I read that whatever you publish before beginning a tenure-track job does not count towards tenure, so it might be wise to wait with those publications until a tenure-track position is reached. (I read this in the book The Professor is In
, by the way)
On the other hand, I would imagine that a tenure-track position is obtained quicker (or: at all), if one has publications, and to have more publications seems generally better than to have less publications (with some other assumptions here, regarding equal journal impact factor and so on)
What do people think? Is there a strategy which might make more sense than others? Does it make sense to hold back? Or not really?
edit:
Here is the quote I am referring to in the book, I hope it is ok to share this here:
“Write your dissertation with an eye to the publications that it will become. As I have said, you need at least one refereed journal article while you are still ABD. At the same time, be aware that publications that date from before you accept your tenure track job do not typically count toward tenure. So the balance is delicate indeed. You must publish enough to get a job without prematurely exhausting the supply of material you will need for tenure. That is why I recommend writing a master’s thesis, which will give you material for a publication without cutting into your dissertation material.”
From: Kelsky, Karen. “The Professor Is in : The Essential Guide to Turning Your Ph.d. into a Job