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Time to prepare for the job market already? Are you a graduate student who is ABD and intending to go on the market this year? Are you a post-doc? Then, the sooner the better...
Time to Prepare for the Job Market Already?
 If you just got back from the beach or a swing in the hammock, I doubt
that you're in the mood to think about the job market. And I'm
sorry to do this to you; but... you'll thank me in November.
It's time to start thinking, planning and taking action.
From the moment you decide to go to graduate school you are "preparing" for
the job market. No matter where you are on the timeline, there are things
that you could be doing right now to move the process forward. In particular,
it makes sense to take advantage of your summer free time to take small
steps in that regard.
But I Hate Rejection!
Applying for jobs creates anxiety in most people. After all, you are
setting yourself up to get rejected, which is a difficult experience
for anyone. Don't let that anxiety lead to procrastination and
avoidance, however (see my article on "The
Three P's".)
You should optimize your efforts so as to be as competitive a candidate
as you can. You've accomplished so much – let others know
about it!
In my opinion, the best antidote to this kind of anxiety is action,
taken in small, bearable, doses. As you make progress, you will feel
better about yourself and be less anxious.
Inform Yourself
Do your homework on the job market. Here are some suggestions:
-
Read all the books you can on the job market. I HIGHLY recommend
that you acquire the "Academic Job Search Handbook" that
is featured on the right. Chapter Three has an invaluable timeline.
-
Enlist the help of others. You should be having ongoing conversations
with your advisor and/or committee members about the process. Talk
to peers who have been on the market. If there is a placement officer, talk
to him or her.
-
Attend all seminars offered on preparing for the job market.
You Should Already Have:
-
An updated CV
-
A generic cover letter, to be customized
as you send in applications
If those items are not complete, I suggest you get started - - they
are not too time-consuming to prepare. Both recommended books have
instructions on CV and cover-letter writing, and samples for various
disciplines. Here are some helpful links for preparing a CV and/or cover letter:
I Haven't Done Enough Preparation!
It's never too late to start. Here are some ideas to get you going
right away:
-
Spend a little time every day working on the steps you
need to take. The proverbial 15 minutes a day will add up quickly.
You can
stand anything (well, almost) for 15 minutes, right?
-
Make an effort
to get to know the people who will be writing your recommendations.
And give them an opportunity to get to know you better.
-
Consider
tweaking a term paper or a chapter of your dissertation and submitting
it to a journal. It just might get accepted! In the meantime,
it will look good on your CV that you have a submission.
-
Also consider sending an abstract to a conference. Even if you
don't
get to present the paper until after your interviews, it will
show up on your CV.
-
Make sure one of your dissertation chapters or
term papers is polished
enough to submit as a writing sample.
-
If teaching will be
emphasized at the places where you apply, start thinking about
a teaching portfolio
I'm Not Going On the Market This Year
If you're over a year away from going on the market, now is the
time to learn as much as you can about the process. There are two reasons
for this. The first is that knowledge is power – you will be able
to take the important steps in compiling your dossier earlier. The second
reason is that it will help you make important decisions. These decisions,
which include your choice of dissertation topic, advisor and committee
members, will have an influence on how well you do on the job market.
In the meantime, learn everything you can about your chosen field --
job availability, the range of opportunities that are available, pay
structure, and anything else that you will need to know eventually.
Now, Go Back to the Hammock!
After you do your 15 minutes of preparing for the job market. |
