Can a master's degree be dusted off?

September 5, 2005 8:59 AM

How do I go about getting adjunct prof/tutor/instructor jobs with aging, mostly unused credentials?

I got my MFA degree in writing ten years ago. The five years after that I spent doing instructional and business writing as a 9-to-5er. I also ran a couple of writing workshops for a continuing education program. Then I had a child, and I've spent the last five years goofing off in retail so that I would have a flexible work schedule. Beyond working with some people individually on composition skills, I've done little to nothing to bolster that area of my resume during this time.

Now that my child is in school and I'm facing a layoff at the end of the year, I think it's time to get off my duff. What do I do about references and letters of recommendation? Should I just forget about spring semester and shoot for the fall, finding some other way to make money in the meantime? Do I need to go back to school? Join professional organizations?

I've read this thread, but it focuses mostly on whether to go to grad school in the first place. Also, I'm not so much interested in carving out a career in academia as I am in doing something I've always enjoyed doing informally, and having it pay for my writing time and mommy time.

Thanks for any responses, even discouraging ones.

posted by anonymous to work & money (6 comments total)

My university would probably hire you in a second to teach freshmen composition courses. Polish your resume, put together a few sample syllabi and handouts for the courses you want to teach (you can google examples), write a cover letter ("Now that my child is in school, I can pursue my greatest passion--teaching.") and contact the heads of the English departments at nearby colleges. A community college is probably your best bet to start.

Keep in mind that adjuncting pays miserably and has no benefits. But if you are not trying to make a living from it, you may find it quite satisfying.
posted by LarryC at 9:18 AM on September 5, 2005

1. Do you have any contacts left at the college where you got your MFA, if you and it still occupy the same geographical region?
2. Part-timers usually blanket their intended region of employment with letters of interest, as departments often need to hire them right down to the last minute. While having letters of rec on hand would be helpful, they often play no part in part-time hiring, unless you're looking at a full-time contract.
3. It's worth examining the adjunct market in your region: are there multiple colleges? Shortages in your field? How many Ph.D.-granting institutions are there? (If there aren't that many, it may be better for you--fewer unemployed Ph.Ds or ABDs.) ON PREVIEW: As Larry C notes, someone with your specialty will probably be in demand, and hitting the CCs is a good idea.
4. Quite a few people get teaching work after a long period of doing something else, especially if there's high demand; you may want to explain the something else, so your potential employer doesn't puzzle his or her head over the gap on your resume, but that's neither here nor there.
5. Going back to school: hmmmm. An MFA doesn't "expire" in the same way that a computer science degree might. A college might be more interested in signs that you're doing some writing-related work (freelance work as a tech writer, for instance).
6. AdjunctNation might come in handy for further tips.
posted by thomas j wise at 9:31 AM on September 5, 2005

it's pretty easy to get work as an adjunct at a community or continuing ed. institution; if that's what you're seeking, I'd go for the spring. If you're hoping for a better-paying, health-care-including, more stable job, then - well, you'll probably want to do some adjunct teaching in the spring & summer to strengthen your resume anyway, and through that you may develop contacts who could help you find something more secure.

As noted above, creative writing isn't something one 'falls behind' in, so the fact that you have previous experience should be enough, and your having taken time out for personal reasons should hardly be an issue. Just exhibit confidence in your abilities, and show the potential employers that you're familiar with what's expected and capable of essentially independently handling the needs of a class. Having possible syllabi and assignments on hand as examples of your vision for the course is a good idea, even if some of the departments will want you to work off of a core syllabus.

I'd begin by just sending your resume and a strong cover letter to any college or program in the area. I don't believe I had to provide letters of recommendation for either of the adjunct positions I have - I sent a resume and was called in for an interview, and basically hired at the end of the interview. In one case I had to provide a course description and syllabus; in the other, I was given the textbook the school expected me to work off of at the end of the interview. I am currently in grad school, not quite yet ABD (hopefully this fall).
posted by mdn at 10:14 AM on September 5, 2005

I'll second the suggestion of continuing ed departments at local colleges, and also suggest that both business and engineering schools usually have mandatory writing classes that students must take. The basic idea is that business and engineering students in particular have often been identified as poor writers, though it is an important skill in any job. So there might be something there.
posted by mikel at 11:18 AM on September 5, 2005

My father is a department head in a non-art related field at a community college. A master's and professional experience would definitely make the first cut as to whether or not he would consider hiring you. Both he and most of his co-workers have master's degrees.

As far as a timeline for hiring, I have no specific knowledge. I would guess that, depending on the person, spring/summer semester could be realistic.

Letters of recommendation and joining of professional organizations would probably be handled by him in the same way that they would be handled by other employers in his field. Your teaching experience would probably be important to him as being an instructor requires a lot more than just technical proficiency in a subject. The five years in retail, I have no idea. But don't let that stop you, I would guess it to be very overcome-able.

The best way to grab his attention would be to go and schedule an appointment to talk with him about what you wanted to do. Perhaps even just a brief stop-in during his student hours. I don't know how it works at every community college but he does the hiring.

I'm not so much interested in carving out a career in academia as I am in doing something I've always enjoyed doing informally, and having it pay for my writing time and mommy time.

If this is what you're looking for then a CC is probably the way to go. They are run much more like a business then the Universities I have been exposed to. That basically translates to a much lower BS factor. You'll have some stressful times at the beginning and ending of a semester but you'll still have your summers off if you want them. There are almost no discipline problems in the courses because the students are paying to be there. You won't find that in a high school classroom. Also, at least in my state, the CC instructors get really kick ass health insurance because they qualify for the same insurance that public school teachers get.
posted by 517 at 1:06 PM on September 5, 2005

Prepare some sample syllabi for freshman writing courses listed in the bulletins of the schools to which you apply. When you apply, mention specific courses on the books you could cover, and suggest a few others you could design.

Adjunct hiring can be very last minute. If there is a school in your area that starts classes a little late (even next week) you might get something for the fall. Otherwise, start now for the spring, but follow up several times over the fall.

Also, write directly to department chairs (or heads of programs). Almost all adjunct hiring is done at the departmental level.

Just explain that you took several years off for family responsibilities. Your degree has not expired.
posted by realcountrymusic at 1:18 PM on September 5, 2005