Panel discussion presented by Seiichi Matsuda and Amina Qutub at the 2011 NSF ADVANCE Workshop: Negotiating the Ideal Faculty Position, A Workshop for Underrepresented PhDs and Postdocs in Science, Engineering and Psychology September 18-20, 2010
What are you looking for?
- What type of institution? Research-1? Teaching?
- Does it matter to you?
- What parts of the country appeal to you?
Think carefully about whether you would really go to a place
before you apply. Think through your personal priorities and let them guide you.
Talking points
Recruiting is time-consuming and expensive on both ends, so consider whether you really want to apply according to your personal priorities.
Interviewing is hard on both sides, and the investment of time, energy, and resources demands thoughtful preparation. If you accept an interview, do everything possible to ensure that you do your best.
What is the department seeking?
- The advertisement may be focused in a specific area. Does it overlap your expertise?
- If there is a question, address that issue in the application.
- The department may provide information in the advertisement, but peruse their website for deeper, more detailed information.
Talking points
If you know someone at the institution of interest, you can inquire about what the department is seeking. Remember always to follow the instructions in the advertisement for the position. Remember that the goal of the institution is to recruit the BEST POSSIBLE PERSON.
Applying for a position
- “Cold” applications
- Usually need to have connections to the department
- Responding to an advertisement
- Consider level and areas requested
- Solicited applications
- Be sure to present at the most relevant conferences. Hopefully this visibility will lead to contacts with hiring departments.
The department’s timeline
- Timelines vary significant between disciplines and between schools
- Be alert to the advertisement pattern in schools in which you are interested
- Some departments move quickly and make a rapid offer with a short timeline
- Some departments gather a deeper pool and move deliberately through their candidate list.
Talking points
If you know someone at the institution of interest, you can inquire about the timeline for a particular department.
The application (1)
- Cover letter
- Offers an opportunity to create interest in you
- Summarizes your qualifications and interests
- Curriculum vitae (Well organized! Error free!)
- Education, honors/awards, grants, summary of research experience, publications, invited talks, abstracts, oral presentations, teaching experience, service activities, any other pertinent information
- Some institutions may request copies of reprints of your work
Talking points
The format for a CV varies significantly between fields — ask several people that you trust to review your CV and other materials.
The application (2)
- Summary of research accomplishments and research goals (length often specified)
- Summary of your teaching interests and experiences (length often specified)
If the length of these documents is not specified, be sure to include a brief, well-articulated summary at the beginning of each document — some reviewers may not read the entire document, others will want more.
