Job Prospects
Oh boy, do I feel like I am a crossroads. I need to get a job. This is a little complicated by the no residence/no work visa/no citizenship thing for Canada.
I've been looking for academic jobs that are a good fit for some time. There just aren't that many schools that need a chemistry curriculum but aren't big R1 type schools. A bunch of the schools in the area I am interested in are more along the lines of trade schools. There are two large universities but both are looking for faculty that want to run a big research lab. Blah.
Then, recently, I was commenting on someone else's blog and my entry came off as really bitter. I commented again today to basically explain that I am not really that bitter about the majority of students. However, in the last few hours I've been thinking about it some more. There are always those one, two or maybe three students who are just, well, ignorant. If someone emails me at 5am to meet at 7:30am, it is just not going to happen. And then they are pompous enough to think that this is a shortcoming on my part. What? Or how about the students who decide to vacation during finals week and then want a make up exam AFTER the semester. These finals weeks are schedule years in advance. I made a completely different exam so a student could take it at home because she was nine months pregnant. If a student has a real issue/illness/etc, if they take the time to explain what's going on BEFORE it is a "critical" moment then I am very willing to work with them. I am just really, really tired of the bs. A doctor's note about an illness - yeah that will work unless it is dated from three years ago! Emailing me with questions (quite literally) twenty minutes before the exam is not going to get you help.
Maybe I should more strongly consider industry...
There are many more job opportunities in industry in western canadia. It certainly pays more.
The downsides though...
I just don't like the 7 to 4 grind. I like working when I want to and normally that isn't at 7 or 8am. I like feeling that I have some control over what I do (even if it is a little superficial). I love when I am explaining a concept and a student has that "moment". You can almost see the light bulb over his or her head. It's so exciting and satisfying and just great.
Mmm, so, do I toss the idea of academia out the window? Academia certainly restricts my choices and possibilities. It also limits my money earning potential. And the bs of those select slacker students who drive me nuts. Sigh. If only the highs in academia weren't so high...
I've been looking for academic jobs that are a good fit for some time. There just aren't that many schools that need a chemistry curriculum but aren't big R1 type schools. A bunch of the schools in the area I am interested in are more along the lines of trade schools. There are two large universities but both are looking for faculty that want to run a big research lab. Blah.
Then, recently, I was commenting on someone else's blog and my entry came off as really bitter. I commented again today to basically explain that I am not really that bitter about the majority of students. However, in the last few hours I've been thinking about it some more. There are always those one, two or maybe three students who are just, well, ignorant. If someone emails me at 5am to meet at 7:30am, it is just not going to happen. And then they are pompous enough to think that this is a shortcoming on my part. What? Or how about the students who decide to vacation during finals week and then want a make up exam AFTER the semester. These finals weeks are schedule years in advance. I made a completely different exam so a student could take it at home because she was nine months pregnant. If a student has a real issue/illness/etc, if they take the time to explain what's going on BEFORE it is a "critical" moment then I am very willing to work with them. I am just really, really tired of the bs. A doctor's note about an illness - yeah that will work unless it is dated from three years ago! Emailing me with questions (quite literally) twenty minutes before the exam is not going to get you help.
Maybe I should more strongly consider industry...
There are many more job opportunities in industry in western canadia. It certainly pays more.
The downsides though...
I just don't like the 7 to 4 grind. I like working when I want to and normally that isn't at 7 or 8am. I like feeling that I have some control over what I do (even if it is a little superficial). I love when I am explaining a concept and a student has that "moment". You can almost see the light bulb over his or her head. It's so exciting and satisfying and just great.
Mmm, so, do I toss the idea of academia out the window? Academia certainly restricts my choices and possibilities. It also limits my money earning potential. And the bs of those select slacker students who drive me nuts. Sigh. If only the highs in academia weren't so high...
2 Comments:
I hear ya and am right there with you except I still have years of school left to go and hundreds of slacker students to deal with yet.
I'm a little nervous about working as the "friendly go-to helpful gal" for two large lecture sections of introductory inorganic chem next term. Industry doesn't sound so bad in comparison but that whole work on their schedule is a tad bit annoying. I've spent my time in the business world (in my previous life before staying at home with the children) and they can keep most of their "business culture."
I read that thread over there and was really stunned by some of the so-called student comments. Do undergrads have have any kind of work ethic anymore?
By
Miranda, at 10:24 PM
Hi Miranda,
Thanks for the comments. :)
You nailed in on the head with the reference to "business culture"! Totally not my thing. I worked in industry for a bit before going back to grad school and industry (at least as a B.S. holder) wasn't exactly a perfect match with my personality. *snicker*
Good luck with the intro chem gig! Hopefully you will run into a few undergrads with great work ethics. Certainly there are lots out there... it just seems they are often outnumbered by the slackers.
By
chemgoddess, at 9:48 PM
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