"A bird in the hand..."

27 February 2010

By Matthew Salois

“A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.” 

I cannot tell you how often I heard this phrase two years ago.  At the time, I didn’t have a clue what it meant, though it quickly became apparent to me.  Here is the story...

In the spring of 2008, I was finishing up my PhD and engaged in the job market (as well as engaged to be married!).  I had interviewed and received a job offer from the U.S. Economic Research Service – a decently paid government job in D.C. just a short walk from the White House.  However, my heart was aiming for a university job, hopefully as a new assistant professor.   

I also had an interview offer from Oklahoma State University, but there was a catch.  The ERS needed an answer about whether I would take the job or not within a week and my interview with OSU was not for another month.  Even then, the interview was certainly not a guarantee I would get the job.   

I sought advice from all around me and the one thing EVERYONE kept saying to me was, “Well, you know, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.”  I came to understand this to mean that my firm job offer from the ERS was worth two interview offers.  But, my heart told me otherwise: I knew that while the ERS would be a great job, it would not be a great job for me.  Still, with a wedding just a few months away and no real job yet, I was becoming unnerved. 

Thankfully, my fiancée (and now my wife) wanted me to be truly happy with my decisions and told me that if any part of me would regret taking a job with the ERS then I should not do it.  So, I declined the job offer and interviewed with Oklahoma State University.  As things turned out, I did not get the job!  When it rains, it pours!  I rolled the dice and lost.  Or so I thought… 

The next month I applied for a research fellowship at the University of Reading on a whim (mistakenly pronouncing it as the University of Reeding before my better read wife corrected me).  Much to our surprise, I got the job and would not have things any other way.  This job has given me great professional experience and the opportunity for me and my wife to travel Europe (certainly out the norm for most Americans).  So, while both my father and dissertation advisor counselled me to play it safe, I am glad I followed my heart and took the risk.

Has anyone else taken any big risks in their career that have paid off?  Or, has anyone gambled and had it not payoff, or payoff in an unforeseen way?