Marketing Yourself Through Any Selection Process

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Launching Your Academic Job Search Understanding
the Job Search Process and Creating Your
Application Package Bill Lindstaedt,
Director UCSF Career Center
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Seminar Agenda

• Overview of Academic Job Search
• Academic job search process/calendar
• The view from the search committee side
• Application components
• CV Basics CV definitions and sections, format,
  layout
• CV Reviews You are the search committee!
• Tips for academic cover letters
• Tips for letters of recommendations
• Tips for research statements

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Academic Job Search Calendar
Before Sept. -Previous February all pubs
submitted -Make choices on types of positions
and institutions to pursue -Assemble
application materials Sept. Nov. -Update CV,
reference list -Have CV reviewed -Seek
advice, support of advisor(s) -Request
letters of recommendation -Look for postings
weekly begin to apply Nov. Jan. -Continue
applying -Prepare for screening
interviews -Prepare for job talks -Ask
advisors to call on your behalf Feb.
May -Campus interview visits -Negotiate
offers
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Academic Job Search Materials

• Application elements requested in survey of 30
  life science-related faculty postings from
  Science Magazine and the Chronicle of Higher Ed
• Curriculum Vitae (30)
• Letter of Application (30)
• Description of future research plans/interests
  (21)
• Letters of reference (17)
• List of references (12)
• Statement of teaching philosophy (8)
• Representative reprints (7)
• Description of research accomplishments, abstract
  (5)
• Transcripts (4)
• Descriptions of possible courses (2)
• Summary of career/professional goals (2)

What do search committees do with these
materials, and when?
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What is a CV?
Curriculum Vitae (approx.) the course of
ones life, or career Document used to
apply for teaching or academic research
positions Complete professional history
Other uses for your CV Supporting document for
grant proposal Required document for
departmental reviews Audits or accreditation
reviews Guide for introductions at
conferences KEEP IT UPDATED!
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CV vs. Resume
Resume -1-3 Pages, plus pubs -Selected
history changes to target position -Self-promot
ion expected -Organized to manipulate
reader -Cover letter and
references Important role
Curriculum Vitae -Unlimited length -Complete
history changes little -Just the facts -Strict
organization -Cover letter and
references Critical role
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Sections of a CV

• Name, address, phone, email, website
• Education
• Graduate Degree(s)
• -University, Degree, Field, Date of completion
  (or date of milestone)
• -Concentrations or other relevant information
• -Dissertation Title, name of advisor(s)
• Refer to abstract if you include one
• Undergraduate Degree(s)
• -Degree, University, Major, Date of completion
• -Honors

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Sections of a CV

• Licensure, Certification, Registration
• Research Experience (ok to include thesis
  research with others)
• -University, Location, Department, Date
• -Your title, Laboratory
• -Brief research project statement(s) - sentence
  fragments, verb first, may include original
  objective and result
• -Patents may be sub-category or go under
  Publications
• Teaching Experience
• -University, Location, Department, Date
• -Your title, Course Title
• -Description of course accomplishments, size,
  may include your responsibilities and scope
• Training, Mentoring, Advising Experience
• -Structure each listing as in Teaching
  Experience section

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Sections of a CV

• Other academic-related Research Interests,
  Collaborations Developed, Areas of Expertise
  (Skills), Prepared to Teach, University
  Service Leadership Experience
• Grants and Fellowships
• Honors and Awards
• Publications Follow format used in your field
• -Refereed Articles
• -Book Sections
• -Abstracts
• -Invited Presentations
• -Posters
• -Lectures
• Other (Relevant) Memberships or Professional
  Affiliations,
• Ancillary Positions Held, Languages, Community
  Involvement
• References Name, Title, Institution, Address,
  Phone, Fax, Email

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Formatting and Tips

• Direct the reader with consistent formatting
• Dates Place on right of page line up in column
  down right of page
• 3. Publications Mixing up the order may be ok
  bold your name
• 4. Change layout to target position
• 5. Number each page at bottom, beginning with 2
• 6. Same font throughout, conservative
• 7. Laser print original copy professionally
  white paper
• 8. Proofread get help from a colleague and lay
  person
• Do NOT include personal information, Curriculum
  Vitae if CV is
• being used alone, Name

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Formatting and Tips
MOST IMPORTANT DIVIDER Next Most Important Next
Most Important Least Important
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Academic Cover Letters

• Academic cover letters for faculty positions are
  different
• Postdoc cover letters
• Industry cover letters
• 1-1.5 pages in length perfect grammar and
  sentence structure
• Conservative sales document tailored to each
  position
• No bullets or other organizational formatting
  writing quality important

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Academic Cover Letters
Sections of an academic cover letter -Contact
information Date recipients address left
justified -Salutation Dear Dr. Smith or
Dear Members of the Committee -Opening
paragraph Why you are writing how you heard
about job -Middle paragraphs Focus on past
accomplishments in support of your fit for
the position explain interest in the position
and/or the institution (depends on the
school) -Closing Explain enclosures offer to
provide additional info
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Academic Cover Letters
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT Assistant professor As seen in
the 9 November issue of Science QUANTITATIVE
BIOLOGY Bard College's Division of Natural
Sciences and Mathematics is seeking a colleague
who will complement our existing strengths in
molecular biology, biochemistry, genomics, and
ecology. The successful candidate will be
involved in developing an innovative curriculum
in which Bard undergraduates develop a strong
foundation in the traditional fields and become
proficient with the computational methods
employed in those fields. Preference will be
given to candidates interested in involving
undergraduates in an ongoing research program and
in developing collaborative connections with
members of the Bard faculty. In addition,
opportunities exist for developing collaborations
and undergraduate courses and programs with the
faculty at Rockefeller University. The
appointment will be made at the ASSISTANT
PROFESSOR level starting July 1, 2004. Applicants
should submit a letter of application, curriculum
vitae, statements of teaching and research
interests, and three letters of recommendation
to Robert Cutler, Biology Search Committee
Chair, c/o Human Resources, Bard College, P.O.
Box 5000, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504-5000.
Start-up funding is available. Candidates must
have a Ph.D. Applications will be reviewed as
received and interviews will begin in November
2003. Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity
Employer.
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Academic Cover Letters
November 22, 2003 Dr. Robert Cutler Biology
Search Committee Chair c/o Human Resources Bard
College P.O. Box 5000 Annendale-on-Hudson, NY
12504-5000 Dear Dr. Cutler I am glad to have
the opportunity to apply for a faculty position
in the Biology Department of Bard College. I am
writing in response to your advertisement in the
November 9 issue of Science Magazine, which
announced a position vacancy for a Quantitative
Biologist. I am Molecular Biologist currently
finishing a postdoctoral fellowship in the
laboratory of Ima Goddess, at the University of
California at San Francisco. My approach to
teaching undergraduates and conducting research
with undergraduates has developed over several
years, through my experience developing and
delivering course materials to undergraduates in
both laboratory and classroom settings. In my
experience, the best teaching is done through
hands-on experience, so I will try to engage
students in my courses by encouraging the maximum
possible laboratory participation The research
project I would like to pursue at Bard College
involves the development of This is a project
which I feel will interest and inspire
undergraduates while allowing me to continue to
produce the highest quality work in my field.
Included in this packet, please find my
curriculm vitae, statements regarding my research
and teaching in I appreciate being considered
for your faculty position. Please let me know if
I can provide additional information in support
of my application
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Letters of Recommendation
Generally 3 PhD advisor, Research Advisor,
Collaborator or Research Mentor How do I ask for
a letter? The initial ask, to ensure a positive
letter The follow-up meeting Job
posting(s) CV Research statement Paper(s)
Key items to address
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Letters of Recommendation
TIPS What do I do if they ask for Evidence of
excellence in teaching? Recommender 3 becomes
person who best knows your teaching Follow up
meeting Include teaching evaluations,
teaching philosophy statement Timeline
Several weeks minimum, plus reminders What do I
do about negative recommendation letter?
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Research Statements
RULES Know the school Know the department Know
the position READ THIS ARTICLE by Jim Austin
Toolkit Writing a Research Plan at
www.nextwave.org
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Research Statements
IDEALS a readable, compelling agenda that fits
well with the needs, facilities and goals of the
department and answers the question, Why must
this work be done? The best plans build on
the promising experience of the applicant but are
not a direct extension of their postdoctoral
work.
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Research Statements
CRITICISMS Overly ambitious Lacks clear
direction Lacks a big picture focus Doesnt
address how the proposal fits with needs of
department Requires facilities/equipment not
possible to provide Poor writing, structure,
spelling, grammar
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Research Statements
CONTENT TIPS from Toolkit and
others Specific, well-considered,
realistic Include an abstract or executive
summary Include preliminary data Use
graphics Customize each time
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Research Statements
LAYOUT TIPS from Toolkit and others Appropriat
e length Short sections focused on major
themes Use proper paragraph format Create
readable layout Proofread each time