Last night I took the kids to a big Halloween bash at the home  of one of Brooke’s classmates.  They had a big bounce house, bonfire, small fire for cooking smores, potluck dinner, and hayrides.  The kids had a blast.  Tonight is the fall festival at our church.  It has actually been getting quite cold at night, which I am loving.  When the sun goes down, it actually feels like it should be Halloween.  I could not be happier that fall is here.  And I will be even happier when we know where we are moving next year, and I can focus on finishing the dissertation and maybe enjoying a little down time.

No Comments »

Today I scheduled another campus visit…and I leave for it in 2 days!  I am actually glad I have this one first to get practice for the other one next week.

No Comments »

That was fast!  This afternoon I got a call scheduling my first campus visit for next week.  I am also expecting a call later this week to schedule a campus visit with a second school.  I can’t believe how fast this is all happening.

1 Comment »

After a week away, it is good to be back home.  After 4 full days at Disney, 3 full days of interviews and conference presentations, and two 10 hour trips in the car with kids, I am extremely exhausted.  I can’t remember the last time my body felt this fatigued.  The trip went well, and I expect to be heading out on some campus visits fairly soon.  The interviews definitely dropped a few of the schools off the list of possibilities even though they all went well.  You can just feel when you are a good fit or not.  There are 5 top contenders at this point and 1-2 favorites.  I think I was most surprised about how the interviews were generally not what I expected at all.  I was led to believe that I would be grilled on my research and teaching, but other than a few questions there was not much along those lines at all.  In fact, they did most of the talking in most of the interviews.  A former office mate and I were giving the analogy that these interviews are like speed dating.  You have at most 30-45 minutes to decide if you are a fit for each other.  You have to let the other person get to know you, and they have to try to convince you to like them.  Generally, I fielded a few questions and sit back and listened as they tried to impress me.  Maybe the harder questions will come at the campus visit, but I have to say that the whole first-round interviews were not as bad as I had expected.

No Comments »

You know how nervous and anxious I was going into the proposal defense.  I got to school to get the paperwork together and get ready, but rather than look over the work again I decided to sit and enjoy a latte and listen to some tunes.  That was magic.  Suddenly I felt fine.  All my nerves had melted away.  We started a little after 10:30.  I became more cool and confidant as I went on.  I got a lot of comments, suggestions, and things to do before I can come back for the final defense.  Z stepped in to assist with questions about the third essay and the data limitations (sure, it would be great to do all these things being suggested, but the data just is not there).  The One Who Hates Me did not arrive to attempt to humiliate me.  So, they all sent me out of the room around 11:30 to deliberate.  Five minutes later they brought me back in, and Z shook my hand and told me congratulations.  Several other members of the committee followed.  Then they were sitting and chatting and not getting up to leave.  I stood there collecting my papers and such unsure what they expected me to do next.  Finally, they all got up, and we departed.  It was over.  I was happy.  I quickly handed in the paperwork to make this official as quickly as possible.

Now it is on to the job market and a bunch of interviews.  We are leaving today to drive to Orlando.  Unfortunately, I am not done researching the schools and have yet to read the two papers I am supposed to be discussing.  This would not be a problem given the length of the drive except for the fact that I have to drive part of it and get sick when I read in the car.  Stay tuned for the next chapter of this crazy story.  And thank you for all the support and wonderful comments from both those I talk to all the time and those I didn’t even know were even coming here at all.

No Comments »

So, the first of two days for which I have worked my whole time in higher education (ten years and counting, baby) is here. This is the day I defend my doctoral dissertation proposal in front of my committee (minus one because he is from another university and has already given his stamp of approval). I am very nervous and anxious. I am also up in the middle of the night suffering from heartburn from all the nerves and coffee I had earlier this evening. I am chewing more Tums and then attempting to will myself into another hour of much-needed sleep.

Edit: I did it!  I did it!  I did it!

4 Comments »

I have been a wreck today.  I woke up exhausted and feeling very sick to my stomach.  It was off to think the nerves would be hitting so bad that early, but after barely eating and popping a pile of Tums it started to subside.  I am not sure if it was nerves or illness, but it is better now.  I also seem to have pinched a nerve in my hip.  When I stretch it a certain way, the nerve pinches and send shooting pains down my entire leg.  It is horrible.  Lastly, I have been suffering from a major headache all day.  I am seriously falling apart!  I now have 15 hours to go until the proposal.  I am not ready, but I will be.  I plan to run through everything twice tonight, look over the papers again, get my clothes ready for the morning, and then head to bed.  Say a prayer for me tomorrow if you remember.  Pray that the right words come to me and that the One Who Hates Me does not decide to make an appearance.

No Comments »

My first paper just got rejected at the first journal.  It took them 5 months, and I finally had to contact them to ask what happened.  The editor claimed that the email was sent last month and must have been in my spam folder.  I have no spam folder, so either it was not sent or was lost on the server entirely.  When I requested that our review or reason for rejection be re-sent, the editor told me that they had too many submissions to go through a formal review process.  HA!  So, my paper sat there for 5 months and certainly never even got a single glance.  Lesson learned…never submit to that journal again and never purchase a book by that editor again.  Consider burning books currently owned by that editor.  And telling all my friends.  I am still awaiting response from Z.  I am afraid he may be ripping the editor a new orifice.

No Comments »

The email went out today to all the grad students and faculty inviting them to the proposal defense.  Something about this email really sent me into a panic, but I guess it is not a surprise given my high anxiety levels.  I am feeling the stress both physically and mentally.  I honestly don’t think that I have to worry about not passing because Z would not let me go through with the proposal if he did not think I was ready.  What freaks me out is the torture that they may put me through in the hour or so before (hopefully) passing me.

No Comments »