Careers in Academia: Initiating the Job Search

Associate Provost Brian MitchellCareer Advisor Rachel Burk, PhD

October 21, 2013

• Introduction: Hiring from an Institutional Perspective

• Reading Job Announcements• Application Documents• Talking About Your Research,

Talking About Your Teaching• Conclusion: Strategies for a Successful Search

Reading Job Announcements

• Do I qualify?-position title, specialization, department-tenure-track or contract

• Institution -public or private-university, college, or community college

• Carnegie Classifications-level of research for universities, selectivity for colleges -http://classifications.carnegiefoundation.org/

Job Listing: Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering

Carnegie Classification: University of Alabama

Job Listing: Assistant Professor of Anthropology

Carnegie Classification: Beloit College

Application Documents

• CVLetter of Application

• Research StatementTeaching Statement

• Writing SampleLetters of RecommendationTranscripts

Curriculum VitaeA curriculum vitae (also known as a CV, C.V. or vita) is a comprehensive, detailed account of your

academic credentials and achievements. A basic for your academic dossier, it is also required to apply for academic grants, fellowships, and

conferences, sometimes in abbreviated form. Your CV is a living document: it will grow as you accomplish more. A.B.D.s and recent graduates

have vitas that are from two to five pages in length while senior faculty can have documents of ten to more than 25 pages.

Sections

Contact InformationEducationResearch ExperienceTeaching ExperienceHonors/Grants/Awards/FellowshipsPublicationsConference Papers/Invited Talks/Presentations Professional Memberships

Curriculum Vitae (2)

OPTIONAL SECTIONS

Discipline-specific sections might include, Lab Skills, Data Sets, Patents, Clinical Experience, Industrial Experience, Grants, Licensures, or Performances/Exhibitions.Service Postdoctoral FellowshipsPositions Held/Current PositionReferencesTeaching and/or Research InterestsSkills/Research Languages

Letter of Application

• A cover letter is your first chance to make a strong, positive impression on a search committee. It is your best opportunity to frame your candidacy: to explain why you would make a great hire.

• A successful cover letter is:-no more than 2 pages.-targeted to the institution and department.-succinct and well-edited.

Talking About Your Research, Talking About Your Teaching

• Conference/Phone Interview

• Campus Interviews and Beyond

Conclusion: Strategies for a Successful Search

Resources• Furlong, Jennifer S. and Julia Miller Vick. The

Academic Job Search Handbook. 4th Edition. Philadelphia: The University of Pennsylvania Press, 2008.

• The Chronicle of Higher Education• Inside Higher Ed• Your Professional Organization

Graduate Career Advisors

Research Degrees: SLA, SSE, SOM (postdocs)Rachel BurkTulane Career Centerrburk@tulane.edu(504) 865-5107

SPHTMKathy BallSchool of Public Health Career Serviceskball@tulane.edu(504) 988-3902