1. How to Get a Job (2006 edition) Stefan Savage

2. 2 First… This is not a talk This is extended Q&A Interrupt at any point I have, at most, 20 mins otherwise –My slides heavily slanted towards academic jobs –But lots in common –I’m happy to answer lab or industrial job questions

3. 3 Outline Application process –Where to apply –What to send –Procedural stuff that matters The Interview Process –Job Talk –One-on-ones The Decision Process

4. 4 Where to apply Who has jobs? –Check CRA, ACM, IEEE (academic) –Ask around (broad search vs area search) HR interface to industrial jobs is typically worthless; need contact –In doubt, ok to apply blind (its cheap) Where would you like to be? Estimates of yield –Be realistic and if not sure ask for frank assessment from your advisors –Goal: somewhere between 5-15 interviews

5. 5 When does the application process start? Indirectly? 6-12 mos before season –Getting a job is a campaign, not a battle Its your advisors job to help, but your responsibility not to count on that help –Important to let it be known that you will be looking for a job Let who know? How? Directly? Nov/Dec –Send applications to schools –Labs follow similar schedule –Industrial jobs on fiscal year –Europe is different – scheduling issues here

6. 6 What’s in an application? Cover letter –Should have your name on it CV (glorified resume) –Can put anything relevant, but don’t oversell minor stuff (e.g. don’t put a poster under “journal articles”) –List references (3-5) Teaching statement (1-2 pages) [academic only] –Need to communicate that you care about teaching (much more important for teaching institutions) [talk about TA exp]h Research statement (2-3 pages) [academic only] –Motivate what you did (in general terms), why it is hard and how you did it? –Opportunity to express larger vision than individual parts –Future work: main issue is to show ambition; not strict continuation Look at other people’s application packages

7. 7 Misc application stuff Cam Get stuff together earlier than later –Helps letter writers who gate process –Ask letter writers to send letters without solicitation (make it easy for them) –Follow up with letter writers –Get everything in by December If you have personal contact at place let them know you applied –If your advisor has contact, they can do same Put your application materials prominently on your Web page

8. 8 Then… you wait No one will look at this until January –Good time to be practicing your job talk Invites start coming out in Feb through late March They will come in the wrong order Be courteous and express enthusiasm when invited –Ideally schedule least desirable interview first –Ok to push back on interview slot time –Ok to decline at invite time (be gracious) if you have too many better options; harder afterwards –If possible to cluster geographically that’s great

9. 9 Aside: travel tips Financing –You hold the float on all travel costs –Get a few credit cards Airplanes –Get a frequent flyer account and try to stick with this airline One interview season = vacation to Europe afterwards –Put your travel agent’s number and/or the 1-800 numbers for your airlines on your cell (when things screw up) –Don’t check luggage – ever. Scheduling –Try to get in early the day before your interview Get sleep, read up on faculty/dept, get feel for town –Don’t do more than two interviews in a week –If schedule is tight can suggest visit dates

10. 10 Interview 1-2 days Faculty host Your job talk is in a 60min slot –Have 10mins of flexibility in talk (45-55 mins) 30-60minute 1 on 1 meetings with faculty –Fast talker vs limp fish… learn how to run an interview Meeting with leadership (chair and/or Dean) Dinner What to ask for –Advance copy of schedule (who will you be meeting with) –Bit of time before talk to prep; and water during talk –Particular faculty you want to meet with (some strategic issues here – don’t just interview in-area) –Meeting with grad students (what to do here?) –Food preferences

11. 11 The talk See advice in “How to Have a Career” talk Need to convince general CS audience that your problem is well motivated and hard and your solution is interesting –Enthusiasm! Energy is key –Motivation is key –Don’t lose audience in details –Pictures are great, don’t overdo animation Q&A –Make sure you understand question, don’t overclaim, don’t ad lib, learn how to defer, but offer as much insight as you can Practice, practice, practice (including Q&A)

12. 12 1-1’s Lots of kinds –I missed your talk… –Let me tell you about what I’m doing –Here’s a problem I’m working on –Questions about your vision (what’s next? What’s your plan?) –Questions about why you applied to X? –Questions about UCSD? –(silence) If interviewer isn’t leading interview, take charge You should have questions –How faculty work together, how funding works Deans vs Chair vs Senior faculty vs Junior faculty Two rules –You are always being evaluated (even during dinner) –Never say anything bad about anyone Big Tip: recap what’s hot outside your area – organize a UCSD seminar to do this!

13. 13 Interviewing – procedural stuff Its your job to stay on time not theirs You float all the travel bills –Get a couple credit cards –Carry an envelope to each interview for receipts; mail back for reimbursement when you return (only way to keep track) Dress nicely Trade money for time –Hotel cleaning service Sleep

14. 14 Endgame You wait again... Offers, if multiple, come in the wrong order Again, project enthusiasm Can always do second visit (useful for stalling, frequently necessary for 2-body) Say “no” quickly to places you won’t go Negotiating on details –Salary is going to be least important –Teaching load, startup, start time, etc Accept all advice, but make your own decision

15. 15 Misc timing Industrial labs can interview later, but have shorter fuses – put them late in cycle Postdocs can be delivered late; can start postdoc campaign if offers not appearing Europe is completely different; check timing there

16. 16 Industrial jobs Interviewers mainly in area –But don’t over specialize talk; need reuse Some places may ask coding questions –Google, MS,… HR interview –Works well in groups Good reference: –http://www.hpl.hp.com/personal/John_Wilkes/ papers/CMUemigrationCourse.2up.pdfhttp://www.hpl.hp.com/personal/John_Wilkes/ papers/CMUemigrationCourse.2up.pdf

17. 17 Questions?