In my view, there are costs to going out early and few benefits.
First, there is the nightmare scenario in which you get a job that
requires you to teach while still trying to finish your dissertation -
beware, these rocks have sunk many a ship. You should not go out unless
you are confident that your dissertation can be finished (meaning signed
off by all parties not just finished in your head) *well* before your
job begins (i.e. give yourself a summer to move and develop course
notes).
Second, I think that initial placement is quite important. The
quality of your colleagues will greatly aid you in your future work and
you will be much better off if you begin with a 3/3 or less teaching
load rather than a 4/4 which might happen if you go out in a weak
position - so it's better to begin with a strong start.
Third, one or two years in another instituion won't help you at all
unless you have published a quick string of papers that indicates that
you were low-placed low to begin with.
The advantage of getting a job early is the money. Individual
circumstances vary but you should think of life-cycle smoothing etc.
Of course delay is not worthwhile unless you make the most of it.
In my view, the ideal situation is to arrange to teach 1 class at your
own or nearby institution to get you some money and experience and to
use your free time to finish your dissertation, hone your working
papers, and gather more skills - then go out onto the market confident
that you have the skills, experience and qualifications necessary to do
as well as possible.
My comments are aimed at those interested in the academic market.
Chresten is right that the situation is different if you are less
interested in pursuing this course. If you don't expect to compete in
the publishing market, for example, then quality of colleagues is less
important and actual experience in whatever industry you find a job in
is more important thus going out earlier is less costly (but still
beware of having to finish your dissertation and start a new job at the
same time).
Alex
--
Alexander Tabarrok
Department of Economics, MSN 1D3
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA, 22030
Tel. 703-993-2314
and
Director of Research
The Independent Institute
100 Swan Way
Oakland, CA, 94621
Tel. 510-632-1366
