What are you bringing to the table?
Photo by Michael Fousert on Unsplash
It’s that time of year: academic job season. And if you’re a graduate student, postdoctoral fellow, or even an early career researcher looking to make a change, you have likely been crafting your job application materials. As part of this process, you’re asked to provide research and/or teaching statements in which you describe your past achievements and future plans. But, the underlying question that the search committee is really asking is this: what are you bringing to the table?
This all-important, almost always unspoken, question applies to non-academic job interviews as well, and it even underlies many decisions about who we choose as partners in our personal lives. But it’s not meant to be crass or impersonally transactional. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Your research and teaching statements are an invitation for connection. The interview process is an opportunity to further build the foundations necessary for a lasting relationship. The committee is looking to hire someone who would be around for a while. By wondering ‘What are you bringing to the table?’, interviewers are actually trying to understand who you are, who you will become, and how adding you to the team could spark collaborations and growth for everyone.
Simply describing your latest research findings, or showing your high teaching evaluations is likely not enough to get you the job. There’s just so much competition, and so few jobs. There are plenty of other candidates who also have exciting research findings and excellent teaching evaluations. So how do you improve your chances of being selected for an interview? How do you showcase your unique value?
Understand who you are in this moment. Reflect on the big questions that drive your work and why. Why are you the right person to tackle these questions? What are the philosophies and values that shape how you work? What unique perspectives and/or skills do you have? Remember to be authentic in your application materials; show who you are, not who you think the organization wants you to be.
Define who you want to become. What is your strategic vision? What do you want to be known for in 5-10 years? How can the specific organization that you are applying to help you get there? Why should they be invested in your growth? What is the impact you want to have on your communities? Think outside the box: impact can come in many forms, beyond publications, to include new intellectual property that changes how research is done, new training programs that provide effective and long-lasting learning outcomes, or new public outreach efforts that change consumer behavior.
Solve the department/organization’s problems. How you would shape the organizational culture moving forward? How would you contribute to the university’s strategic plan or help further the mission of the organization? Why should your fellow colleagues and/or students be excited to work with you and learn from you? You need to show that you’re not just an excellent candidate, but you’re the right candidate for them.
By weaving the answers to these questions into your research and teaching statements and job interviews, you put your achievements in an active, broader, context. Instead of providing a static checklist of all the things you’ve done in the past, use your job materials to draw a dynamic trajectory pointing toward where you are going. The search committee will then have a better vision of what the future holds for you and for them if they were to hire you. When you go beyond your accomplishments and take the time to understand and communicate who you are and who you want to become, you don’t just improve your odds of getting the job—you set yourself up for a fulfilling career built on purpose, alignment, and impact.
If you’re struggling to define what you bring to the table—or how to communicate your unique value in your materials—let’s chat. Book a free discovery call with me, and I’ll help you clarify your story so that committees remember you.
Next week: Academia is a team sport
