preparing for the academic job search · materials: e.g., research statement, teaching philosophy...

4/24/2019

1

University of Pennsylvania Career Services

PREPARING FOR THE ACADEMIC JOB SEARCHJoseph Barber, PhD, Senior Associate [email protected]

1


The academic job cycle

2

Readiness for the job

market

Preparing and

applying

Screening & campus interviews

Negotiating offers and accepting

Expanded career options Part 1

Part 2


Getting ready for the academic market

3


market

Preparing and

applying



Plan A again or going

with Plan B

4/24/2019

2


Are you ready?External factors to consider• Understanding the job market cycle and how search

committees work – Job postings - when they occur Knowledge of job opportunities at different levels…, at

different kinds of institutions…, in different countries

Individual factors to consider• Determining your readiness to launch your job search

Target date to complete your researchStatus of your support system; your referees and your

networkState of your job search materials

4


5

Job trends for “Assistant Professor” positions


6

Chronicle Vitae

4/24/2019

3


Types of academic institutions The Carnegie Foundation’s basic classifications:

Doctorate-granting universitiesMaster’s colleges and universities—sometimes called “comprehensive institutions”Baccalaureate colleges (Liberal arts institutions)Associate’s colleges (includes community colleges)Special focus institutions, e.g., schools of theology

Additional IssuesFunding streamsJob requirementsCulture of institution

7

http://carnegieclassifications.iu.edu/


• Think about your long-range goals and discuss them with your PI, mentor, or Career Services advisorBuild and maintain a good relationships with your advisorYour advisor will be in charge of helping you get your

Ph.D. but YOU are in charge of your career

• Connect with people in your field at academic institutions other than Penn = professional networking

• Decide who you would like to provide your references/serve as recommenders, and communicate with them

• Explain the academic job search process to family and friends, and enlist their support

8

Develop your support system


9

4/24/2019

4


10


11

www.linkedin.com/school/university-of-pennsylvania/people/


Preparing to apply: 2 years before job would start• Continue research and writing; be sure you are publishing and presenting your work at conferencesBecome comfortable talking about your researchThink strategically about connecting with specific institutions

• Know the hiring timelines for your field; start looking at job listings – sit in on hiring if you can

• Be thinking about all your career options

• Keep CV up to date; begin drafting your additional materials: e.g., research statement, teaching philosophy

12

4/24/2019

5


Preparing to apply: a year before

• Give serious thought to your future research plans

• Finalize written materials for the job search

• Identify job openings and start to apply

• Arrange for recommendations. How will letters be sent? Interfolio; Vitae; your department

• Continue to consider all of your other optionsNetwork with people who are in expanded career fields

• Attend programs and workshops on the academic search

13


Preparing: eight to four months beforeEight months before:

• Prepare and practice job talk; attend conferencesMake connections at conferences and stay in touch with them

• Stay in touch with recommenders• Continue to identify jobs and apply• Have a clearly defined plan for finishing your research!

Four to eight months before:• Negotiate offers• If there are no offers, move forward on your other plans,

but keep looking• After accepting a job, thank everyone

14


Preparing materials and applying

15


market

Preparing and

applying




with Plan B

4/24/2019

6


Application materials sent

Screening interviews

Campus interviews

Final decision made on candidates

The job market cycle - candidate selection

16

Job opening posted and search committee formed (usually in autumn)

Applications selected for preliminary interviews

Candidates selected/notified

for campus interview

This process can be months long – from 4-12 months or more

Offer made


Written materials for the job search• CV• Statement of teaching philosophy• Research statement• “Evidence of excellence in teaching”• Website• Writing sample• Teaching portfolio• Diversity statement• Cover letters• Transcripts• References

17


18

4/24/2019

7


Key points for all documents• All materials should look like they are part of a cohesive

packet of information that tell an effective story about youFormatted in the same wayNot saying exactly the same thing, but expanding on

information mentioned in the other documentsEach as separate PDFs named appropriately (unless the job

announcement requests otherwise)

AND…, written for a specific audience with regards to institution and students (research, teaching, service/mission driven, undergrad, graduate, pre-professional, etc.)

19


CV (Curriculum vitae)• Your CV lists your academic credentials, experiences and

accomplishments, and is a key component in any application.

• Purpose of a CV is get you an interview

• Complete listing of your academic credentials and accomplishments used when applying for:Academic jobsFunding (grants or fellowships)Postdocs

• CV’s vary from discipline to discipline

• Make sure your strongest qualifications stand outWrite/revise it with the reader in mind

20


21

www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/writtenmaterials

4/24/2019

8


22


23


24

www.imaginephd.com

4/24/2019

9


25

www.imaginephd.com/job-families/14-research-intensive-faculty/apply


26


27

www.imaginephd.com/job-families/15-teaching-intensive-faculty/apply

4/24/2019

10


C.V. CategoriesStandard/essential• Name and contact

information • Education • Honors and Fellowships• Teaching/Research

Experience• Publications • Presentations• Professional Memberships• References

Additional categories• Professional Experience• Grants• Languages• Technical Skills • University/Professional

Service• Research/Teaching

Interests• Exhibitions• Certifications/Professional

Licensure• Additional Information

28


Tips on writing your C.V.• C.V. documents all your relevant professional/academic

accomplishments

• Most significant and relevant accomplishments should be prominent in the organizational structure of the C.V.Teaching or research?PublicationsProfessional experience

• Be consistent in the way you use formatting, and balance print and white space on your C.V. Avoid sloppiness – check for spelling mistakes Find someone to read/proof your job search materials

29


30

4/24/2019

11


31

TOO MUCH TEXT


Name and contact information32

Name

NAME University of Pennsylvania Department of English 127 Fisher-Bennett Hall 3340 Walnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19104 Tel: 000.000.000 [email protected]


Education• Most Ph.D. candidates will have this as their first category

Make it clear when your degree is expected, e.g., “Degree expected May 2020”

• Give some detail such as field of concentration, title of dissertation and name of advisor

• Postdocs might want to have “Current Research Experience” or “Current Position” as a first category Postdocs are considered research experience, not “education”

33

Current Position

Postdoctoral Fellow, Fox Chase Cancer Center, 2012-presentAdvisor: Kerry Campbell, PhDBiological impacts of Elotuzumab on human natural killer cells and multiple myeloma cells

4/24/2019

12


34

EducationPh.D. Biostatistics 09/2010 - 12/2013Perelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaAdvisor: NameThesis: Statistical Methods for Analysis of Multi-Sample Copy Number Variants and ChIP-seqData

M.S., Biostatistics 09/2008 - 06/2010School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles

B.S., Statistics 09/2004 - 07/2008School of Mathematics, Beijing Normal University

EDUCATION• Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania May 14, 2012• M.A., University of Pennsylvania, 2004.• B.A., Kenyon College, 2000; magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, departmental honors.

DISSERTATIONComing of Age in the Eighteenth-Century NovelChairs: Stuart Curran and Michael Gamer. Reader: Toni Bowers.This dissertation argues that the eighteenth-century novel developed in dynamic relation to the emerging category of the adolescent. Recovering a demographic largely overlooked in histories of the novel, it demonstrates that the publishing industry began in the mid-century to market their novels to adolescents and that this focus transformed the content and form of novels themselves as they evolved.


35

Research and Teaching Experience• Depending on job type and your discipline, might be split this

into two sections:

• Research experience (common in STEM fields): Projects/experiments you have worked on Collaborations you have been involved with Findings and publications associated with your work

• Teaching experience: Classes you have taught (include # and type of students) Mentoring and other formal/informal teaching experiences

Interests (research and teaching) Can briefly define future research plans and articulate

course areas in which you can teach


36

RESEARCH EXPERIENCEPostdoctoral research at The Wistar Institute 20XX – present• Designed and implemented an experimental strategy to investigate the signals that govern the

development of pathological Th17 responses. These studies identified a novel role for Th1 cells and inflammatory monocytes in the development of Th17-dependet autoimmunity, and resulted in four conference presentations and one manuscript currently being prepared for publication.

• Supervised research technicians on a project investigating the development of regulatory T cells. Data from this project provided key support for the central conclusion of a manuscript that was subsequently published in PNAS.

• Established multi-color flow cytometry protocols to study the development of regulatory T cells. These protocols were used to identify phenotypic markers of regulatory T cell precursors, and were published as a book chapter in Methods in Molecular Biology.

RESEARCH POSITIONS Research FellowAnnenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania, Sex and Media - Research Group. Supervisor: Dr. Martin Fishbein, Summer 20XX and Summer 20XX Analyzed data from a 3-year longitudinal survey and content analysis examining the effects of representations in the media on adolescents

Research FellowAnnenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania, The Center for Excellence in Cancer Communication Research (CECCR): Theory and Methods Core. Supervisor: Dr. Martin Fishbein, September 20XX - December 20XX. - Contributed to the planning, organization and data collection for a Theory of Reasoned Action/Planned Behavior meta-analysis- Planned and conducted elicitation research

4/24/2019

13


37

Research Interests:Ancient Historiography, Roman Culture, Gender Studies

Research InterestsDigital reading devices and responsive reading, interaction design, technology for special populations, e-books and accessibility, technology for the elderly to combat cognitive decline and social isolation, supporting cognition throughout the life course, integration of technology into education and training, design and evaluation of cognition-assisting applications, operator attention and distraction, mathematical cognition.

Areas of Specialization

Forced Migration

International Migration from Latin America to North American and Europe

Migration Theory and Remittance Use

Quantitative Research Methods in the Social Sciences


38


39

4/24/2019

14


40


41

TEACHING INTERESTS

The History of the Novel; British Literature of the Long-Eighteenth Century; British Romanticism; Women’s Writing, 1660-1830; Children’s Literature (Renaissance to Romanticism); The History of the Book; Drama, 1660-1830; 18th- and 19th-century Gothic Literature; 18th- and 19th-century Crime Literature; Education and Literature (Renaissance to Romanticism); Writing.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE • Mentor for new Instructors, Penn Critical Writing Program, 20XX-20XX• Instructor, “Troubling Memories,” (2 semesters), Penn Critical Writing

Program, 20XX-20XX• Section Leader and Writing Across the University Fellow, “Jane Austen and

Popular Culture,” Penn Department of English, 20XX• Teaching Assistant, “Major British Writers: 1350-1660,” Penn Department of

English, 20XX


Honors and Awards• You can make this a separate category, or include these

under the relevant degree

• Put recognizable, significant awards

• If you are a international student, you may need to explain some of the honorsWere they given for academic excellence?Were they based on something you applied for?Were they competitive?Can you find a way to describe the award that will help it to

make sense to anyone who reads this section?

42

4/24/2019

15


43

FELLOWSHIPS AND AWARDS

• Dissertation Completion Fellowship, University of Pennsylvania, 2012-2013• Benjamin Franklin Fellowship, University of Pennsylvania, 2006-2007, 2009-2012• Pew Foundation Grant, Summer Fellowship, 2010• Writing Across the University Fellowship, University of Pennsylvania, 2008• The Andrew W. Mellon Fellowship in Humanistic Studies, 2005-2006


Publications/Presentations• If you have a long list, divide and then subdivide by topics (peer

reviewed papers, reviews, posters, invited talks, abstracts, etc.) If you have short list, it won’t make as much sense to sub-divide

into different categories Follow discipline-specific formatting

• You can list a few articles that are in preparation and will (realistically) be published This helps to show that your work in on-going, and that you will

have research that you can build on in your new role Clearly mark “in preparation” or “submitted” manuscripts. Manuscripts “in press/print” can be listed with other published

papers

44


45

PublicationsBook In ProgressKenneth B. Clark: Not So Simple Justice (an intellectual biography of one of the 20th century’s most important black scholar/activists; under contract, University of North Carolina Press).

Peer-Reviewed Articles“The Problem with Black Studies: Kenneth B. Clark and the ‘Charade of Power,’” manuscript in preparation.

“Teaching Obama: History, Critical Race Theory, and Social Work Education,”Patterns of Prejudice 45 (February/May 2011): 177-97.

“Reconsidering Kenneth B. Clark and the Idea of Black Psychological Damage, 1931-1945,” Du Bois Review, Social Science Research on Race 8 (Spring 2011): 271-83.

PublicationsJournal Publications OR Peer-Reviewed ArticlesConference ProceedingsBook ChaptersWorks in ProgressBook ReviewsUse discipline-specific citation style

4/24/2019

16


Additional materials for the job search• Cover letters• Statement of teaching philosophy • Research statement• Writing sample• Transcripts• “Evidence of excellence in teaching”• Teaching portfolio• Diversity statement• Website• Letters of recommendation

46


47

www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/searchingapplyinginterviewingnegotiating.php


Identifying job opportunities• Your scholarly association

Job listing bulletin Job listing website Job placement activities at conferences/conventions

• National publications and website The Chronicle of Higher Education, www.chronicle.com Academic360.com Insidehighered.com HERC, www.hercjobs.org

• Institutional and departmental websites

• Your network Academia.edu LinkedIn

48

http://www.chronicle.com/

http://www.hercjobs.org/

4/24/2019

17


The Department of East Asian Studies invites applications for an assistant, associate, or full professor (open rank) in Japanese literature, film or cultural studies with a focus on modern Japan. The successful candidate should have a strong commitment to excellence in teaching and research. Senior scholars should submit a letter of interest along with a vita, but no publications or other writings at this time. Junior candidates should submit a vita, cover letter, writing sample, and names and contact information of three referees. Referees may mail their letters to: Chair, Japanese Literature/Film/Cultural Studies Search Committee, East Asian Studies Department, Princeton University, 211 Jones Hall, Princeton, NJ 08544.

The review of applications will begin on October 15. Applications will be considered until the position is filled. Please apply online and upload your documents to http://jobs.princeton.edu

Position Summary Princeton University Open Rank Professor Japanese Literature/Film/Cultural Studies Department – East Asian Studies

49


50

Position Summary

Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor, Department of Philosophy

University of California, Berkeley

Job responsibilities include teaching 4 courses/year at the graduate and undergraduate levels, and conducting thesis supervision. Area of Specialization and Area of Concentration: open, though the Department particularly welcomes applications from candidates working in Early Modern Philosophy, Metaphysics and Epistemology, Moral and Political Philosophy, Philosophy of Science, or Post--Kantian Continental Philosophy.

Candidates applying at the Assistant Professor level must submit the following materials: cover letter; recent curriculum vitae, including a complete list of publications; dissertation abstract; teaching dossier; one writing sample; and three to eight letters of recommendation.Candidates may optionally submit a research statement; up to two additional writing samples; and a statement addressing past and/or potential contributions to diversity through research, teaching, and/or service.

The department is committed to addressing the family needs of faculty, including dual career couples and single parents. The department is interested in candidates who will contribute to diversity and equal opportunity in higher education through their teaching, research, and service. For information about potential relocation to Berkeley, or career needs of accompanying partners and spouses, please contact the CALcierge office at [email protected] or visit calcierge.berkeley.edu.


Position Summary Monmouth College, Two-Year Visiting Assistant Professor – English

51

Monmouth College, a residential liberal arts college in west central Illinois and founding member of the Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM), announces a two-year position in post-1700 British literature, beginning August 20XX.

Successful candidates will have demonstrated excellence in teaching British literature courses at all undergraduate levels. Specialization is open, but candidates should be prepared to teach both introductory and advanced courses, including the second British literature survey, within an annual 3-3 load. In addition to specialization in British literature, candidates should demonstrate ability to teach our required first-year composition course as well as to contribute to our integrated general education program.

Ph.D. is required for appointment... A commitment to the liberal arts and an appreciation for the small college learning environment is essential.

Please forward letter of application, vita, evidence of teaching excellence, statement of teaching philosophy, unofficial transcripts, and three letters of recommendation to: Dr. Mark Willhardt, Chair, Department of English, Monmouth College by e-mail to: [email protected]. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

mailto:[email protected]

4/24/2019

18


The Department of Economics at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee seeks outstanding applicants for 2 faculty positions (rank open) in health economics, Positions will potentially involve collaboration with the Medical College of Wisconsin. Responsibilities include research leading to publication in nationally/internationally recognized journals, contributing to the writing of grant proposals for submission to government agencies and other funding sources, as well as teaching, supervision of dissertations, and collegial service

Requirements: Ph.D. or ABD in Economics or related field and research interest in health economics are required. Research emphasis on behavioral health, cost effectiveness of medical health interventions, or community health interventions is desired.

Applicants should submit online - http://jobs.uwm.edu/postings/8501- a vita, cover letter, research papers (or portion of dissertation), and the names of 3 references. …The names of those applicants who have not requested that their identities be withheld and the names of all finalists will be released upon request.

Contact: Scott Adams, Department of Economics, [email protected], University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, P.O. Box 413, Milwaukee, WI 53201. Email for Applications: [email protected] more information, email: [email protected] more information, phone: 414-229-4212

Position Summary Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or ProfessorFull-Time Academic (Permanent, Tenure Track or Tenured)Location: Milwaukee, WI, USA

52


Position Summary Assistant Professor in Digital Culture and Communication

53

The Department of Drama and Speech Communication at the University of Waterloo invites applications for a tenure-track position at the level of Assistant Professor in Digital Culture and Communication.

The successful candidate will specialize in the relationship among digital arts, communication, design, and public culture. Potential areas of research and creative focus might include digital media production, critical communication studies, media history and theory, digital culture, performance studies, and/or the social and ethical dimensions of digital media. The ideal candidate will have expertise in teaching courses in digital media theory and production and in speech communication. We are seeking a person with energy, enthusiasm and vision who can contribute meaningfully to excellence in teaching, research, collegiality and community life.

Please send letters of application, complete CV, a one page statement of teaching philosophy, a one page research statement, and three letters of recommendation either by email or regular mail to: Dr. Jennifer S. Simpson, Chair, Department of Drama and Speech Communication, University of Waterloo; email: [email protected]. Appointment begins August 1. Review of applications will begin April 29 until position is filled.


Tenure-Track or Tenured Faculty Positions in Bioengineering at UCLA

The Department seeks candidates with a Ph.D. in Bioengineering or related field with excellent track record of innovation, and exceptional potential to direct a world class, highly collaborative research program in the broad areas of bioengineering, including, but not limited to, biomedical devices, biosensors, molecular, cellular and tissue engineering, biomaterials, and biomanufacturing. With the close collaboration with the David Geffen School of Medicine and many other disciplines on campus, there are tremendous opportunities to develop bioengineering approaches and technologies for regenerative medicine applications and for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Candidates should be highly qualified to instruct in our core graduate and undergraduate bioengineering educational curricula, and experienced in teaching/mentoring students of diverse ethnic and cultural background.

The application packet should contain a Curriculum vitae, Research statement, Teaching statement, Statement of commitment to diversity, 3 Key Publications

Please provide names and contact information for at least three references. Applicants for the Assistant Professor level should also arrange for recommendation letters to be sent from at least three references.

54

4/24/2019

19


References & letters of recommendation• Decide whom to ask to be references

Your advisorsColleagues/mentors outside your department or committeeBalancing information – teaching focus, research focus

• Communicate with your referencesAsk if they are able to write a positive reference for youLet them know the scheduleRemind them 2-3 weeks out before deadline

• How will you have letters of reference sent? Interfolio (www.interfolio.com) Vitae (https://chroniclevitae.com) Your department

55


56


57

https://chroniclevitae.com/recommendation_letters

http://www.interfolio.com/

https://chroniclevitae.com/

4/24/2019

20


Resources to help with written materials• Your advisor

• Career Services programs – panels and workshops

• Books, articles, and online materials:www.chronicle.com; www.insidehighered.com The Professor Is In: essential guide to turning your PhD into a jobThe Academic Job Search Handbook, 5th editionwww.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/writtenmaterials/

• Meet with a career advisor – get CV review, and help with teaching philosophy, research statement and cover lettersCall 215 898 7530

• Penn’s Center for Teaching and Learning

58


QUESTIONSAnswers

59


PART 2Interviewing and Negotiating

60

PREPARING FOR THE ACADEMIC JOB SEARCH

Joseph Barber, PhD, Senior Associate [email protected]

http://www.chronicle.com/

http://www.insidehighered.com/

http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/writtenmaterials/

4/24/2019

21


Interviewing

61


market

Preparing and

applying




with Plan B


Screening interviews• Phone interviews• Video interviews (e.g., Skype)• Conference interviews

62

Applications submitted ~200

Candidates for screening interview ~15-20

Candidates for campus interview ~3-5


Preparing for interviewsBASIC:• Attend job talks in your department or related departmentChat with advisor about their thoughts on the talk

INTERMEDIATE:• Research each institution you will be interviewed by

What is their mission? Who are their students and faculty?How does the new position fit into the academic landscape?With whom will you be talking?

ADVANCED:• Practice how you would answer questions about

Your current research, research goals and your teachingThink about your answers from the search committee’s view

63

4/24/2019

22


Screening interviews – general advice• You may only have 30 minutes for your interview

Answers must be concise, and relevant to search committeeCommittees may be evaluating your English skills

• You MUST have good, concise answers to basic questions:Why do you want this position?Why are you interested in our institution?Tell us about yourself.Tell us about your research – where will you take it next?What is your teaching experience?

• Ask about the timeline for the rest of the interview process

64


65


66

www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/interviewingadvice/practiceresources.php#Skype

4/24/2019

23


Campus interviews• Meeting the department• Meeting administrators• Meeting with graduate students and/or undergraduates• The job talk• Teaching a class• Social situations and meals

67


68

Interview scheduleInterdisciplinary Program in the Biomedical Sciences, ABC UNIVERSITY

Sunday, February 18th Arrive in City B at 2:16 pm. Picked up by Dr. X.Dinner with Professor Y at 6:30pm

Monday, February 19th

7:30-8:45 am Breakfast with Dr. A. Pickup in the hotel front desk area9:00-9:30 Dr. B9:30-10:00 Dr. C10:00-10:30 Dr. D10:30-11:00 Dr. E11:00 -11:30 Dr. F11:30-Noon Dr. GNoon–1:00pm Lunch with Graduate Students and Post Docs1-2:30 Dr. H2:30-3:00 Dr. I3:00-3:30 Dr. J3:30-4:00 Prepare for seminar4:00-5:00 Seminar ‘The Selection and Activation of Regulatory T cells’6:00 Dinner Dr. L and others

Tuesday, February 20th Check out at 8:30 am Dr. X drive to airport11:45 am Departure


The “job talk” or research talk• A 30-60 minute presentation on your research• Given to the search committee…, but also to:

Other interested members of the faculty; students; people who might know little about your subject

• An opportunity to showcase research (and teaching) skills To connect your research with faculty and students at the

institution by making it relevant You’re an expert on your research and need to help people

learn about what you do, and care about how/why you do it Answer the “so what?” question about your research

• Summarize why your research is significant to your field Is it fundable and publishable?

69

4/24/2019

24


The research talk hour-glass

• Start broad/general

• Make your research relevant to those who may not have expertise in your subject area

• Provide some context for your research

• Talk about the “burning question” that drives you

THE BEGINNING

70


The research talk hour-glass

• Focus in on your specific research questions

• Use the general foundation that you started with to explain why your research questions are important

• Discuss findings

• Illustrate your findings as much as you can

THE MIDDLE

71


The research talk hour-glass• End on a broader note

• Talk about:• Why your research is

important to the discipline as a whole

• How it will make you a better teacher

• How you can foresee collaborations with other faculty

• Mention future research –research you know would be possible at that institution THE END

72

4/24/2019

25


Some final points to remember• Never talk for longer than the time allotted

Leave time for questions, and be prepared for challenging or adversarial ones

Answering questions shows you ability to think on your feet

• Be enthusiastic/strategic about future research plansHelps people envision working with you in the future Shows that you can be an independent researcher

(especially important for postdocs) who can bring in grants

• Practice, practice, practice!

73


Challenging questions you might get in an interview• Would you be comfortable designing web courses

(including laboratory)?• How are you a good fit with this institution?• What is your greatest strength?• Tell us about a conflict or challenge you’ve had with your

research, and how you resolved the issue• I don’t know anything about your field of research – teach

me something now.• What does diversity mean to you?• So…, what can I tell you?

74


Preparing for campus interviews• Practice job talk with an audience that asks hard questions,

and with specialists and non-specialistsYou need expert and cocktail party versions of your research

• Give context for your research and talk about why what you've done is importantWhat questions have you answeredHave a research agenda with some well-thought out projects

• Prepare to talk about your teachingWhat you’ve done right; what you’ve learned from mistakes

• Research institution/department/interviewers and be able to talk about why you’re a good fitFit is crucial when final candidates are similarly qualified

75

4/24/2019

26


Remember to ask questions• You might ask questions about:

Teaching responsibilities Expectations for scholarship The tenure process and tenure criteria The students Current collaborations that faculty are involved with On-campus support for teaching and grant-writing

• Try to understand the nature of your potential colleaguesWhat do they like the most about the institution?Do they seem to be happy there?

• You should ask about:Timeline for when search committee will make a decision

76


Negotiating and accepting offers

77


market

Preparing and

applying




with Plan B


After the campus interviews conclude• Search committee, or possibly the whole department,

deliberatesThey may rank candidates on or just discuss their talk,

teaching, research plans and interpersonal skillsThey will also discuss each candidate’s “fit”They will get feedback from staff and students who

interacted with them

78

• Candidates need to be patient in waiting to hear

4/24/2019

27


Getting offers

• Offers usually come by phone, but may come in an email

• Indicate how pleased you are but don’t accept immediately “I’d like a few days to think about this”Think about questions you want to ask

• Do research on the institution’s policies and resources for new facultyOften there is a section on the Human Resources or

Provost website When possible, use your networksAAUP has faculty salary surveys (Chronicle of Higher Ed

links to information)

79


80

http://data.chronicle.com/


81

4/24/2019

28


Negotiating Offers: things that may be negotiable• Decision date• Salary • Start-up funds for equipment, supplies and personnel

Research assistants Computer resources

• Summer research funding• Travel funds and conference expenses• Teaching load and teaching schedule• Starting date• Moving expenses/housing help• Job-hunting help for partner or spouse

Benefits such as insurance coverage usually aren’t negotiable

82


Negotiating well• When possible, negotiate by phone and follow up by email

• Decide what you want to negotiate based on what will help you get tenureBe intentional with professional reasons for what you seek

• This is the time to bring up a spouse/partner or pregnancySome institutions have policies for dual career couplesSome institutions have child care services or resources

• What to do when you have Two or more offersAn offer from your second choice school when you haven’t

even interviewed at your first choice school

83


Accepting an offer• If terms of the offer changed during negotiating, get a new

offer letter

• Thank everyone who helped you

• Notify other institutions who interviewed you that you have accepted a job and withdraw from the search

• Notify your network of contacts that you have accepted an offer

• FINISH YOUR RESEARCH

84

4/24/2019

29


QUESTIONSAnswers

85


Restarting your search; Using Plan B

86


market

Preparing and

applying




with Plan B


When you don’t have a job offer• Thank all who helped you

• Keep working on your research

• Talk with your advisor and others about how you can strengthen your candidacy

• Will you go on the market again? In many fields it is standard to go on market more than onceHow many times are you willing to do so?

• Preparing to go on the market againAssess what you can do to be a stronger candidateShould you be more flexible in terms of kinds of institutions

and geographic locations?

87

4/24/2019

30


What is your Plan B?• Will you pursue visiting positions or postdoctoral

fellowships while searching for a tenure-track position?

• Will you consider faculty positions outside of the US?

• Will you consider expanded career paths?

• Know your priorities and how they affect decision-making:How many times are you willing to move? Are there personal considerations (partner/children) that

might affect your choices?

88


Benefits of a postdoc• Postdoc = period of post-PhD training usually focused on research

It is a TEMPORARY position They are valued differently in different career fields Some postdocs also have a teaching component (humanities) Postdocs exist in government (NIH), industry, and academic

institutions Research jobs in industry outside of academia also value postdoc

experience

• A postdoc can be used to: Move your current research forward Develop research platform to move you in a related direction Learn an entirely new set of research skills Expand your networks

89


Exploring expanded careers• Approach this task as you would any research project

Find the most effective sources of informationOnline People Practice

• Assess your skills and values and learn about interesting career/job possibilitiesmyIDP (STEM); ImaginePhD (Hum/SS)

• Talk with a Career Services advisor about your interests

• Connect with people in careers of interest to you through QuakerNet (available only to students and graduates)LinkedIn Alumni of your other institutionsThrough friends and family

90

4/24/2019

31


Resources that can help you• Career Services programs and more

Meet with a career advisor as you progress through your PhD; attend CS events, workshops, fairs, programs, and more

• Online resources ImaginePhD; myIDP The Versatile PhD Carpe Careers blog on Inside Higher Ed website

• Publications (incl. Career Services reference library) So What Are You Going to Do with That (Basalla/Debelius) Put Your Science to Work (Fiske) Careers Options for Biomedical Scientists Next Gen PhD

• Former grad students & postdocs

91


92


93

http://myidp.sciencecareers.org/

https://www.insidehighered.com/career-advice/carpe-careers

4/24/2019

32


94

https://secure.www.upenn.edu/vpul/careerservices/pennkey/esub.php


95

www.insidehighered.com/career-advice/carpe-careers


96

www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/phdpostdoccareers.php

Making the Most of your PhD/Postdoc

Searching, Applying, Interviewing, and Negotiating for Jobs

Taking Advantage of Career Services

4/24/2019

33


Next steps• Discuss your academic job search with a career advisor

Develop a good professional relationship with advisor/PIAttend job talks on your campusDevelop clear future research goalsReview CV, cover letter, teaching philosophy, research

statement, and anything else!Set up a mock interview

• For Penn students/postdocs: 2 ways to make an appointment:Activate your Handshake account to use the online scheduler

(visit: www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/handshake) Call 215 898 7530

97


98


99

QUESTIONS?

http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/handshake

preparing for the academic job search · materials: e.g., research statement, teaching philosophy...

Documents