Survival Skills for Graduate Students

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Survival Skills for Graduate Students

• Job Hunting in Academe Landing on the Tenure
  Track!

Dr. Deborah Lee Professor Mississippi State
University Libraries
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Survival Skills for Graduate Students Workshops
Survival Skills

• Research Dissertation Basics
• Developing a Literature Review
• Research Ethics the Graduate Student
• Landing on the Tenure Track Job Hunting in
  Academia
• Grant for Grad
• Crafting the Winning Curriculum Vitae
• Publishing 101 for Graduate Students

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Session Overview
Survival Skills

• Preparing for the Job Search
• Curriculum Vita
• Interview Tips
• Searching for a Job

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Survival Skills for Graduate Students Web Page

• http//library.msstate.edu/li/ssfgs/

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Preparing for the Job Search ABD or PhD?
Survival Skills

• Discipline norms
• Timing how close to completion are you?
• Resources?
• Time
• Financial
• Publications

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Preparing for the Job Search
Survival Skills

• Curriculum Vita
• Application Packet
• Presentation/Interview Preparation

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Curriculum Vita
Survival Skills

• NOT a resume!
• A comprehensive biographical statement
  emphasizing professional qualifications and
  activities.
• Length varies, depending on experience and
  professional activities.
• Used for various academic activities.

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Curriculum Vita (Cont.)
Survival Skills

• This is NOT the place to be cute!
• Professional, Neat and Conservative
• White paper, conventional styling and Times New
  Roman Font
• Update often consider a web version

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Components of a CV
Survival Skills

• Personal Data
• Contact Information
• Education
• Degrees, dissertation title, committee members
• Related Professional Experience

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CV (Continued)
Survival Skills

• Publications
• Presentations
• Other Research Activities
• Professional Affiliations and Honors

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Application Packet
Survival Skills

• FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS
• Cover Letter
• Curriculum Vita
• Research Statement/Agenda
• Teaching Philosophy/Portfolio
• Writing Samples
• Copy of Dissertation Signature Page
• Letters of Recommendations

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Interview Strategies
Survival Skills

• Research Before You Go
• Department/School web page
• Departmental Faculty
• Region or Area
• If possible, ask for a copy of the interview
  schedule.

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Preparing for the Interview
Survival Skills

• Practice Your Presentation!
• How long will you have?
• Research Presentation
• Teaching Presentation
• Be prepared for Technological Glitches!
• PowerPoint Slides
• Prepare for Potential Interview Questions

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Potential Interview Questions?
Survival Skills

• Research
• Plans for future research? Research Program?
• Justification of research
• Teaching
• What is your teaching philosophy?
• What do you want to teach?

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Questions You Should Ask
Survival Skills

• Questions to ask
• Dean
• Head of the Search Committee
• Junior Faculty
• Graduate Students

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Finding a Job!
Survival Skills

• Varies by discipline.
• Web sites maintained by Professional
  Organizations
• Chronicle of Higher Education
• Other Web Sources

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Survival Skills

• Questions?