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Page 1: WE16 - Strategies for Obtaining your First Academic Position

10/6/2016

1

Engineers Make a World of Difference

Strategies for Obtaining Your First

Academic Position

Raenita Fenner, Ph.D.

WE16 Academic Track

STRATEGIES FOR OBTAINING

YOUR FIRST ACADEMIC POSITION

PART I: THE ACADEMIC APPLICATION

Raenita Fenner, Ph.D. Loyola University

Maryland

AGENDA

� What are you looking for?

�Components of the Academic Application

�Cover Letter

�CV

� Letters of Reference

� Research Statement

� Teaching Statement

�What to emphasize in the application?

�What search committees are looking for?

�The Big Picture

�Recap

�Questions

Page 2: WE16 - Strategies for Obtaining your First Academic Position

10/6/2016

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WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

Think carefully about whether you would really go to a

place before you apply. Think through your personal

priorities and let them guide you.

What type of institution?

Research-1? Teaching? Combined research/teaching?

What geographic locations appeal to

you?

What are your strengths?

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

Institution

Type

Doctorate Granting

institution (R1)

Masters Colleges and

Universities

Predominately

Undergraduate

Institutions (PUI)

Teaching Load 1-2 courses/term 2-3 courses/term 3-4 courses/term

TA Support Grad students andpost-docs- graders,

lab support

Grad students, maybeundergrads

Undergrads- graders, lab support, or none

Research Expectations

(approx.)

Publications: Multiple each year

Grants: $500K – 1M

Publications: One a year

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

Page 3: WE16 - Strategies for Obtaining your First Academic Position

10/6/2016

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COMPONENTS OF THE ACADEMIC APPLICATION

COMPONENTS OF ACADEMIC APPLICATION

Application components

CV

Cover Letter

Teaching Statement

Research Statement

References

THE COVER LETTER

• Offers an opportunity to create interest in you• Summarizes your qualifications and interestsPurpose

• 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

What to include?

• R1: Significant research achievements; show plans to be a successful researcher

• PUI: Teaching experience, Ability to mentor undergraduate students in many facets

How to tailor your letter

Page 4: WE16 - Strategies for Obtaining your First Academic Position

10/6/2016

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THE CV

• Well organized! • Error free!Essentials

• Education• Honors/Awards• Grants • Publications/ Invited Talks/Oral Presentations• Teaching Experience• Service Activities

What to include?

• R1: Lead with research• PUI: Lead with teaching

How to tailor your CV

TEACHING STATEMENT

Describe your Philosophy towards teaching.

Experiences that led to this perspective.

Try to answer the following:

Why do you teach?

What do you teach?

How do you teach?

How do measure effectiveness?

How do you manage diversity in classroom?

Discuss courses within the core curriculum that you could teach.

Use the language of the department

Propose new courses that might be developed in the future that you could teach.

RESEARCH STATEMENTStatement of the problem

Key unanswered questions in field

How will your work contribute?

Explain it such that the search committee members can relate

Describe future research plans

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

R1: You can be more detailed in your future research plans.

PUI: Be more general if you are applying to a department where no one is in your specialty area.

Page 5: WE16 - Strategies for Obtaining your First Academic Position

10/6/2016

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LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

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� Some departments will ask to call your references; Choose people who will be available during

the relevant time frame.

Number ranges from approximately 3-5� 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

Who should you select?� R1: Government or industry sponsor of successful research project� PUI: Faculty who have supervised your teaching assistantships

WHAT TO EMPHASIZE IN THE APPLICATION?

How you fit the position? • What value you bring to

the institutionPublication record

Exciting research plan• Creative and innovative

while also feasible

Interesting and innovative teaching plans• Highlight your experiences

and capabilities

Other experiences• Grants, workshops,

awards, etc.

Brag about your successes

(within reason)!

Perception of excellence by wide

spectrum of reviewing faculty

Effective organization that clearly conveys:

• Strong accomplishments• Well-written and exciting

research plan

Great reference letters• Evidence of innovation,

creativity, hard work, etc.

Exciting vision/philosophy of teaching

• Teaching potential that matches need in the department

Research that integrates into the department

• May match already existing, may open new areas

What Are Search Committees Looking For?

Page 6: WE16 - Strategies for Obtaining your First Academic Position

10/6/2016

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WHERE TO LOOK FOR ACADEMIC JOB POSTINGS

1. Chronicle of Higher Education

2. Academic Keys

3. HERC – Higher Education Recruitment Consortium

4. Professional Society Career Boards (IEEE, ASME, ASEE, etc.)

5. SWE Women in Academia (WIA) LinkedIn Site

1. Read the call for applications carefully! It may contain keys to what they are looking for that you use in your cover letter.

2. Do your homework on the faculty and University� Use that information to craft your application

� The more you can use their language, the easier it will be for the committee to understand your potential

3. 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).

Bigger Picture

RECAPWhat 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

Page 7: WE16 - Strategies for Obtaining your First Academic Position

10/6/2016

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QUESTIONS?

STRATEGIES FOR OBTAINING

YOUR FIRST ACADEMIC POSITION

PART II: THE ACADEMIC INTERVIEW

Raenita Fenner, PhD. –Loyola University

Maryland

AGENDA

� Components of the Academic Interview

�The Phone Interview

�On-Site Interview

�What Happens During the On-Site Visit?

�Asking Questions During the Interview

�Tips from a seasoned search committee member

�Recap/Questions

Page 8: WE16 - Strategies for Obtaining your First Academic Position

10/6/2016

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ACADEMIC INTERVIEW COMPONENTS

Two stages:

Phone –• Chance to make

a first impression beyond what is on paper

On-site –• The in-person

follow up to the phone interview at the University

PHONE INTERVIEW

� Take it seriously!

� Pay attention to tone of voice

� Chance to make a first impression

� Demonstrate that you have done your research

� Your level of interest and information is important

THE ONSITE INTERVIEW

• Lunches• Dinner

• Faculty• Students• Administration• HR

Teaching Presentation

Research Presentation

Meetings/

Interviews with

Social Interactions

Page 9: WE16 - Strategies for Obtaining your First Academic Position

10/6/2016

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TEACHING AND RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS

Research Presentation

R1: Detailed content, research funding plan

PUI: Generalize your work, how can

undergrads get involved

Teaching presentation (varies by institution)

R1: May or may not happen

PUI: Detailed, organized, and scripted

lecture

SOCIAL INTERACTIONS AND MEETINGS

�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

� Have questions prepared based on your research of that person

� Will interact with a number of people� Short, intense period

� Prepare 0.5 - 1 min elevator speech about ‘what you do’

�ALWAYS BE “ON”!!! � Even in casual meal sessions, you are being evaluated and judged

� Do not “let down” at any time during the process

ON-SITE INTERVIEW PREPARATION

• Typically 2 daysInterview visits are a marathon event!

• Research faculty, department, university, geographic areaDo your homework!

Most important step in determining whether interview becomes an

offer

• Varies between institutions (full professors, entire department, role of dean/provost)

Allows you to interact with those who will make the

offer decision

Page 10: WE16 - Strategies for Obtaining your First Academic Position

10/6/2016

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ASKING QUESTIONS DURING THE INTERVIEW

� Carefully plan the questions to ask

� You don’t want to offend your hosts

� Be polite, calm, and friendly

� You DO want to get the information

� Be curious, not demanding

� Repeat questions, but only a few questions with everyone, to get an integrated view

� Be sure to ask the Chair and/or Dean, as appropriate all the questions that are most critical for you

TIPS FROM A SEASONED SEARCH COMMITTEE MEMBER

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…

EVERYTHING can (should) be negotiated.

� Salary (base pay and summer salary).

� Lab space.

� Teaching load.

� Start-up package (amount and duration).

�Number of students.

� Service.

Page 11: WE16 - Strategies for Obtaining your First Academic Position

10/6/2016

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RECAP

�Components of the Academic Interview

�The Phone Interview

�On-Site Interview

�Tips from a seasoned search committee member

QUESTIONS? About the academic interview

REFERENCES

Rice University Advance - http://advance.rice.edu

Making the Right Moves: A Practical Guide to Scientific Management for Postdocs and New Faculty - Howard Hughes Medical Institute

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

Cummings, L. (2013) “Applying for Faculty Positions: Preparation” Department of Mathematical Sciences, New Jersey Institute of Technology.

Washington University of St. Louis – The Teaching Center� http://teachingcenter.wustl.edu/About/ProgramsforGraduateStudentsandPostdocs/resources/Pages

/Writing-a-Teaching-Philosophy-Statement.aspx