John BurtonJohn BurtonAssociate Professor and DirectorAssociate Professor and DirectorAmerican StudiesAmerican StudiesDePaul UniversityDePaul University

The Academic The Academic Job SearchJob Search

Types of PositionsTypes of Positions

Tenure-Track Assistant Tenure-Track Assistant ProfessorsProfessors

InstructorsInstructors Visiting Positions—One-YearVisiting Positions—One-Year Visiting Positions—Visiting Positions—

RenewableRenewable Senior Positions (Full and Senior Positions (Full and

Associate Professors)Associate Professors)

Academic Job Search:Academic Job Search:The Faculty ViewThe Faculty View

What happens before the search begins:What happens before the search begins:

• Institutional Needs AssessmentInstitutional Needs Assessment

• Position Proposal & DescriptionPosition Proposal & Description

• Faculty Search CommitteeFaculty Search Committee

TimetableTimetable

Positions approved later Spring Positions approved later Spring or Early Summeror Early Summer

Advertisement in late Summer or Advertisement in late Summer or AutumnAutumn

Interviews at National Interviews at National Conferences in Autumn/Early Conferences in Autumn/Early WinterWinter

Interviews WinterInterviews Winter One-Year Positions in late SpringOne-Year Positions in late Spring

The Search CommitteeThe Search Committee

MembershipMembership BackgroundBackground Time CommitmentTime Commitment Length of ServiceLength of Service PoliticsPolitics

Finding Open PositionsFinding Open Positions

Begin EarlyBegin Early Search widely (Chronicle, H-Net, Search widely (Chronicle, H-Net,

Journals and Newsletters)Journals and Newsletters) Job Listings at Professional Job Listings at Professional

OrganizationsOrganizations Check locallyCheck locally

Reading the Job AdReading the Job Ad

What is the department looking for?What is the department looking for? ““Double” DescriptionDouble” Description Teaching vs. ResearchTeaching vs. Research Vague or specificVague or specific Who are they?Who are they?

Research the InstitutionResearch the Institution

Job DescriptionJob Description Check the WebCheck the Web Ask FriendsAsk Friends

Applying for the PositionApplying for the Position

Curriculum VitaeCurriculum Vitae Cover LetterCover Letter

Curriculum Vitae--PartsCurriculum Vitae--Parts

EducationEducation Teaching ExperienceTeaching Experience

Courses TaughtCourses Taught ResearchResearch

Papers & PublicationsPapers & Publications Service & Work ExperienceService & Work Experience

Curriculum Vita--TipsCurriculum Vita--Tips

Make it comprehensive, but don’t pad itMake it comprehensive, but don’t pad it Avoid GimmicksAvoid Gimmicks Make it easy to ReadMake it easy to Read Keep it chronologicalKeep it chronological Proof Read, Proof Read, Proof ReadProof Read, Proof Read, Proof Read

The Typical CV gets less than one minute The Typical CV gets less than one minute of attentionof attention

The Cover LetterThe Cover Letter

PersonalizePersonalize Call attention to your strengthsCall attention to your strengths Tailor to the InstitutionTailor to the Institution Include a teaching philosophyInclude a teaching philosophy Describe your research succinctlyDescribe your research succinctly

The Cover letter is your one chance to stand outThe Cover letter is your one chance to stand out—It may only be skimmed so make it clear and —It may only be skimmed so make it clear and directdirect

ReferencesReferences

Identify before you begin the job Identify before you begin the job searchsearch

Provide copies of your CV and Provide copies of your CV and basic cover letterbasic cover letter

Tailor the references to different Tailor the references to different aspects of your experienceaspects of your experience

Should include your dissertation Should include your dissertation chairchair

Where to ApplyWhere to Apply

The Long Shot???The Long Shot??? ““I could teach that. . . .”I could teach that. . . .” The Nineteenth Century is really just the late The Nineteenth Century is really just the late

eighteenth Century. . . .eighteenth Century. . . . Is Neurobiology Environmental Science?Is Neurobiology Environmental Science?

Think really carefully about applying outside your Think really carefully about applying outside your field. You probably will be wasting time and field. You probably will be wasting time and moneymoney

Assembling the PacketAssembling the Packet

Get the details right—position title, Get the details right—position title, department name, and universitydepartment name, and university

Don’t foldDon’t fold Don’t call the department unless Don’t call the department unless

absolutely necessaryabsolutely necessary Don’t include more than requested Don’t include more than requested

(don’t send your book if they haven’t (don’t send your book if they haven’t asked)asked)

Reviewing the Reviewing the ApplicationsApplications

200+ applications common200+ applications common 4-5 faculty review committees4-5 faculty review committees Creating a Short List (Politics & Creating a Short List (Politics &

Personalities) Personalities) Phone or National Conference interviewsPhone or National Conference interviews

The “Phone Call”The “Phone Call”

Get the information you need to interview Get the information you need to interview well.well.

Ask what you need to prepare or provide.Ask what you need to prepare or provide. Be as professional as possible (change Be as professional as possible (change

your voice mail message if necessary)your voice mail message if necessary) Try not to call back to the department Try not to call back to the department

before the initial interviewbefore the initial interview

Initial InterviewInitial Interview

Often only ½ hourOften only ½ hour Keep your responses succinct and directKeep your responses succinct and direct Watch your interviewers—if more than Watch your interviewers—if more than

one, make sure to focus on all of themone, make sure to focus on all of them Dress Appropriately—error on being to Dress Appropriately—error on being to

formal than not formal enoughformal than not formal enough Be polite but not overly personalBe polite but not overly personal

On-Campus InterviewOn-Campus Interview

Study the InstitutionStudy the Institution Learn about the Department & FacultyLearn about the Department & Faculty Be prepared with Syllabi, Papers, ArticlesBe prepared with Syllabi, Papers, Articles Sleep well!Sleep well! Take breaks when providedTake breaks when provided

Parts of the InterviewParts of the Interview

Teaching PresentationTeaching Presentation Research PresentationResearch Presentation InterviewsInterviews Campus TourCampus Tour

Teaching Teaching PresentationPresentation

Take it really seriouslyTake it really seriously Know about the course and/or audienceKnow about the course and/or audience Directed to both students and facultyDirected to both students and faculty Don’t depend on the students or faculty Don’t depend on the students or faculty

for successfor success

Research PresentationResearch Presentation

Make it interesting!!Make it interesting!! Not everyone attending may be in your Not everyone attending may be in your

fieldfield Be prepared for technology snafusBe prepared for technology snafus You’re the expert!!You’re the expert!!

InterviewsInterviews

Answer the questions directly—then stop Answer the questions directly—then stop talking!talking!

Look at everybody in the roomLook at everybody in the room Be prepared for academic disputes Be prepared for academic disputes

between facultybetween faculty

End of the Search:End of the Search:The Job Offer!!!The Job Offer!!!

Next Steps:Next Steps:

Tenure!!Tenure!!