The Academic Job Search Process
The Job Posting
When you find a position announcement that may be a fit for you, examine it carefully. What information can you glean from this short announcement? Pay close attention to these issues:
Institution Type
Is this college or university focused on research or teaching? Is it a graduate or undergraduate institution? Does the ad emphasize specific elements of teaching (i.e., writing-intensive, educational technologies, etc.) or research?
Specialization and Rank
What type of scholar is the institution looking for? Do you reasonably fit their requirements? Does the position title match your qualifications?
Credentials
Do you meet the minimum educational requirements for the position? If the position requires a PhD "in hand," and you are still finishing your dissertation, can you reasonably be done by their deadline? Institutions are increasingly advertising for positions between departments (for example, a joint appointment between anthropology and East Asian studies). If you are applying for such a position, do you meet the qualifications requested by each department?
Deadlines and Materials
Does the announcement indicate the date that review by the search committee will begin? What specific materials are requested for application? Will the committee begin interviewing potential candidates at a conference? Does the ad indicate additional materials that may be requested later?
Two sample job postings are provided. Underlined passages indicate key information to which the applicant should pay special attention.
Sample Job Posting #1
Illinois Wesleyan University
Position: Assistant Professor of History
Date posted: 9/5/2003
Colonial/Early National U.S. History. The history department at Illinois Wesleyan University invites applications for a tenure track position, pending approval, at the level of assistant professor beginning fall 2004. Candidates may specialize in either the colonial or early national periods, but must be able to teach in both areas, including a survey course up to 1877. Ph.D. should be in hand at the beginning of the appointment.
Illinois Wesleyan is a vital academic community of 2,000 students and 180 full-time faculty members and is fully accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Universities. Further information about the University can be found by visiting the University's web site (http://www.iwu.edu) and our jobs web page at: http://www2.iwu.edu/iwujobs/.
The department will be interviewing candidates at AHA. Send letter of application, CV, and three recent letters of recommendation, along with a sample syllabus, to Professor June Williams, Chair, Department of History, Illinois Wesleyan University, P.O. Box 2900, Bloomington, IL 61702-2900. Supportive material (e.g., books, articles, and or papers and a non-returnable video cassette or DVD that demonstrates your teaching effectiveness) may be requested at a later date. Review of applications will begin December 1. Illinois Wesleyan University is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Sample Job Posting #2
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Position: Tenure Track Junior Faculty Position, Department of Chemical Engineering
Date posted: 10/27/2003
The Department of Chemical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology invites applications and/or nominations for a tenure track junior faculty position in chemical engineering.
The ideal candidate will possess a doctorate (Ph.D., Sc.D., or equivalent) in chemical engineering or a closely related field by the beginning of the appointment period. The candidate should have demonstrated excellence in original research and a strong commitment to teaching, both at the graduate and undergraduate levels.
Interested individuals should send a current curriculum vitae, a brief description of research plans and teaching interests, and at least three letters of assessment of a professional or academic nature. Applications must be received by January 1, 2004.
All correspondence should be directed to:
The Faculty Search Committee, Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts A venue, 66-350, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307.
Minority and women candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. http://web.mit.edu/cheme/