Preparing for the Academic Job Search

1. Preparing for the Academic Job Search Graduate College Career Services Office Rebecca Bryant, PhD

2. Assumptions

3. Academic Hiring Cycle

4. Job Search Process

5. Job Search Process

6. Get ready • Identify resources • Arrange for recommendations • Get organized • Start preparing application materials • Identify where to look for job postings • Continue dissertation writing • Think about a Plan B

7. Resources

8. Other Resources

9. Create a Support Network • Decide whom to ask to be references. • Communicate with your references. • Determine arrangements for having letters of reference sent. • Provide references with a copy of your CV & other job materials you have created. • Develop a strategy for handling any “problem” people. • Explain the academic job search process to family and friends, and enlist their support.

10. Resources for Dual-Career Academic Couples • “Dual Career Academic Couples: What Universities Need to Know” • http://www.stanford.edu/group/gender/ResearchPrograms/DualCareer/index.html • National Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (HERC) • www.hercjobs.org

11. Credential Files • Dossiers • Letters of recommendation files • Should you use?

12. Get organized BEFORE you begin • Track: • Dates & deadlines. • Materials sent (different institutions often want different things). • Rejection letters/short lists/interviews. • Interviewers & other people (keep notes about these!). • Travel itinerary & expenses. • Helps you look like the “together” candidate. www.grad.uiuc.edu/careerservices/academic/jobsearch/organized.htm

13. Know your audience & the Higher Ed landscape • Academic Lingo, www.grad.illinois.edu/careerservices/academic/lingo.htm • Chronicle of Higher Education • Know how research universities are different from liberal arts colleges, etc. (Important for materials and interviews)

14. Know about different types of institutions (Revised 2005) The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education www.carnegiefoundation.org/classifications/

15. Job Search Process

16. Looking for jobs • Your scholarly association(s) • Web/publications/conferences • National publications and web sites • www.higheredjobs.com • www.chronicle.com/jobs • www.Academic360.com • Institutional and departmental web sites • Your academic network

17. Networking • Essential for career success. Period. • Advisor should help. • Stay in touch with previous grads from your program.

18. The Job Posting • Most institutions request: • CV • Cover letter/letter of application/statement of interest • 3 – 5 letters of recommendation • Teaching & Research Statements • Sometimes additional items are requested, either initially or later. • Email or paper.

19. Reading a Job Posting • Underline their requests/key phrases. • DO specifically address items mentioned in the job ad. • Follow up with research on the institution & department.

20. Job Search Process

21. Application tips • Tailor application materials as much as possible to each job ad. • Get feedback on your written materials. • Apply for positions that appear to be a good fit for you. • Send what the announcement asks for. • Demonstrate that you understand what kind of institution you are applying to. • Confirm that materials were received.

22. Core Application Materials

23. CV (Curriculum vitae) • Purpose of a CV is get you an interview • Complete listing of your academic credentials and accomplishments • Academic jobs – Research/Teaching/ Service • Funding (grants or fellowships) • CV’s vary from discipline to discipline **CV WRITING WORKSHOP**

24. Cover Letter tips • Tailor it. • Research vs. Teaching focus • Answer: • Why are you applying for this job? • Why are you a good fit for this job? • Do you really want this job? • Anticipate additional questions the committee might have about you, like when will you complete your PhD? • Mirror language in the job ad. • Demonstrate your knowledge of the institution/department. • Mission statement

25. Additional Application Materials-- • Transcripts • Dissertation Abstract • Statement of Teaching Philosophy • Statement of Research Interests • Teaching Portfolio • Writing Sample or Dissertation Chapter • Videotape/CD of teaching

26. Hurry Up and Wait What happens after you apply?

27. Job Search Process

28. Types of Interviews

29. Preparing for Interviews • Develop “cocktail party” & “elevator” versions of your research (multiple audiences)—articulate significance. • Research the institution and interviewers. • Anticipate questions & answers re: teaching, research, goals, and yourself. • Practice! • Know what you’re going to wear.

30. Telephone or Video Interview--tips • Dress up! • Disable call waiting & assure quiet space. • Have application materials, paper, water & possibly web materials near. • Smile! • Speak slowly & avoid speakerphone. • Send thank you letters.

31. Conference Interview • Avoid scheduling conflicts. • Dress professionally in clothing appropriate for applicants in your discipline. • Research in advance. • Try to be yourself. • Usually 30 minutes. • Send thank you letters.

32. Job Search Process

33. The Campus Visit! • You’ve made the “short list.” • Usually 3-4 candidates. • Exhausting.

34. Making arrangements • You will usually receive a phone call. • Institution will reimburse for travel & lodging. • You will probably make your own flight arrangements. • Need a credit card.

35. Making arrangements • Clarify arrangements in advance. • You should receive an itinerary. • Ask for adjustments, if necessary. • Try to have job talk at front end. • Ask for time to focus or regroup before a presentation. • Ask for accommodations for disabilities/nursing/etc. • Beware of checked luggage!

36. Parts of the campus visit *YOU ARE ALWAYS BEING INTERVIEWED* • The job talk. • Meeting the department. • Meeting administrators. • Teaching a class. • Meeting with graduate students and/or undergraduates. • Meals & social situations.

37. To prepare • Develop “cocktail party” & “elevator” versions of your research (multiple audiences)—articulate significance. • Research the institution and interviewers. • Anticipate questions & answers re: teaching, research, goals, and yourself. • Practice—interview & your job talk. • Know what you’re going to wear (bring back-up). • Think about how you’ll stay at the top of your form.

38. Interview Skills & Questions • Interviewing workshop • Basics: • Be positive. • Smile. • Anticipate questions & rehearse in advance. • Determine in advance how you will respond to illegal questions. • Bring questions to ask.

39. Don’t leave without understanding…. • The tenure process, tenure criteria, and the tenure rate. • The teaching load. • The quality of your potential colleagues. • Are people happy here? • The timeline of the remaining search process.

40. After the interview • Send thank you letters. • If you’re no longer interested, withdraw. • If you think you’d be a terrific fit there, say so!

41. Hurry Up and Wait, part 2 • Schedules are tight, so it might take some time to interview other candidates. • Do ask when you can expect to hear.

42. Job Search Process

43. Receiving a Job Offer or Rejection • Offers usually come by telephone. • First, THANK THEM. • Don’t immediately accept!!!! • Ask questions, take notes, & ask for the offer letter in writing. • Do negotiate time if you need it.

44. What do I do if I’ve applied at other institutions? • Negotiate for time to make your decision. • Contact the other institutions & tell them you have an offer • You don’t have to give details. Be honest, but not completely open. • Make your negotiation strategy. **Negotiation workshop**

45. ALWAYS negotiate! Why?? • Thousands of $$ over the course of your career. • A poor start-up package can cost you tenure. • Gender equality.

46. Possible negotiation items • Decision date • Salary • Teaching load and teaching schedule • Start-up funds • Moving expenses/housing help • Job-hunting help/position for partner or spouse • Starting date • Research assistants • Computer resources • Summer research funding for self or students • Travel funds and conference expenses • Parking

47. Job Search Process

48. Wrapping It Up—when you HAVE accepted a job • If terms of the offer changed during negotiation, get a new offer letter. • Thank everybody. • Notify other institutions and withdraw from those searches. • Notify your network of contacts that you have accepted an offer. • FINISH YOUR RESEARCH.

49. What do you do if you don’t have a job offer? • Thank everyone who helped you. • Keep working on your research. • Talk with your advisor and others about how you can strengthen your candidacy. • Recognize that the job search may take longer than you had hoped. • Plan B options.

50. Other workshops Oct 15 Interviewing Skills for Faculty Jobs 3:00p.m.-4:30p.m., 210 Illini Union Nov 4 The Art & Science of Job Offer Negotiation 1:00p.m.-2:30p.m., 407 Illini Union See fall workshop series at www.grad.uiuc.edu/mastercalendar.