The Academic Job Search Handbook

Introduction to the Fourth Edition

Introduction to the Fourth Edition The Academic Job Search Handbook is designed to be a comprehensive guide to what is sometimes a needlessly bewildering process. It is written to help recent Ph.D.s, as well as junior faculty members who are changing positions , benefit from the experience of those who have successfully navigated the academic market. Our guidance is geared toward those conducting a job search in the United States. Candidates looking for jobs in other countries may find our advice to be of use; however, it is beyond the scope of this book to comment on the nuances of the job search in other countries or regions of the world. Since the Handbook was first published in 1992, and even since the third edition in 2001, the ways candidates look for jobs have not substantially changed, so much of the original advice remains the same. However, we have added some new materials. We have enhanced the sections on interviewing, negotiating job offers, starting the first job, and expanded career opportunities for Ph.D.s. The sample job hunting materials have been updated and expanded to provide job candidates with an array of possibilities in terms of content, arrangement , and format. We have added a sample teaching portfolio, a sample interview schedule, and a sample letter of offer. The book begins with an overview of academic careers and institutional structures. It then takes you step by step through the application process, from establishing relationships with advisors years before going on the market to making the most of a new position. Steps discussed include positioning yourself in the market, learning about job listings, preparing vitas, cover letters, and other application materials related to teaching and research, discussing plans with those who will recommend you, participating in conferences, and negotiating offers. The final chapter reflects the reality that many people, while having an academic career as their first choice, are also considering other options as they pursue their academic search. Sample written materials, a timetable for your search, an appendix of scholarly and professional associations, and an appendix of resources are included. Because so many of the students and postdocs we work with are con- 2 Introduction to the Fourth Edition cerned with balancing family and a demanding career in research and teaching, we’ve expanded the section on dual career couples and included some first person narratives from members of academic couples. Similarly we have included the stories of candidates who’ve been pregnant or nursing when on the job market as well as suggestions concerning the ‘‘right time’’ to have children. It is our hope that these stories can provide job candidates with practical strategies for negotiating these situations. Increasingly universities are evaluating their family leave policies in an attempt to retain academics, particularly women, for whom family is a priority. We feel this is a positive trend and are optimistic that these policies will continue to become more widespread. Though each discipline has its own customs we have found that there are fundamental similarities in effective searches, whether one is a scientist, a social scientist, a humanist, or an academic in a professional field. However , what is ‘‘right’’ is frequently what is done in one’s own field. Thus, this guide should never replace the specific conventions of your discipline. You may find useful advice on job hunting from your national professional association. Faculty members in your own field will usually be able to give the best perspective on your search. In job hunting, as in anything else, unanimity is rare. When expert advice conflicts, we hope that the handbook will have given you a perspective from which to form your own judgment . Even if you are particularly interested in a few specific topics, we suggest that you read the book in its entirety. If you do, you will begin to see how advice on one topic is related to advice on another. If you understand the logic of the approach suggested in the situations we do discuss, you will be able to improvise effectively when you encounter a new situation. We hope that this revised volume is helpful. Academic careers offer the opportunity for intensely satisfying and productive work. For many years we have worked with doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows at our own institution and corresponded with Ph.D.s nationally who read our online column for The Chronicle of Higher Education. We have also spoken with faculty and administrators across...