Strategies for Obtaining Your First
Academic Position
Jacquelyn K. Nagel, Pd.D.
Raquel Perez-Castillejos, Ph.D.
Raenita Fenner, Ph.D.
WE14 Academic Track
Engineers Make a World of Difference
SWE WIA Committee
• Mentoring program for academic women
• Seeking both mentors and protégées
• Academic track at WE14
• Academic reception, LACC, 503
• Saturday, October 25th at 2:45PM
• Webinars
• Join our listserve:
• Email wia-chair@swe.org
• Find us on LinkedIn
• SWE Women in Academia
• Join our committee!
QR code to sign up for
mentoring program
• Contact jennifer.patterson@mtm.kuleuven.be
Strategies for Obtaining Your First
Academic Position
Part I: The Academic Application
Jacquelyn K. Nagel, Ph.D. – James Madison University
Raquel Perez-Castillejos, Ph.D. – New Jersey Institute of Technology
Raenita Fenner, Ph.D. – Loyola University Maryland
The Academic Application
Agenda
O
What are you looking for?
O
Components of the Academic Application
O Cover Letter
O CV
O Letters of Reference
O Research Statement
O Teaching Statement
O
What to emphasize in the application?
O
What search committees are looking for?
O
The Big Picture
O
Recap
O
Questions
What Are You Looking For?
O What type of institution? Research-1? Teaching?
Combined research/teaching?
O What geographic locations appeal to you?
O What are your strengths?
Think carefully about whether you would
really go to a place before you apply. Think
through your personal priorities and let them
guide you.
Institution
Type
Teaching
Load
Doctorate Granting
institution (R1)
Masters Colleges and Predominately
Universities
Undergraduate
Institutions (PUI)
What
Are You
Looking
For?
1-2 courses/term
2-3 courses/term
3-4 courses/term
TA Support
Grad students and
post-docs- graders,
lab support
Grad students,
maybe undergrads
Undergrads- graders, lab
support, or none
Research
Expectations
(approx.)
Publications: Multiple Publications: One a
each year
year
Grants: $500K – 1M Grants: $100K-500K
Publications: 1 every 2-3
years
Grants: Apply
Service Load
5% of time
10-15% of time
20% of time
Class size
20-40 students
15-30 students
5-30 students
Pedagogy
Teacher-centered
In between
Student-centered, SoTL
Pay
Higher
In between
Lower
Summer
Expectations
Research!
Varies
Whatever I want
Components of Academic Application
CV
References
Cover Letter
Application
components
Research
Statement
Teaching
Statement
The Cover Letter
Purpose
•Offers an opportunity to create interest in you
•Summarizes your qualifications and interests
What to
include?
•Relate back to faculty call language - Explain how you fulfil the
criteria
•Why you are applying for the job?
•Highlight significant achievements which demonstrate future
success as a faculty member
How to tailor
your letter
•R1: Significant research achievements; show plans to be a
successful researcher
•PUI: Teaching experience, Ability to mentor undergraduate
students in many facets
The CV
Essentials
What to
include?
How to tailor
your CV
•Well organized!
•Error free!
•Education
•Honors/Awards
•Grants
•Publications/ Invited Talks/Oral Presentations
•Teaching Experience
•Service Activities
•R1: Lead with research
•PUI: Lead with teaching
Teaching Statement
O
Describe your philosophy towards teaching and experiences that led to this
perspective. Try to answer the following:
O
O
O
O
O
Why do you teach?
What do you teach?
How do you teach?
How do measure effectiveness?
How do you manage diversity in classroom?
O Race/Ethnic
O Socioeconomic
O Preparedness Levels
O Discuss courses within the core curriculum that you could teach.
O
Use the language of the department
O
Propose new courses that might be developed in the future that you could
teach.
O
Undergrad and grad
Research Statement
O
Statement of the problem
O
O
O
O
Describe future research plans
O
O
O
Key unanswered questions in field
How will your work contribute?
Explain it such that the search committee members can relate
Usually one that is related to your prior work that is clearly feasible
One or two projects that demonstrate your ability to think beyond
your current work
Provide potential funding sources
O R1: You can be more detailed in your future research plans.
O PUI: Be more general if you are applying to a department
where no one is in your specialty area.
Letters of Recommendation
O KEY ELEMENT of application – choose wisely
Be ready to provide them with a draft or bullet list of points you would like them to
mention in their letter
O Some departments will ask to call your references; Choose people who will be
available during the relevant time frame.
O
O
Number ranges from approximately 3-5
O
O
Some departments will ask you to provide the names, others will ask that you
solicit the references to send the letters.
Timing of the letters varies — some ask for the letters from the beginning,
others later in the process
O Who should you select?
O R1: Government or industry sponsor of successful research project
O PUI: Faculty who have supervised your teaching assistantships
What to Emphasize in the Application?
O How you fit the position?
O What value you bring to the institution
O Publication record
O Exciting research plan
O Creative and innovative while also feasible
O Interesting and innovative teaching plans
O Highlight your experiences and capabilities
O Other experiences
O Grants, workshops, awards, etc.
O
Brag about your successes (within reason)!
What Are Search Committees Looking For?
Perception of excellence
by wide spectrum of
reviewing faculty
Research that
integrates into the
department
•May match already
existing, may open new
areas
Exciting
vision/philosophy of
teaching
•Teaching potential that
matches need in the
department
Effective organization
that clearly conveys:
•Strong accomplishments
•Well-written and exciting
research plan
Great reference
letters
•Evidence of innovation,
creativity, hard work, etc.
Where to Look for Academic
Job Postings
O Chronicle of Higher Education
O Academic Keys
O HERC – Higher Education Recruitment
Consortium
O Professional Society Career Boards (IEEE,
ASME, ASEE, etc.)
O SWE Women in Academia (WIA) LinkedIn
Site
Bigger Picture
O
O
Read the call for applications carefully! It may contain
keys to what they are looking for that you use in your
cover letter.
Do your homework on the faculty and University
O Use that information to craft your application
O The more you can use their language, the easier it will be
for the committee to understand your potential
O Submitting a few well-targeted and well-prepared
applications to places you actually want to work, is far
better than mass-mailing hundreds (or even dozens).
Recap
What Are You Looking For?
•What type of institution?
•What parts of the country appeal to you?
Application components:
•CV
• Cover Letter
• Teaching Statement
•Research Statement
•References
What to Emphasize in the Application?
•How you fit the position?
•Publication record
•Exciting research plan
•Interesting and innovative teaching plans
•Other experiences: Grants, workshops, awards, etc.
•Brag about your successes (within reason)!
What are search committees looking for?
•Perception of excellence by wide spectrum of reviewing faculty
•Effective organization that clearly conveys:
•Great reference letters
•Exciting vision/philosophy of teaching
•Research that integrates into the department
Bigger Picture
•Read the call for applications carefully
•Do your homework on the faculty and University
Questions?
About the academic application
Thank you for your time
and attention!
Jacquelyn K. Nagel, Ph.D. – James Madison University
Raquel Perez-Castillejos, Ph.D. – New Jersey Institute of Technology
Raenita A. Fenner, Ph.D. – Loyola University Maryland
THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING OUR SESSION!
SWE WIA Committee
• Mentoring program for academic women
• Seeking both mentors and protégées
• Academic track at WE14
• Academic reception, LACC, 503
• Saturday, October 25th at 2:45PM
• Join our listserve:
• Email wia-chair@swe.org
• Find us on LinkedIn
• SWE Women in Academia
• Join our committee!
QR code to sign up for
mentoring program
• Contact jennifer.patterson@mtm.kuleuven.be
Fundamentals of the Academic Job
Search
Jacquelyn K. Nagel, Pd.D.
Raquel Perez-Castillejos, Ph.D.
Raenita Fenner, Ph.D.
WE14 Academic Track
Engineers Make a World of Difference
SWE WIA Committee
• Mentoring program for academic women
• Seeking both mentors and protégées
• Academic track at WE14
• Academic reception, LACC, 503
• Saturday, October 25th at 2:45PM
• Webinars
• Join our listserve:
• Email wia-chair@swe.org
• Find us on LinkedIn
• SWE Women in Academia
• Join our committee!
QR code to sign up for
mentoring program
• Contact jennifer.patterson@mtm.kuleuven.be
Strategies for Obtaining Your First
Academic Position
Part II: The Academic Interview
Jacquelyn K. Nagel, Ph.D. – James Madison University
Raquel Perez-Castillejos, Ph.D. – New Jersey Institute of Technology
Raenita Fenner, PhD. – Loyola University Maryland
The Academic Interview
Agenda
O Components of the Academic Interview
O The Phone Interview
O On-Site Interview
O What Happens During the On-Site Visit?
O Asking Questions During the Interview
O What To Do When….
O Tips from a seasoned search committee member
O Recap/Questions
Academic Interview
Components
O Two stages:
O Phone – Chance to make a first impression
beyond what is on paper
O On-site – The in-person follow up to the phone
interview at the University
O Department wants to know if you are right for
them
O You want to know if department is right for you
Phone Interview
O Take it seriously!
O Pay attention to tone of voice
O Chance to make a first impression
O Demonstrate that you have done your
research
O Your level of interest and information is
important
On-Site Interview Preparation
O Interview visits are a marathon event!
O Typically 2 days
O Do your homework!
O Research faculty, department, university,
geographic area
O Most important step in determining whether
interview becomes an offer
O Allows you to interact with those who will make
the offer decision
O Varies between institutions (full professors, entire
department, role of dean/provost)
Social Interactions and
Meetings
O One-on-one meetings with faculty, chair, dean and provost
(varies by institution)
For these shorter meetings, an “elevator” speech that
summarizes your work is important
O Have questions prepared based on your research of that
person
O
O Will interact with a number of people
O Short, intense period
O Prepare 0.5 - 1 min elevator speech about ‘what you do’
O ALWAYS BE “ON”!!!
Even in casual meal sessions, you are being evaluated and
judged
O Do not “let down” at any time during the process
O
Teaching and Research
Presentations
O Formal presentations: Exude confidence!
O Public presentation on research
O R1: Detailed content, research funding plan
O PUI: Generalize your work, how can undergrads get
involved
O Teaching presentation (varies by institution)
O R1: May or may not happen
O PUI: Detailed, organized, and scripted lecture
Asking Questions During the
Interview
O Carefully plan the questions to ask
O You don’t want to offend your hosts
O Be polite, calm, and friendly
O You DO want to get the information
O Be curious, not demanding
O Repeat questions, but only a few questions
with everyone, to get an integrated view
O Be sure to ask the Chair and/or Dean, as
appropriate all the questions that are most
critical for you
What To Do When….
O Someone asks a question forbidden by law (e.g.,
Are you married? Do you have children?)
O Possible responses
O Refocus (e.g., “My husband’s job is very portable”)
O Follow up with a question of your own “Can you tell me
something about relationships between the department
and industry in this area?”)
O Indicate that you would prefer not to answer
O Note that the question is outside the boundaries you
understand for this process……and many more options
O Ask if there are procedures for handling the two-body
problem
Tips from a seasoned search
committee member
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
Figure out the on-line application system and if you have
questions call HR, not the Search Chair or the Department
secretary
The phone interview is not just a formality. Be as prepared for
it as you would be for the on-site interview.
Answer the questions asked, not the ones you want them to
ask.
Have questions ready for the committee.
If you are applying to an institution where you will be required
to teach – your English skills will be assessed!!! Practice.
Research the search committee. Know what they understand
and what they may not to know how to discuss your area of
research.
Do your homework on the faculty and University before hand!!!
Closing word of wisdom…
O EVERYTHING can (should) be negotiated.
O Salary (base pay and summer salary).
O Lab space.
O Teaching load.
O Start-up package (amount and duration).
O Number of students.
O Service.
Recap
O Components of the Academic Interview
O The Phone Interview
O On-Site Interview
O What Happens During the On-Site Visit?
O Asking Questions During the Interview
O What To Do When….
O Tips from a seasoned search committee member
Questions?
About the academic interview
References
O Rice University Advance - http://advance.rice.edu
O Making the Right Moves: A Practical Guide to Scientific
Management for Postdocs and New Faculty - Howard Hughes
Medical Institute
O Sternberg, R.J. (2013) “12 Bloopers to Avoid in Job Interviews”
in The Chronicle of Higher Education.
http://chronicle.com/article/Bloopers-to-Avoid-in-Job/137449
O Cummings, L. (2013) “Applying for Faculty Positions:
Preparation” Department of Mathematical Sciences, New
Jersey Institute of Technology.
O Washington University of St. Louis – The Teaching Center
O http://teachingcenter.wustl.edu/About/ProgramsforGraduateS
tudentsandPostdocs/resources/Pages/Writing-a-TeachingPhilosophy-Statement.aspx
Thank you for your time
and attention!
Jacquelyn K. Nagel, Ph.D. – James Madison University
Raquel Perez-Castillejos, Ph.D. – New Jersey Institute of Technology
Raenita A. Fenner, Ph.D. – Loyola University Maryland
THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING OUR SESSION!
SWE WIA Committee
• Mentoring program for academic women
• Seeking both mentors and protégées
• Academic track at WE14
• Academic reception, LACC, 503
• Saturday, October 25th at 2:45PM
• Join our listserve:
• Email wia-chair@swe.org
• Find us on LinkedIn
• SWE Women in Academia
• Join our committee!
QR code to sign up for
mentoring program
• Contact jennifer.patterson@mtm.kuleuven.be