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	Sat, 4 Dec 1993 22:17:13 -0800 for socgrad-list
	Sat, 4 Dec 1993 22:17:12 -0800 for <socgrad@ucsd.edu>
To: socgrad@UCSD.EDU
Subject: Re: hiring policy 
Date: Sat, 04 Dec 1993 22:18:33 -0800
From: Michael Lichter <lichter@nicco.sscnet.ucla.edu>
I, too, have heard that schools generally don't hire their own.  Not,
that is, as tenure-track faculty.

Occasionally one of our graduate students will get hired on as
"visiting faculty".  "Visiting faculty" is usually a euphemism for
"temporary worker", as in no security, no benefits, no upward
mobility.  Temps, regardless of where they came from, never get hired
on as permanent faculty, except in the rare instances where they get
hired (like an undergrad mentor of mine at UCSD) in a secure,
non-tenure track position.

Ever heard of mobility traps?  I've been told that once you hire on in
a temporary position, you're "damaged goods."  It's probably not as bad
as teaching at a community college, though.  From what I've heard.

A couple of weeks ago, one of our faculty members organized a panel
called something like "What to Expect from the Job Market".  Three of
our full professors talked about topics ranging from what to wear on
job talks to how to choose among multiple offers.  One of the more
depressing things they told us was that there is essentially no upward
mobility in the academic market.  Unless you're really, really
outstanding (whatever that means) it is very difficult to obtain a job
at a school ranked more highly than the one you're at, either as a
graduate student or as a faculty member.  This may have been "twenty
miles through the snow" talk, but I think it has a strong element of
truth in it.  Comments?

Michael