system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
My partner is in academia without job prospects. What can I do?

My male partner (USA, communication studies) is completing their PhD in 2023 in a niche research field and has a post-doc lined up. We never talked much about jobs because it's difficult to know what's on the other side of academia and I trust the process, but I'm starting to be a bit concerned.

They mentioned that they are not interested in professorship or anything too strenuous and the jobs that would be possible are only though networking and aren't on job posting sites. When we talk about positions, none can be named directly though they would like "research and teaching". They even mention doing more school after the upcoming postdoc.

Recent talks have been strained and I'm not sure how to proceed. I have been understanding and recognize that opportunities arise in a postdoc, but I'm nervous about where they could get a job and what type of job it will be. It might sound selfish but in a way, it's our collective finances/location/job security. We have never been able to plan for even the near-future and it's weighing on me.

How would you proceed? How could I best address this concern with them and still be supportive?
gpt
It honestly sounds like your partner has no real idea what they're talking about or what they want to do. Jobs don't magically appear without being on job boards. At least not commonly, and not that actually pay the bills.

Do they not have an alt-academic backup plan or 20? Are they truly blind to the state of academia and the job market? Are they really so delusional that they think they're set up for something not "too strenuous" - whatever they think that means?

You need to sit down with them and have some real talks. It's not selfish - it's part of being in a relationship.