Now two years out of college, my 24- year -old son is nowhere near being on a career track. I'm thrilled. In fact, as best as I can tell only two of his friends seems to be working in traditional jobs. One is in banking and after bonuses are distributed he may opt to leave that industry--before he gets laid off. The other works for a major advertising agency -- in our world that is considered a traditional job. My definition of a traditional job: benefits and paid vacations.

Media outlets throughout the country are carrying an Associated Press article by Eileen Alt Powell with the lead paragraph, Albertsons supermarket said "no." So did Macy's department store and a local grocer. As I write this, my 19-year-old has her summer job locked up--she will be returning to her old job as a barista at Caribou Coffee. Actually she will be a shift manager thi

After competing with hundreds of other newly minted Ph.D.s for a teeny tiny number of positions, if you land a job, you're supposed to feel relieved and grateful, as well as harbor a desire to keep that job for the indefinite future, right? Maybe. The most recent interesting conversation about the academic job market began when junior faculty member Dr. Crazy reported she had been asked for further materials by an institution where she had applied for a job. Someone writing as "webmaster" left this considerably-more-than-snarky comment: Well, we'll keep our fingers crossed, because there's nothing more exciting than having a junior faculty member on board who wasn't able to find her way out 2 consecutive years. Imagine our delight in imagining you might deign to stay here in Pudknocker town another year or two! We will certainly forget your casting around for a better gig when tenure and promotion loom. Do you need any extra letterhead? There is some in the supply closet.