My Experiences on the Academic Job Search in 2003

Sian Leah Beilock

Overview

• Way before you are even thinking about a job.

• The beginning.

• Where and when to look.

• Application materials.

• The interview.

• Decisions…hopefully!

Way Before…

• Keep a file of CV’s for job candidates at MSU…even if they are not in your area.

• Go to job talks at MSU – very helpful.

• Look at CV’s of junior faculty at diff. schools.

• Network – you have to do it!

– Meet with distinguished speakers/visitors.

– Talk to people at conferences.

The Beginning

• Job vs. Post doc?

– You don’t have to decide right away!

– NRSA Postdoctoral Fellowships: Application receipt deadline for Fall start is not until April 5th.

• What kind of job do you want?

– Small vs. medium vs. big school.

Where and When to Look

• Jobs posted roughly August through December.

– APA Monitor: Print and on-line.

– APS Observer: Print and on-line.

– Chronicle of higher education.

• Weekly emails of job postings and lots of neat resources for individuals on the job market.

– Ads sent to department chairs and faculty.

Application Materials

• Cover letter.

• Vita.

• Research statement.

• Teaching statement.

• Letters of recommendation – 3 or more.

– Outside person may be a good idea.

Application Materials

• Cover letter

– Usually about 2 pages…not too long.

– Includes:

• Position you are applying for.• Your degrees and when you will receive them.• Research interests and key papers.• Teaching interests and summary of teaching

effectiveness.

Application Materials

• Vita

– Education.

– Usually has short research statement on it.

– Papers, presentations, awards.

– Teaching history.

– References.

Application Materials

• Research statement.

– Mine is 3 pages.

– Covers main areas of research and makes references to your papers or work you have done in these areas.

– Dissertation topic and future directions.

Application Materials

• Teaching statement.

– Teaching philosophy and ways to implement such ideas.

– Classes you have taught.

– Summary of teaching evaluations – save your teaching evaluations!!!

– Classes you can teach in the future.

Application Materials• Letters of recommendation

– Usually schools ask for 3.

• I would send in as many good ones as you think you can get.

– Faculty in your area from another school may be a good idea.

– Give your entire application packet to your letter writers.

After the Application is Sent In

• Make a list of schools you have applied to with names of search chairs and deadlines.

• Keep this list handy!

• Be aware that you may be on display at conferences around job search time.

The Interview – Yeah!!!

• Some schools do phone interviews first.

– Mostly smaller schools.

– Be prepared!

• What are the faculty at that school doing?

• Why would you be a good fit?

• Questions about the program.

The Interview – Yeah!!!

• You will have someone at the school who is coordinating your visit.

– Schedule plane flights and lodging.

– Coordinate schedule of visit.

– Provide information about what they want from your job talk, etc.

– This person can answer your questions!

Before You Go…

• Get to know the faculty in the department.

– Research interests.

– Read quick papers of key faculty.

– Ask faculty at MSU about people they know.

• Quick facts about the school.

– How many students, etc.

Before You Go…

• List of questions for chair, dean, faculty, grads.

– Chair:

• Teaching load?• Support for research and teaching?• How does the college views the department?• Is the department growing (new lines, etc.)?• Space?• Expectations for tenure?• Tech support?

Before You Go…

• List of questions for chair, dean, faculty, grads.

– Dean:

• How does the college views the department?• Future growth of department?• Support for grants?• What are you looking for in new hires?

Before You Go…

• List of questions for chair, dean, faculty, grads.

– Faculty:

• Do you get the support you need?• Space, tech support?• How do you get along with other areas?• Do people collaborate?• Can you afford to live near campus?• Are people collegial…the job buzz word!

Before You Go…

• List of questions for chair, dean, faculty, grads.

– Graduate students:

• What would you like to see in a new hire?• Are there classes that you would like to see?• Do you get the support that you need?• How do you get along with other areas?• Do people collaborate?• Can you afford to live near campus?

Right Before You Go…

• A few days before you go on the interview you will get a schedule of people you will be meeting with.

– Write down notes about each person’s research on the schedule and then carry it with you during your interview.

Job Talk

• Its not that bad!

• About 50 minutes of your research and future directions.

• Not even CMU was worse than giving at talk in a brown bag or defense here at MSU.

• Z.H. gave me the best advise…practice, practice, practice!

Interview Schedule for Sian Leah Beilock: January 8 –10

• Wednesday January 8

•  

• 5:00 PM Arrive in Department

•  

• 5:30 PM Dinner with Members of the Cognitive FacultyLen Mark, organizer

•  

• Len Mark will drive Sian Beilock back to her lodging.

Interview Schedule for Sian Leah Beilock: January 8 –10• Thursday, January 9• 8:15 Breakfast and brief department tour Cecilia Shore•  • 9:30 Welcome Meeting with Department Chair Karen

Schilling•  • 10:30Meeting with Associate Dean, College of Steven DeLue• Arts and Science (Len Mark will escort her to the• College; Jay Smart will escort her back to the Department)•  • 11:00 Meeting with cognitive faculty member Jay Smart•  • 11:30 Lunch with faculty Gary Stasser 

Interview Schedule for Sian Leah Beilock: January 8 –10

• Thursday, January 9

• 1:00 Preparation for colloquium Niles Davis 

• 2:00 – 3:30 Colloquium (Room 207 Benton Hall)

• 3:30 Meeting with cognitive faculty member David Waller

• 4:00 Meeting with cognitive faculty member Yvonne Lippa

• 4:30 Campus tour Len Mark

• 5:15 – 6:15 Down time 

• 6:30 Dinner with younger faculty David Waller  

• 8:00 – 9:30 Reception at Karen Schilling’s home:

Interview Schedule for Sian Leah Beilock: January 8 –10

 

• Friday, January 10

• 8:30 Breakfast with Len Mark

• 9:30 Meeting with faculty in the Department of Physical Education, Health & Sport Studies Melissa Chase, RobinVealey

• 10:45 Return to Benton Hall Len Mark

• 11:00Meeting with neuroscience faculty Steve Berry

• 11:30Meeting with cognitive faculty member Allan Pantle

• 12:00 – 1:30Lunch with graduate students from the Brain and Cognitive area Dean Smith

Interview Schedule for Sian Leah Beilock: January 8 –10

 

• Friday, January 10

• 1:30 Meeting with cognitive faculty member Robin Thomas

• 2:00 Meeting with cognitive faculty member Lynn Olzak

• 2:30 Meeting with cognitive faculty member Gordon Allen

• 3:00 Meeting with cognitive faculty member Marv Dainoff

• 3:30 Exit interview with Department Chair Karen Schilling

After the Interview

• Email the chair of the search a thank you note.

– Try to spell the city that the school is in correctly…note Pittsburgh has an H at the end of it!

• Follow up with any one who wanted reprints or any other info. about you.

• Wait.

Decisions

• I have no advise here…if you have decisions to make, you are in a very nice position

What I Wish I Knew Earlier

• People have different ideas about how to conduct various parts of the search – unfortunately there is no one correct answer.

• It’s a good idea to ask the same questions to the chair, dean, and faculty.

• Marrying an academic makes things more difficult…but a lot of fun