Advice given for those considering non-traditional careers
Professors with non-traditional careers face non-traditional challenges.
A panel of Utah State University faculty and staff shared their experiences in non-traditional academia with those attending the presentation Tuesday. Attendees were educated on the possibility of spousal accommodation.
Spousal accommodation is a university policy allowing the spouse of a prospective or current faculty member to be appointed “in cases where successful recruitment/retention of the candidate/employee ultimately depends upon a suitable appointment for his or her spouse.”
Susanne Janecke, a professor in the geology department, said she doesn’t think of herself as a non-traditional employee, but said she was first hired as a spousal accommodation. She said the department created a half-time position for Janecke when she completed her doctorate at the University of Utah.
Janecke said a half-time tenure track is quite unusual, and the fact that she and her husband found jobs both in Logan and at the same university is something that is very rare.
“I think it’s quite important to look at the positive angle for both sides,” Janecke said, adding it was important to make sure it’s a win-win situation for both spouses.
Accommodation is easier within one unit, Janecke said, using the geology department as an example. Janecke said it’s easier for departments to make room for someone they actually know when looking for spousal accommodation.
Tiffani Wheeler, a graduate student in English, said she was at the presentation to investigate options for graduates, yet a lot of the discussion at the meeting related to spousal accommodation.
Alison Heron, a professor in the secondary education department, said she had a baby, so she has been exploring alternatives to a tenure track. Heron said she was just curious to see what was said at the meeting.
“[There are] many potential benefits from the university. We can attract productive faculty members. We can retain productive faculty,” Janecke said.
Janecke said hiring couples can expand diversity, putting more women into departments.
“If you do end up choosing a non-traditional career path, [your supervisors] won’t know what to do,” said Anne Hedrich, a librarian on the panel.
Hedrich said asking a lot of questions can help in those situations, to help an employer to better understand a job and the needs of that job.
Nancy Mesner, an assistant professor in aquatic, watershed and earth resources, said to try new things even if they aren’t in the direction you’re going. She said hard work and proving onesself are some very important things to take into consideration.
Mesner said to remember career factors can’t always be controlled, but serendipity can be a wonderful thing.
Brock Dethier, an English professor, said he has three secrets for people deciding to choose non-traditional career paths.
The first matter of Dethier’s advice is to marry well, and make sure the person’s spouse has a high enough salary to support both people.
Dethier said the second secret is to work for someone extraordinary, who is willing to compromise to find employment for a couple. Most people don’t get to choose their bosses, but sometimes it is possible, and a good choice, he said.
Waiting for advancement in a career is going to be very unsatisfactory, Dethier said. The key to happiness is to realize what you have now, not what you’ll get later on.
-amysueh@cc.usu.edu