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Finding an Academic Job

Finding an Academic Job. Junying Yuan Women in Cell Biology ASCB. The Timing Samara Reck-Peterson Assistant Professor Department of Cell Biology Harvard Medical School. THE JOB SEARCH CALENDAR. JULY: Start putting your application package together

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Finding an Academic Job

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  1. Finding an Academic Job Junying Yuan Women in Cell Biology ASCB

  2. The Timing Samara Reck-Peterson Assistant Professor Department of Cell Biology Harvard Medical School

  3. THE JOB SEARCH CALENDAR JULY: Start putting your application package together AUG: Finalize application, job ads begin appearing SEPT: Lots of ads appear OCT: Earliest deadlines NOV: Many deadlines DEC: Many deadlines, interview invitations begin JAN: Interview invitations, interviews begin FEB: Interviews continue MARCH: Interviews continue, 2nd visits APRIL: 2nd visits and negotiations MAY: 2nd visits and negotiations JUNE: Job! FINDING A JOB

  4. WHEN AM I READY TO APPLY? FINDING A JOB

  5. WHEN AM I READY TO APPLY? • One great paper or several good papers. You need a story. The more unique and ground breaking the higher you can aim. • You should have spent considerable time thinking about new directions and ideally begun some pilot experiments. Identify new collaborators. • Trust your gut. If you start to have more ideas than you have time to implement, you are ready. • Pay attention to feedback. People should start asking you at meetings- “Are you looking for a job?” Due to the financial crisis: talk to your PI about staying longer, use this time to start a new pilot project that will help make you stand out.

  6. HOW DO I FIND OUT ABOUT JOBS? http://www.nature.com/naturejobs/index.html http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/ FINDING A JOB

  7. HOW MANY JOBS SHOULD I APPLY FOR? Rose Goodchild Assistant Professor University of Tennessee at Knoxville FINDING A JOB

  8. The Logistics Stephanie K. Eberle School of Medicine Career Center Stanford University

  9. Agenda • CVs, Cover letter, personal/research statement and teaching portfolio sections • Helpful cover letter, research statement and teaching portfolio hints • Tips on soliciting references • Anything else?

  10. The Academic Job Application Consists of: • CV (curriculum vitae) • Cover letter/statement of purpose/statement of interest • Teaching statement/portfolio and/or research statement • Reference letters • Writing samples

  11. The Curriculum Vitae

  12. CVs and Resumes:What is the Difference? • Jobs for which they are submitted • Focus • Length • Reading Time • Primary Sections

  13. Required Contact Information Education Dissertation Fellowships/Awards Research Experience Teaching Experience Publications/ Presentations Optional Academic/Community Service Related Professional Experience Languages Research/Teaching Interests Works in Progress References Sections of a Vita

  14. Tailoring Your CV Your CV Should Can Be Tailored According To: • Focus • School • Position • Specialization

  15. Remember: • Font size matters • Highlight sections sparingly • Follow conventions of your field • Avoid acronyms • Have others proofread your work • Use professional paper and print

  16. Cover Letters

  17. Cover Letters Highlights relevant points/skills Provides a brief introduction to your CV and teaching portfolio Limited to 1-2 pages (depending on field and type of letter) Personal Statements Focus on “who” you are as opposed to basic skills No standard page limit Make sure you answer the question! Cover Letters and Personal Statements

  18. Sections of the Cover Letter Contact Information Date Addressee/Address Salutation: To a specific person, if possible First Paragraph: Introduction Second/Third Paragraph: How you are qualified Final Paragraph: Closure Sincerely,

  19. Helpful Hints: • Use departmental letterhead (if possible) • Proofread • Pay attention to transition in letter • Take credit for accomplishments • Use “active voice”

  20. Common Mistakes to Avoid: • Not taking the letter/statement seriously • Submitting a “generic” statement or letter • Trying to guess what the committee wants to hear • Being too personal • Repeating only what is on the CV • Not answering the question

  21. Research and Teaching Documents

  22. Research Statements • Gives an overview of your research (past, current, and future) • Discusses relevance to department and university • Typically kept at 2 pages • Specificity varies

  23. Characteristics of a Teaching Portfolio • Comprehensive presentation of your teaching skills, goals, and accomplishments • Individualized • Supported by empirical evidence

  24. Possible Inclusions: Honors and Awards • Letters given to you mentioning your teaching skills • Formal awards • Outside invitations to teach or contribute

  25. Tips for Developing Your Portfolio: • Start compiling samples for your portfolio early • Select items which you deem to be the best examples of your work • The format may vary, depending on intended use

  26. Recommendations and Resources

  27. Tips on Soliciting Recommendations • Know what the reference entails • Give referees enough time to compose something thoughtful • Ask them if they can provide a “positive” reference • Provide supporting information • Send thank you letters afterward

  28. Helpful Resources • http://www.chronicle.com • http://www.ujobbank.com • http://www.ccweek.com • http://med.stanford.edu/careercenter/

  29. The Interview Alan Hall Chair, Cell Biology Program Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

  30. Applying for Academic Positions at a Primarily Undergraduate Teaching Institution Laurie Cook Assistant Professor State University of New York College at Brockport

  31. Cover Letter Tips Identify with the college. Explain red flags. How do you fit the job description? CV Teaching/mentoring experience, including undergraduates and their successes Has your research been published? Have you experience writing grants? Teaching Philosophy Two pages single-spaced is sufficient. Should include information on teaching style, assessment strategies, inclusion of technology, etc. Research Statement Address constraints (BSL-1 versus BSL-2?). Are the projects amenable to undergraduates? Will it be fundable? Applying for Academic Positions at a Primarily Undergraduate Teaching Institution

  32. Phone Interviews of 8-10 candidates are used to narrow down the 4-5 people we bring to campus Meet one-on-one with Department Chair Ask questions regarding faculty expectations, tenure requirements, teaching load, support, etc. Meet with other faculty Depending upon stage of career, your questions should change Get a sense for faculty collegiality, stresses Teaching seminar 20-40 minute time slot in an existing course. Usually on a topic of your choice. Engage the students! Lunch with Students Potential research students; learn more about curriculum; student satisfaction Research Seminar 45-50 minutes with both students and faculty present Know your audience and pitch it at their level Focus on projects related to what you might do if hired. Round Table Discussion Can you get the questions ahead of time? Your chance to discuss what you might teach and how Further explanation of research requirements and plans Dinner with Faculty Informal meeting to ask questions about housing, child care, etc Interviewing for Academic Positions at a Primarily Undergraduate Teaching Institution

  33. How to deal with Daniela Nicastro Assistant Professor Department of Biology Brandeis University

  34. Red flags in your application package and suggestions about how to deal with them

  35. Red flags in your application package and suggestions about how to deal with them

  36. Red flags in your application package and suggestions about how to deal with them

  37. Red flags in your application package and suggestions about how to deal with them

  38. Red flags in your application package and suggestions about how to deal with them

  39. Red flags in your application package and suggestions about how to deal with them

  40. Red flags in your application package and suggestions about how to deal with them

  41. Red flags in your application package and suggestions about how to deal with them

  42. Red flags in your application package and suggestions about how to deal with them

  43. Red flags in your application package and suggestions about how to deal with them

  44. Red flags in your application package and suggestions about how to deal with them

  45. Red flags in your application package and suggestions about how to deal with them

  46. THE TWO BODY PROBLEM Sam Reck-Peterson FINDING A JOB

  47. THE TWO BODY PROBLEM • Communicate! Talk to your partner and have a plan. Who is more marketable? How much will you compromise? Is one or both of you interested in non-academic jobs? • Living together vs. apart? Will you apply to places that are not commutable? Do you have geographical preferences (try to avoid this). • Apply to an excess of jobs (2X) • Don’t talk about your partner until you have interviews. If your partner is a very strong candidate too- talk about them after getting an interview. If not, you may want to wait until you have an offer. • Communicate! This can be a very stressful time for a relationship.

  48. Negotiating and Making a Decision

  49. Agenda • Components of an offer letter • Negotiations • Factors to consider before making a decision

  50. Components of an Offer Letter • Job title • Start date • Length of contract and renewal information • Tenure details (beginning/ending, requirements) • Course load and graduate assistant info. • Equipment and budget details • Salary • Deadline to reply

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