Rant VIII: The Reckoning
- Thread starter Anonymous
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For sure, it's just awkward. I either have to tell buddy why or look uncharacteristically bitchy as I often share my art with coworkers.
Dave
Staff member
Wait, you're 50? Too old.
That's the kind of thing I get now. They don't say it in words but you can tell that's the reason.
I remember running into something similar when I was applying to schools for a teaching position. One position wanted a person who had a Master's degree, and was fluent in English, Spanish, AND Mandarin. All for a starting salary of $38,000 in the SF Bay Area, where $38k is just enough to be over the poverty line.
Anyone who has all that experience, a Master's, AND speaks those 3 languages fluently isn't going to settle for such a paltry salary.
It can be valuable if you can't find another position. Just sticking out such a terrible job for a year while you look for your next one 1) supports you, 2) helps you practice your skills, and 3) provides job history. The job history is the most important part - you're suddenly going to look a lot better than people just out of college or those working in unrelated fields. The new job doesn't need to know your previous salary.
On the other hand, it's a teaching position, and those are simply low paying jobs, so that market is chronically depressed (salary wise).
All that being said,
I understand this frustration. Just be aware that there are many, many businesses that won't make an offer more than 2-6 weeks down the road. The job market really opens up once you can say, "I can start in two weeks" because businesses are just weird that way.
I suppose we'll have to go out for that drink soon...
fade
Staff member
You have a PhD, right? I used to ask my grad students who said they might go on to a PhD if they also wanted a job. It was half a joke, but it is a lot easier to get a job with a masters in a lot of STEM fields.
@Enresshou this probably doesn't help one iota, but as you may know there are loads of postdoc positions available that aren't publicly listed. Try not to get desperate and pick something that will erode all these skills and toolsets that you have built up in your PhD career. I have a handful of colleagues in Minnesota (Mayo Clinic) and U Mich (computational statistics/genetics depts) that I could contact if you want. I don't know where home is for you. All the best. Try to enjoy your defense! Congrats, sir!
@Squidleybits Stand up for yourself. Don't let them guilt-trip you into this.
@Squidleybits Stand up for yourself. Don't let them guilt-trip you into this.
I'll be defending my thesis in ~2 months. Fortunately most of the positions I'd like to go into explicitly desire a PhD, but yeah; I've had that talk with many undergraduates interested in graduate school (I.e. just trying to make them aware of the current situation, not necessarily discouraging them from it).[DOUBLEPOST=1450197069,1450196930][/DOUBLEPOST]
I really appreciate the offer (seriously), but I'm actively trying to avoid the post-doc route if at all possible. Primarily due to the fact "home" is the west coast and post docs would likely be a baby step above the poverty level in the bay area.
As far as skill sets go, I'm right there with you. I'll be staying in science in one form or another.
No kidding. My wife's buddies are doing postdocs at Stanford and Berkley and living over an hour away to afford 1,500/month one-bedroom apt rent.
These days? In 2002, I replied to a job posting that required "5 years windows 2000 experience". heh.
Wait, don't you get banned for multiboxing in most MMOs?
fade
Staff member
My post-doc depressingly paid higher than my first faculty appointment. Hell, my graduate internship paid much higher than my first faculty position.
GasBandit
Staff member
No, not any MMO I've ever played, so long as bots weren't involved.
What is your specific area again?
A mixture of neuroanatomy and genetics of both psychiatric illnesses and chronic stress, with an eye towards understanding what genes stress regulates and how these may be linked to depression.
I hope you don't mind answering the odd question or two from intelligent laypeople.
--Patrick
My university (southern oregon) is going to be posting a Health Psychology tenure track position soon, probably in January. Your neuro background is a plus, although you don't seem to be a "traditional" Health Psych specialty. I can keep you in the loop when I know more, if you are interested.
I don't mind at all; I actually really enjoy teaching and scientific outreach, and--as neither of my parents have any scientific training--I get a lot of practice.
GasBandit
Staff member
Well, since you're so amenable to questions from laypeople....
You ever go to eat a pork sausage, and find it's got hairs growin' all over it?
Dave
Staff member
And then realize that the hairy pork sausage was about 500 feet tall and from the Paleolithic era.
That's just what I will get chick for a going away present.
I went in and did the gift donation and signed her card very briefly. I will not be going to her good bye function nor did I create a collage of my art for her.
I went in and did the gift donation and signed her card very briefly. I will not be going to her good bye function nor did I create a collage of my art for her.
20 minutes before we have to leave for school:
"Mommy, are we going to decorate the tree more before I go to school?"
"I don't know, are you going to get ready for school before you go to school?" (She is still in pajamas and hasn't packed her lunch)
"WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH ANYTHING?!"
[emoji79] [emoji35] [emoji35]
I sure can't wait for her to be a teenager. It's going to be the happiest fun time of all times.
"Mommy, are we going to decorate the tree more before I go to school?"
"I don't know, are you going to get ready for school before you go to school?" (She is still in pajamas and hasn't packed her lunch)
"WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH ANYTHING?!"
[emoji79] [emoji35] [emoji35]
I sure can't wait for her to be a teenager. It's going to be the happiest fun time of all times.
Boarding school! 
Boarding school!
Post-partum abortion!
One of these things is not like the othersOne of these things just doesn't belong
--Patrick
Dave
Staff member
Remember the trip I've been killing myself to be able to pay for? Well, cross one trip off the list. Zach had his week-long pass rejected. Turns out his battalion is going to be (finally) doing a live field exercise for a couple weeks at least. So no El Paso trip this January. We're still going to go, but it'll be closer to February or March. I have gigs in April so that takes care of that.
Kerri is upset, but I'm kinda glad in a perverse sort of way. I mean, it really, really sucks that we're not going to be able to see him so soon, but with the transmission going out & trying to find out how to pay the $600+ for the hotel was getting harder and harder. This gives us another month or two to save, which is what we'll need. So half rant?
Kerri is upset, but I'm kinda glad in a perverse sort of way. I mean, it really, really sucks that we're not going to be able to see him so soon, but with the transmission going out & trying to find out how to pay the $600+ for the hotel was getting harder and harder. This gives us another month or two to save, which is what we'll need. So half rant?
Obedience school!Boarding school!
DOOM WEASEL BOOT CAMP!? no @Emrys?
