my thoughts on the academic job search...

1
my thoughts on the academicjob search...

• Scott Klemmer
• 07 October 2004

2
a disclaimer

• while I can share my experiences and hunches
  about what worked / what didnt, I actually dont
  know what happened behind the scenes, so
• your mileage may vary

3
the process

• applying
• organize letters in september, october
• applications due around new-years
• interviewing
• i heard back between feb 4 and feb 19
• i interviewed between march 3 and march 30
• deciding
• I decided in late may

4
how many places to apply?

• my search was a somewhat small
• 8 schools 1 lab in 6 metropolitan areas
• bay area, new york, seattle,boston, vancouver,
  chicago
• this is probably a good lower bound
• 30 is probably a good upper bound
• what if somewhere isnt hiring? (or isnt hiring
  in your area)
• email a colleague and ask if its worth applying
  anyway
• applying may not help, but it probably wont hurt

5
some axes of schools

• i think of schools in terms of polar coordinates
• orientation (research v. teaching, large v.
  small, )
• magnitude (caliber)
• caliber in area / department / university
• do you want dense or sparse in your area?
• location
• urban / suburban / rural
• west coast / midwest / east coast
• near my family, near snow, on the beach,

6
how many places to interview?

• i had 2 semi-real interviews in january with bay
  area labs
• really lightweight
• good to know peers
• good to practice talk interviewing skills
• I had 5 real interviews (1 lab, 4 schools)
• the first 3-4 will be a bit rough
• the next 3-4 will be great
• after that burnout

7
the official application

• recommendation letters
• research teaching statements
• cv
• selected publications

8
recommendation letters

• the most important part
• help your letter writers help you
• send them an application packet
• summarize useful information in an email
• details help!
• scotts wicked smart is not a useful letter
• writers that are senior / very well knowncount a
  lot more than junior people
• ideally include someone from outsideyour
  department/university

9
research / teaching statements

• I get the sense that these are important, but
  weighed much less than letters, cv
• should be understandable by all
• avoid jargon (e.g., post-wimp software tools)
• be concrete, and back up your assertionswith cv
  details
• a pre-interview read for many
• also used as a writing sample
• look at materials from people whorecently got
  good jobs

10
communicate well

• two primary artifacts
• application materials
• job talk
• put real time into these
• user test your statements on students outside
  your area
• practice your talk in your research group, get
  real feedback from students, faculty
• information design is not fashion,its
  exposition

11
communicate well

• advice from terry winograd a good job talk /
  statement should have three components
• the problem should be well-motivatedi.e., if you
  solve it, what you solved will matter
• the solution should be non-triviali.e., if
  anyone thought about this problem, would they
  arrive at the same solution
• the solution should be demonstrably valid

12
have a useful web site

• application materials
• cv, statements, selected publications
• talk abstract, bio
• travel schedule
• list all your interviews
• also include upcoming talks, etc.
• other schools will notice this
• picture

13
the informal application

• Its helpful to have an advocate at schools you
  apply to
• talk to people at conferences
• your advisor can help somewhat byemailing folks

14
interviewing

• choose your interview schedule and flight times
  based on your sanity
• e.g., dont fly in on the red-eye the night
  before
• a good flight-finder www.itasoftware.com
• Most likely, by the time you arrive, the people
  in your area think your work is good
• Get your interview schedules a few days early,
  and read web pages of your interviewers

15
interviewing

• in addition to a job interview, this is also a
  fantastic chance to meet a broad range of very
  bright people

16
deciding

• at the end of the day, its your decision, not
  your advisors
• that said, your advisors thoughts are worth
  listening to
• talk to people
• faculty and students at the schools youre
  considering
• faculty/students not at the schools youre
  considering
• friends that live in the area,

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deciding

• come up with as much information as possible
• throw it out the window
• go with your gut