Working at UNM (houses, employment, universities)

[Serenity141]

Anyone out there who works at UNM?

Does UNM only hire people from NM? I am from Massachusetts and have worked at universities my whole career, but always in Boston. I really want to make a life change and I've seen some job postings that interest me. However, I tried in the past to apply for jobs at colleges out-of-state with no luck...even though I was well qualified. (I am an administrator...not a professor.)

If you work there or know someone who does, how did you/they get the job?
Do they ever hire anyone from the east coast? I don't need relocation expense paid...I just need a job before I can move...especially in this market.

I am so tired of the winter and for personal reasons I'm ready to move on to something new. It's frustrating when you can't land an interview because you don't already live there.

All suggestions are appreciated!

[truckzter]

I'm a TA at UNM, so I won't be able to give you a lot of helpful advice. But what I DO know is that the economic crunch (and President Schmidly's budget) is causing UNM to cut back severly on hiring faculty and staff.

You can read all about the debacle over Prez. Schmidly and the university budget on the Daily Lobo's website:
New Mexico Daily Lobo - The Independent Voice of the University of New Mexico since 1895

Also, here is the UNM Employment Opportunities link:
Employment Opportunities | The University of New Mexico

[WasSoggyInSeattle]

My brother-in-law from NC applied to a position at UNM Medical and they brought him out for an interview which went well, although the salary was a bit low. Then the fun started - they offered the position to someone else, then called him back and offered it to him... then they spent about a month or two haggling salary. They both agreed on a salary. He was to start at the beginning of March I think, he flew out to take the drug test/physical this past week and to look for houses and was told that due to budget cuts they could not meet his salary requirements anymore.

It really sucks as he and my sister were really looking forward to the move and had pretty much got things packed up to move... But them's the breaks I guess.

[berncohomes]

My wife works for UNM and we moved here just over three years ago from the Philadelphia area. She interviewed over the phone and was offered a job without having to come out here first, they did not pay relocation costs though.

I did hear there is a hiring freeze at the moment though, not sure if it's her department or the whole university. I'd ask but she is still sleeping =)

WasSIS, I showed houses to someone from NC last weekend who came down for a medical job here, wonder if it was your brother-in-law.

[yukon]

It must depend on which department & job you apply for. Friend of mine applied for a job at UNM, UNM paid for the interview expenses and relocation (she moved from AL). This was about 3 years ago. The department that interviewed her was very professional about the whole thing. Sounds like some of the departments aren't so professional.

[WasSoggyInSeattle]

Bernco, I DMed you - not my BIL... :-) They are pretty bummed it didn't work out, but it was a little odd the way the whole thing went from the beginning so its probably for the best. I don't think UNM would have an issue hiring out of state - but it probably depends on the job.

I have applied to a few UNM jobs since we've been here - some I haven't heard from again but one, I keep getting emails from that they are working on getting their interview teams together... we'll see how it works out.

[berncohomes]

Usedtobesoggy - just a coincidence then. My wife & Yukon's friend are proof that UNM don't have an issue with hiring out of state, I think they just have an issue with hiring with the current uncertain economy.

[Skyszlimit]

Originally Posted by yukon

It must depend on which department & job you apply for. Friend of mine applied for a job at UNM, UNM paid for the interview expenses and relocation (she moved from AL). This was about 3 years ago. The department that interviewed her was very professional about the whole thing. Sounds like some of the departments aren't so professional.

The good news for us-- we "just" got in under the wire-- with a UNM position which started this January .. they paid for my husband's interview and will be paying for relo costs (up to a specific dollar amt).. so based on what i'm reading in this thread, surmising that it's all very "department"alized... and oh yes, he was an out of state applicant from the east coast..

Good luck and hope that something else becomes available!

Skysz..

[AmoreLeo]

I'd also like to add that the strange dealings of some university hiring managers are likely very recent, and not indicative of "standard" procedures. EVERY university is now cutting funding and freezing hiring, and it has all happened in the last 4 weeks. So, if you're like me and interviewed with a university in January, you are stuck with all these poor HR people and hiring managers who can't move forward hiring the people they want--just because of budget issues and hiring freezes that literally just came out of the blue.

What I'm trying to say is, it's not just UNM that is being spastic about hiring. I am going through a horrible time trying to get a job I really want at Northwestern right now, and it simply due to economic issues that have interrupted an otherwise smooth hiring process. (And my department at Purdue had to freeze all hiring after having rounds of interviews with candidates last fall, too. All of this has been quite rapid and unexpected.)

Sigh. . . won't it be nice when this stuff comes to an end??

[Serenity141]

I really appreciate all of your messages. Just about every college I know of on the east coast has a hiring freeze unless it is an "essential" position.

Since all of my experience has been working at universities, I can't imagine moving into the corporate world. My unfortunate move was that I took a term job last year thinking that I'd have plenty of job offers when it ended. WRONG. The economy tanked just when my position ended. I've been sending out resumes everywhere with no responses and I have a lot of experience.

Even though jobs are few now, it does help to know that UNM hires out of state. At least that gives me some hope for the future. I feel very badly for the person who had the job offer and then at the last minute had the rug pulled out from under him. What a disappointment!