Almost right. I read posts on a website for academics. 200-300 applicants for 1 position. People adjuncting at very low pay for years. BUT, these are generally English majors. Majors in other fields in the humanities face a similar, if not as daunting, market. I'm in a tech-related field and we are hiring. I was just at a conference where a friend had 12 interviews and isn't even finished his doctorate yet. And this in a 'down' market post dotcom boom."
Uh, yeah, but the math is obvious... one teacher can have dozens of graduate students and literally teach thousands of undergrads in a career. Thus, by definition, only a fraction of students can become teachers. The problem is that some English PhD need to think of something other than english lit. prof as a career goal.
"As much enjoyment and respect that I have for English lit and history of all types, I don't think I could recommend that anyone pursue a doctorate in these fields. The schools continue to admit a lot of doctoral students, which I think is a dis-service when there is no market. Plus, while some can transfer their intellectual skills to industry or government, I think many more believe they have to be academics and are crushed when they don't get these jobs and when their dissertation on Jane Austen doesn't get them a job outside academe."
Well said.
If I weren't young and single I'd definately not be in my program. Many of the guys and gals are older, married and with kids coming back to get their Ph.D, and it doesn't make much sense to me.....stay in comfy land and wait until retirement
I made the mistake/learning experience of going into the corporate world right after I graduated, and while it was dreary, it paid fairly well and was about as easy as one could imagine.
I moved to California and got a "grown-up" job.
I sat at a desk in an air-conditioned grey rectangle.
I bought cool "professional" clothes and wasted money on stuff I didn't need.
I drank overpriced coffees.
I felt myself turning into a "metrosexual" and felt dirty...hehe
I looked at my new light olive green Jetta (with white interior) while staring by the waterfountain, wondering why I bought that.
I did about 5 hours of actual work in 40 hours, and I was considered a "real go-getter" and over achiever in my department, the bosses loved me.
I showed up, spoke english, and turned things in on time. I was in line for big things....
Sometimes I got to give a report at a meeting.
I flirted (unsuccessfully) with the young gals.
Occasionally Some VIP would come up with a new project for the next quarter and we'd all say how he was sooo smart, and then we'd go back to our desks and check our fantasy baseball leagues....
Someone would be flirting, someone would be mad at someone, someone was just asking to be fired but no one would ever fire her.....it was like high school with a twice monthly paycheck and we met for drinks on friday at 5:15.
Surrounded by the petty, hoping one day to play my cards right and be the Regional District Vice President of the South Central Market....
I simply couldn't do that for the next 45 years....
I knew I'd jump off the friggin building before I was 35...
So I'd rather be in a field I love and even if I don't get the perfect gig I'm ok with that. I'm content to work at some small school , or gasp! somewhere outside my field for a few years while I wait for the baby boomers to drop off...
I've looked around my department, and they're all from the "Woodstock nation" and clinging on to tenure for dear life. Even with the advances in medical sciences, the hippies can't live forever, and that should open up a ton of jobs in the History department, as well as Art theraphy, English, Psychology, Sociology, Fundementals of basket weaving, Political Science,...