Pop Quiz: Applying for jobs?
So it looks like I’ll be applying for my first tenure track position in the next month or so, which is both exciting and terrifying.
The school in question is actually an unusually good fit for my particular skill set and teaching philosophy, especially considering the very interdisciplinary nature of my work, so I’m really hoping things turn out well.
So, does anyone have any advice for someone on the market for the first time? Has anyone been on a search committee? Are there any (non discipline related) things that make some candidates stand out from the pile?
The Pop Quiz is a question posed to you, the Scholars of Doubt. Look for it to appear Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 3pm ET.
Featured image: Curriculum vitae of Albert Abrams, 1881.
I’m in Math, so things may be a bit different… One advice I would give is your cover letter: it should be relatively short (definitely no more than one page), it should clearly state what position you are applying for, and you should have tailored paragraph where you explain why that particular position (or that particular institution) and you are a good fit. Find something to highlight from your background, and direct them to that in your application package (“As you can see in my CV, I have done…”) In short, help the committee, who is likely reading hundreds of applications, know what you are applying for and why they should take a closer look at your file, without drowning them in information about you on the first page. Also, get your documents together, and have someone who recently went through a successful job search take a look at them and give you specific suggestions or criticisms. Best of luck! It’s tough looking for jobs in Academia.