May 20, 2008
Summer Advice for Job Seekers
May is more than half over; most advertised positions have been filled by now and the folks who remain on the market are nursing their wounds and disappointments. A few stray searches are still under way due to last-minute openings, but realistically for most folks, it’s time to start thinking about how to prepare for the next cycle of the hunt.
When I was on the market, I tried to do two things during the summer months. I let my application packet sit for about a month and then picked it up to edit it furiously and callously. Further, I thought about how I might get more publications and presentations in the proverbial hopper over the coming year.
What advice would you share with job seekers on how best to use the summer months?
By Gene C. Fant Jr. | Posted on Tuesday May 20, 2008 | PermalinkComments
Commenting is closed for this article.
Previous: The U. of New Hampshire Imposes a Hiring Freeze, and Other News
Next: A 'Time Warp' in the Sciences
Get out of the country! No. . . wait, the exchange rate is murder. How about take a vacation! Oh yeah, gas prices are over $4 a gallon. Fly somewhere? Yeah right. . .
I guess since I am stuck in this college town in the modern economic equivalent of the “dark ages”, I might as well work on my torture skills unless there is ever another Inquisition.
Hey! Wait. . . Maybe the Bush administration needs summer help!
— gg May 20, 07:22 AM #
I have a suggestion for debate: The cruelest aspect of the job search is the requirement for “current letters of recommendation.” Why are these needed? Can my references really comment with authority on what I have done in the time since I have last worked with them? Are my skills and qualifications less now than when they first wrote the letters? Am I expected to undergo the torturous process of reconnecting with my references to revisit the pain of a fruitless job search? Why did I spend years working toward a Ph.D. diploma that cannot speak for itself? Does this not mean that faculty do not trust their own peers and institutions who certified my abilities by awarding the diploma?
— tr owens May 20, 09:35 AM #
Re “current letters”…
I had the occasion to write a letter of recommendation for a part-time co-worker who was applying for a full-time teaching position at a school in another state. We were at a 2yr and he was applying for a 4 yr. I read the job description and thought that he would be an exceptional fit. He did not get the position. About a year later, he applied for a full-time position at my institution. I happened to be chairing the search and was shocked to see the letter I wrote attached by way of reference. I explained to the committee that I had not been asked to serve as a reference and would, in fact, have written a very different letter had I been asked. (I thought he would be especially well suited to teach juniors and seniors where he was less adept at reaching the majority of our freshmen & sophomores).
I don’t trust letters that were written before the ad was posted. In my opinion, you can’t really argue that the author of the letter thought about how you might fit with the institution if the letter was written before you knew we were looking.
— M May 20, 03:34 PM #
Generally, I think names of references that are willing to be called and asked questions are better uses of everyone’s time. I know this is cumbersome in large searches, but if you can call a reference it makes it a lot easier and current for everyone involved.
However, in regards to the points put forward in the original post about this, it is less about your academic ability (IMHO) but about the type of person you are. Do you get along with people, what type of job are you looking for, are you a good fit here and most importantly, are you bat s*** crazy. You would be surprised how many departments hire someone and neglect to call references and end up with someone that is literally certifiable.
— on a search May 21, 07:21 AM #
Good point “M.” While you provide insight that I had not thought of, and I can see how “recycled” letters can turn out to be counterproductive, I wonder how you would feel when asked to write 3 letters for one person per week on an ongoing basis.
— tr owens May 21, 11:09 AM #
tr owens—get over it! I regularly write different versions of letters for students, depending on where they’re applying. M has a great illustration as to why you should have up-to-date letters of recommendation that are tailored to the institution you’re applying to (or at least not glaringly inappropriate.) Secondly, if you’re a few years away from having earned your Ph.D., you absolutely MUST have other people writing for you outside of the members of your dissertation committee! One of the major reasons we ask for letters of recommendation is to judge how well known and respected someone is in hir field. So, not only should you get up-to-date letters from your grad advisors (after all, it’s their job), you absolutely must ask other prominent scholars in your field to write on your behalf. (And, if you’re a few years out of school, I’m sure you’ve given several conference papers or applied for several grants which should have led you to new professional allies and contacts.)
— Historiann May 21, 05:04 PM #
To keep your spirits up, your options open, and your sights on par with your skills and natural talents, get some coaching or counseling from a creative career coach like myself. See: www.mylifedesignunlimited.com
— Jennifer Manlowe May 22, 10:17 AM #