1. Mentoring Workshop Job Market Research Productivity Marcelle Chauvet Department of Economics University of California, Riverside

2. Job Market

3. Job Market Paper l Decisions on topic l Individual interest on the question l Advisor’s interest on the question l Assessment of future demand for the topic l Top journals (field and general) in the last 2-3 years l Google Scholar (papers and citation) l http://biblio.repec.org/ http://biblio.repec.org/ l http://www.nber.org/papersbyprog/ http://www.nber.org/papersbyprog/ l www.ssrn.com www.ssrn.com

4. Job Market Paper l Has anyone worked (or is working) on this question? l Is the paper feasible (given time constraint, existing methodologies)? l Is the question addressed relevant and interesting (for at least a subgroup of researchers?) l Are the assumptions made sounded? Are there any basic inconsistencies (model derivation, adequate methodology, etc.)

5. Job Market Paper l Should you target your paper to academia, government, or industry jobs? l If you are sure about which kind of job you would like to have l If you are not sure – target academia l Theoretical and empirical papers

6. Job Market Paper l A well structured paper is crucial l Introduction should include a clear question and motivation l English should be carefully revised

7. Research Project and Introduction l Step 1: Opening paragraph -discussion of the issue. l Step 2: what is done in the paper l Step 3: Why it is interesting - motivation and what others have done in the past that is related to this paper) l Step 4: How will the paper improve on previous work, i.e. the contribution.

8. Research Project and Introduction ( cont. ) l Step 5: How the question is going to be answered – methodology l (Step 6: Description of the data, priors or calibration) l Step 7 – Preview of results l Step 8 – Structure of the paper

9. Job Market Strategies l Applying to Academic and Non- Academic Institutions: l Package: cover letter, Job Market paper, abstracts of other papers, CV l Number of applications l Advisor and committee’s role: letters of recommendation and personal recommendations

10. Job Market Strategies - Interviews l Dress Code l Prepare, Prepare, and Prepare l Warm-up l Presentation: 1-2 minutes rule l Answering questions l Asking questions (do your homework!) l Illegal questions l Follow up – show interest

11. Job Market Strategies: Fly-out l Contacting other schools l One-to-one Interviews l Presentation l Structure l Answering questions l Clarification questions l Off-base questions l Difficult technical questions l Testy vs. light sense of humor

12. Job Market Strategies: Negotiating Offer l If you may have another offer l If you have another offer l If you do not have another offer

13. Summing up 4 Understand the rules of the game 4 Be bold 4 Be assertive 4 Be prepared

14. Research Productivity

15. l Motivation to do the paper l Write a research project and Plan l Divide tasks with co-author (if any) l Establish deadlines (conference submission, presentations, etc.)

16. Research Productivity l Never enough time, and tasks always take much longer than planned l Procrastination – result of bad planning, and of being overwhelmed. l What to do? l Revise plan often, adjusting for more realistic goals and timing

17. Research Productivity l Plan amount of time allocated in each task beforehand l research, correcting exams, writing referee reports, answering emails, personal tasks l Revise plan l Divide tasks in small steps l Plan your day the day before l Revise plan again – give yourself some small awards l Keep track of time and meeting goals established

18. Balance of Tasks: Research, Teaching, Service

19. Research Payoff l Tenure l Motivation/interest l Academic standing l Opportunity cost of doing anything else than research l Payoff generally not immediate for young economists, large as time passes by l Hurdle – referee reports and rejections

20. Teaching Payoff l Tenure l Motivation/interest l Working with students l Teaching - Time on teaching is more predictable l Cost and benefit of saying yes or no to extra teaching

21. Service Payoff l Tenure l Motivation/interest l Time on service is not predictable l Types of Service: committees, editorial board of journals, etc. l Cost and benefit of saying yes or no to Service l Opportunity cost

22. Balance: Personal and Professional Life

23. Strategies l Prioritize l Plan ahead l Allow time for unpredictable personal events l Need for more productivity, and more efficient use of time l Learn how to say no to service, extra teaching, and other demands on your time with low payoff

24. Strategies l Do not put your family in second plan l Be more productive and strategic with your time instead!

25. Strategies for women l Children, job market, and tenure l Timing l Count even more on unpredictable time allocation l More than ever, need for clear plans, productivity strategies l Have projects set up, ready to go