A faculty job search often results in uprooting your life and moving to a new place, which adds complexities for applicants in long-term relationships. Below, find resources to support you in pursuing dual-career options as a part of your faculty job search.

Before You Apply

Searching for two jobs instead of one can magnify the stress and challenges of the job search process. Understanding each other’s priorities is very important, so start these discussions early. Some topics to consider:

• Will you both apply at the same time?
• Will you limit your searches to specific geographic locations?
• Are you willing to live in different places for a short or long period of time? How long apart would be too long?
• What will you do if only one of you receives a job offer this year?
• What are you not willing to compromise?
• What goals do you have in your relationship? What do you want your life together to look like in 5 years?
• Are there any tensions between professional and personal goals?
• What outside factors (job market, health, visa restrictions, family planning) might affect your goals?
• What happens if one person does not achieve their vision for their career? (Pay particular attention to structural and cultural variables at play here, especially related to gender.)

Talking through a range of hypotheticals ("If they offer only a temorary teaching position as a partner hire option, what will we do?") can help you prepare you to make strong decisions during what can be a complex and challenging negotiation.

Resources for The Dual-Career Search

The National Higher Educational Recruitment Consortium (HERC) has a range of resources for a dual-career search, including:

• Detailed information about how dual-career hiring can work.
• A list of campuses with established dual-career programs
• The ability to search for two jobs with specific criteria in the same region

How to Lay the Groundwork for a Spousal/Partner Hire provides additional insights on the process from the perspective of university administration, and What to Expect When You Are the 'Partner Accommodation' offers insight from the partner's perspective.

Discussing with the Hiring Department

Often the biggest question for candidates is, “When should I discuss a partner hire with the search committee?” Many candidates desire to wait until an offer has been extended. However, department chairs often want to know earlier so they have time to initiate processes for exploring options. There is no right answer—candidates will need to make case-by-case decisions.

Some items to consider while making these decisions:

• Is there an institutional policy or procedure for dual-career hires? Are dual-careers part of the institutional culture?
• Would you consider accepting this position without a job offer for your partner?

When you start the conversation with the hiring institution, you want to emphasize the qualifications of your partner. Have an updated CV to share and be able to suggest possible fits on campus. Think about an expanded range of options, including positions beyond the tenure-track, at nearby institutions and with other organizations in the community. Understanding your partner’s priorities is key.