3 Critical Questions to Consider before You Go on the Academic Job Market
Photo by Eric Prouzet on Unsplash
It’s time. You’ve gotten your PhD, and maybe even been a postdoctoral fellow, and you are ready to become an Assistant Professor. You’ve been watching the job ads; there are a few that seem like a great fit. It’s time to pull the application materials together. You understand the basic framework: for most of the applications, you’re going to need a cover letter, CV, research statement, teaching statement, reprints of a few manuscripts, and of course, some reference letters. But where do you begin?
Many people will often jump into writing their research and teaching statements by listing out a few of their recent scientific findings, or by listing the courses they have the most experience teaching. But that approach doesn’t tell the full story of who you are, and it doesn’t give that search committee a reason to hire you over anyone else. Make no mistake, there are likely hundreds of applicants vying for the same positions you are, and many of them are as successful as you.
How are you going to stand out from the crowd?
You can give yourself an edge by answering 3 critical questions. These questions force you to take stock of your achievements and chart the path ahead, creating a clear statement of your identity, your value, and your goals. By weaving the answers to these questions into the content of your job application materials, you will make it much easier for the search committee to envision the superstar that you will become.
1. How have you changed your field?
Because of your work, do people use a new statistical analysis or a new research method? Did you apply an existing technology to a new area, or combine technologies or methods of investigation in novel, innovative ways? Did your work cause people to now think differently about a previously-settled topic? Did you close a debate in your field, or start a new one? Did you propose a new theory? Did your teaching methods promote learning in a way that is more effective than other approaches? What impact have you had on your colleagues or your students? Answering this question will help you understand how you are breaking down existing paradigms and pushing knowledge forward.
2. What makes you unique as a researcher/teacher?
If the first question is about understanding what you are doing, this question is about understanding who you are: your lived experiences, your background, your communities, your values, your personality, your strengths, your likes and dislikes, etc. What special sauce would you be bringing to the department? What is your teaching or mentoring philosophy? What kind of role model will you be for the students? What kind of collaborator will you be for your colleagues? What kind of leader will you become?
3. What will you achieve in the next 5-10 years?
Lastly we tackle who you will become. It’s not enough to know what your next, follow-up, experiment will be. It’s not enough to know what you would be prepared to teach in the upcoming fall semester. Can you articulate a strategic vision for the next phase of your career? Can you describe the impact you will have, and how you will get there? A strategic vision gives form to everything else: what grants you apply for and what projects you propose in those grants, what kind of personnel you need to hire and when, what kind of start-up package you need to be successful out of the gate, what collaborations you need to cultivate, what professional development courses you need, what types of mentors you need for support. Importantly, being able to articulate your strategic vision will also allow you to determine whether a given department is actually the right place for you to achieve your goals.
Don’t let these questions scare you… answering these questions should be exciting! They will help you validate all of the hard work you’ve done and show you how far you’ve come. Take a moment and be proud of what you’ve achieved and look forward to this next phase of your career.
But, if you get stuck answering these questions, or want to discuss it further, book a 30-minute call with me here! Note that spots are limited, so let’s get started!
