"Monday's post outlined The Girl's many academic strengths and mourned some changes in the field that make pursuing her preferred career a high-risk enterprise. She's a wildly talented reader and writer-insightful, distinctive and often funny-who would make a great English professor if the world still offered jobs like those in any meaningful number. She's looking closely at an information science option. I asked my wise and worldly readers if they had any thoughts on advice I could offer her."
"Readers within the library world responded with variations on "We love our jobs, but they're getting scarcer, too." Even there, though, hope could be found. A few pointed out that having a master's degree in a discipline can be a selling point with academic libraries. They often suggested getting a foot in the door at a university library, then using the free tuition offered to staff to get the master's in English. I have to admit that free tuition is a nifty benefit. They also pointed out that working full-time in a college or university library doesn't preclude teaching the occasional English course on the side."
"Concur in part and dissent in part. (That's language from the Supreme Court, from back when they used to explain their decisions.) It's certainly true that the kind of extended reading of academic texts that grad students do is rare outside of the academy. And on good days, there can be real intellectual excitement. But I also remember a lot of posturing, preening, bluffing and one-upmanship that seemed as petty as would be found anywhere else. And while it's true that a fellowship is a rare privilege,"
A student has exceptional reading and writing talents and would excel as an English professor if academic positions were plentiful. Academic job scarcity in English is prompting consideration of information science as an alternative career path. Academic libraries present viable options where a master's degree in a discipline can be an advantage and staff often receive free tuition to pursue advanced degrees. Securing a university library position can provide financial stability and permit occasional adjunct teaching, which can be satisfying when it supplements rather than replaces primary income. Graduate study offers intellectual rewards but can also involve competitive, petty behaviors and no employment guarantee.
Read at Inside Higher Ed | Higher Education News, Events and Jobs
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