Marketing Yourself Appropriately:How to Assemble Your Job Packet & Your “Elevator” Speech

Modupe Akinola, PhDColumbia University

La Verne Hairston Higgins, PhD, GPHR, SPHREastern Michigan University

Conferences & Talks

» Attend Talks˃ Get to know Faculty at various schools

+ Have lunch with speakers+ Schedule one-on-one time with speakers in your research domain

» Attend Conferences and Submit Papers/Symposia˃ Symposia at conferences (particularly AoM) have higher acceptance rates

+ Gather a “dream team” of faculty & students for a symposium

» Attend Parties/Socials˃ Informal events at conferences provide valuable opportunities to speak

with faculty and graduate students about research interests˃ Great way to gain inside information about various schools

Doctoral Consortia

» AoM Divisional consortia for student entering the job market˃ Information and deadlines are typically sent through the division list

serve˃ You should sign up for the division list serve if you have not already

» Make sure to meet the application deadlines˃ A nomination from your department or faculty may be required˃ Typically deadlines are May-June

Academic Job Search

Your Packet

» Consult with your advisor and mentors to identify potential schools˃ Become very familiar with their websites

» Inform your faculty that you are on the job market» Prepare a draft of your application packet for

˃ Review and feedback from your advisor, mentors and faculty˃ Your advisor to send to friends at the schools you’ve identified

» Post materials with AoM Placement Services˃ If your advisors approves˃ Don’t do this if you’re not actively in the job market˃ Facilitates interviews at AoM annual meeting˃ Very important if you desire a position outside the US

Packet Contents

» Cover letter˃ Express interest in department, programs, etc.˃ Suggests meeting at AoM, if you are attending˃ Notification that your advisor will be forwarding a letter of

recommendation

» Curriculum Vita» Samples of your research

˃ 1-3 working or research papers˃ Research statement

+ 3-5 pages on how your work constitutes a “research stream”

Elevator Speech

» Focus on critical information to be conveyed» Prepare 2-5 minute summary » Avoid clichés!» Practice delivering your elevator pitch

˃ Get feedback ˃ Incorporate feedback as appropriate

» Think about follow-up questions your elevator pitch could precipitate

Interviewing at AoM

» Attend AoM Placement Workshop for Applicants, if possible

» Preliminary interviews (usually 20-30 minutes)» BE PREPARED!!!

˃ Know who will be present at the interview˃ Know the interview location˃ Be ready to discuss the

+ Overall research interests+ Timeline for completion of your doctorate+ Teaching area(s) and experience + Your current projects+ Your Elevator Speech

˃ Be ready to ask questions regarding the+ Climate within the institution, school, and department+ Culture for junior faculty

» Not all interviews will go well!

AoM Strategy

» Attend Hosted Social Events˃ Sponsored by your Schools of interest˃ Know whose work aligns with your interests

» Follow-up with people for One-on-One meetings˃ Not everyone who your or your advisor/mentors have contacted will be

at the Academy˃ Use Placement Services to identify additional people to contact ˃ Don’t be disheartened if you are not contacted or don’t have any formal

interview invitations

» Remember the dress code – Business Casual+

Post-AoM Strategy

» Feedback to AoM contacts˃ “Great to have met you” emails

+ To those with whom you had high quality conversations+ To fellow attendees and presenters at your doctoral consortium

» Join Graduate student information sharing groups, if you’re comfortable doing so˃ Formats are variable

Your Application

» Most applications are online submissions» Visit the website for the department, school,

and institution» Information the same as in your packet, plus

˃ New cover letter, without mentioning AoM˃ Teaching statement, if required˃ Updated CV˃ Additional letters of recommendation

+ Typically two in addition to your advisor+ Some schools prefer list of names with contact information

instead of letters

Invitations to Campus

» Invitations typically are extended ˃ Shortly after the start of Fall term, at the end of September˃ Sometimes into January

» Don’t hesitate to ask for an alternate campus visit date˃ You should avoid too many trips too close together

» Ask questions of the person extending the invitation

» Not all schools will call you!» Stay Confident!

Visit Preparations

» Practice Your Job Talk» Practice Your Job Talk» Get feedback on your Job Talk

˃ From your peers, your faculty in addition to your advisor & mentors

» Be prepared to answer questions˃ Know the literature˃ Know the methodology

» Select comfortable, appropriate attire for visits» Be prepared to talk about your work other than

your job talk topic» Ask for breaks when visiting campuses

˃ Theses are often omitted from schedules

Remember

» Don’t accept a campus invitation if you would not accept a job offer if it were extended

» Don’t hesitate to withdraw your application if you don’t believe the position or institution is a good career fit for you

» Determine if –˃ The faculty are potentially good colleagues˃ Your career interests be supported, long-term.

» Thank you notes ˃ Send within a couple of days˃ Personalize them

Questions?

AOM Conference Resources

The Academic Job Search: Workshop for ApplicantsBoston Marriott Copley Square, Salon EFriday, 3 August, 5:30 - 7:00 pm

AoM Placement Services Boston Marriott Copley Square, Third Floor AtriumFriday, noon – 5:00 pmSaturday, Sunday & Monday:

8:00 am – 5:00 pm [interviews until 8:00 pm]Tuesday, 8:00am - noon