Part II
First of all, the stress methodology created by Careercast.com is goofy. I do not have an inclination for numbers; my academic training did not force me to learn the complex measuring tools used in stats and my job has only required me to understand the basics, but I cannot figure out the logic of Careercast’s methodology. As stated in Part I, each job demand has a different scale ranging from 0 (zero) to 5 to 0 to 15. In addition, Careercast does not reveal how each job demand number is realized. Even with these gaping holes, the following is how I would rate the job of university professor using Careercast’s stress methodology:
Travel, amount of: 5 out of 10
Most university professors have to travel, but it is not a deal breaker. Certain scientists have to travel extensively and sometimes spend months away from home. This would cause a great deal of stress in one’s personal life but extensive travel is not universal amongst university professors.
Growth Potential: N/A
Growth potential as a university professor is not a positive or negative and the only real way to make money is to get a tenured position at an elite school or teach at the same institution for thirty years. Big money affects the top 1% (maybe 10% depending on what you perceive as big money) as highlighted by all the articles that talk about professor salaries and always mention how much Harvard or University of Chicago professors make. Careercast’s methodology states that the rating for growth potential is the salary divided by 100. I am not sure how this contributes a worthwhile number to the methodology so I am not including this in my rating
Deadlines: 7 out of 9
Deadlines are important and there are many deadlines in academia, but university professors are notorious for being late with just about everything. Missing deadlines, such as submitting an article, finishing a review, grant deadlines, or turning in chapters hurts your long-term career prospects and is often because of poor time management. Teaching deadlines on the other hand do cause a great deal of stress depending on how many classes are taught per semester and how many students are in each class. Teaching stress also varies depending on the individual and if they like to teach or not (does the individual make enough time for teaching or is it an afterthought). Other deadlines such as committee deadlines, students advisory deadlines, and other things associated with the job are similar to other jobs and the deadlines that they have to abide by and should not be factored in.
Working in the public eye: 4 out of 5
Working as a university professor is a public position and can add a great deal of stress to the individual. Certain high profile positions have more contact with the public while the average professorship has minimal. Today, you can find the full CV of most university professors online and access their writings instantly. In addition, student evaluations can be found at various rating websites making student opinions of teaching ability, both kind and wildly outrageous, available for anyone to see. Finally, with so much attention being placed on higher education funding, university professors are constantly in the ‘public eye’ because of the need to justify public and private funding.
Competitiveness: 15 out of 15
The competitiveness of getting a tenured track position is brutal for all of the reasons that have been stated a million of times.
Physical demands: 1 out of 14
There are no physical demands associated with being a university professor. If there are physical demands they are minimal and usually include moving your extensive book collection around your office. If you work over 40 hours per week that is not considered a physical demand of the job, it just means that you work long hours (many of other jobs work over 40 hours per week).
Environmental conditions: 1 out of 13
There are no environmental conditions associated with being a university professor.
Hazards encountered: 1 out of 5
There are no hazards encountered with being a university professor. Some research scientists might encounter hazards on a daily basis, but this would be a minority compared to the whole.
Own life at risk: 1 out of 8
One’s own life is never at risk being a university professor.
Life of another at risk: 1 out of 10
As a university professor you never put another’s life at risk.
Meeting the public: 4 out of 8
University professors often have to meet the public which can be stressful and at time contentious. This can vary greatly from a music professor who has to perform regularly to a research scientist who has to give a presentation to the public every once in awhile.
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