The Academic Job Market

State of the market

The American Job Market vs The New Zealand Market American market is bigger, more competitive, and has a different hiring structure In the US, hires in the Humanities tend to take place once a year; in the sciences it’s a little less rigidly structured

Where do I look for jobs? (a small selection) Australia, New Zealand, Asia: Campus Review America: Chronicle of Higher Education Europe: AcademicJobsEU.comAcademicJobsEU.com Commonwealth: Association of Commonwealth Universities Canada: University Affairs

Sample American Job Ad Position: Assistant Professor in Arabic Language and Linguistics Salary: Unspecified Institution: University of Florida Location: Florida Date posted: 2/11/2009University of Florida Minimum Requirements: Ph.D Preferred Qualifications: Native or near native proficiency in Arabic and English together with college level teaching experience, an active research agenda and demonstrated commitment to program service. The ideal candidate will also be able to teach all levels of language and also be committed to the continuing development of a growing program in Arabic Studies. Special Instructions to Applicants: Review of applications begins December 10 and will continue until an applicant pool is established. Interested applicants should submit a letter of application, CV, three letters of recommendation, research portfolio (including writing samples and research statement) together with teaching portfolio (including teaching evaluations and statement of teaching philosophy) to: Mary Watt, Chair, Arabic Search Committee - Reference # , Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, University of Florida, 301 Pugh Hall, PO Box , Gainesville, Florida The University of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Institution. (Please visit to complete a voluntary Applicant Data Card.) To Apply:

Sample New Zealand Ad Lincoln University POSITION DESCRIPTION listed March 2009 Lecturer in Pasture Science This position exists to further the pursuit and acquisition of knowledge and understanding by: – Teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students in pasture agronomy – Supervising postgraduate students’ research in pasture science and production – Conducting research in grasslands utilised in the major New Zealand farming types. eg. hill country, finishing and dairy. – Contributing to the functioning of the Faculty and the University

Lincoln University Qualifications – A PhD in Agricultural Science, Plant Science, Agronomy or Pasture Physiology Experience – An interest in, and preferable experience of, teaching pasture science at a tertiary level. – Evidence of a scholarly approach to research in a relevant discipline area – An emerging track record of research completions and publications – Evidence of ability to recognise and initiate research opportunities and to encourage their realisation – A genuine desire to motivate and encourage postgraduate study in a discipline area and to foster research communication – A genuine interest in and evidence of ability for interaction with and transfer research results to the livestock industries

Similarities: Academic employers are looking for skills in three main areas: 1. Research 2. Teaching 3. Service

Research Lincoln: “An emerging track record of research completions and publications” U of Florida: “… an active research agenda…”

Teaching Lincoln: “An interest in, and preferable experience of, teaching pasture science at a tertiary level.” U of Florida: “Native or near native proficiency in Arabic and English together with college level teaching experience…”

Service Lincoln: “Contributing to the functioning of the Faculty and the University” U of Florida: “…and demonstrated commitment to program service. The ideal candidate will also … committed to the continuing development of a growing program in Arabic Studies.”

How can I strengthen my CV in these areas? Research: You must publish Teaching: Tutoring, workshops, assisting lecturers, interviews, developing materials Service: Conferences, committee work, acting as research assistant, serving with student organizations

Putting together an application package Cover letter CV Teaching portfolio or profile Letters of recommendation Writing samples (Humanities)

Cover letters Sample first paragraph: Dear Chair of the Hiring Committee and Committee members, I am writing to apply for the position of Lecturer in English, as advertised in the Chronicle of Higher Education on 17 August, I received my PhD. from Vanderbilt University this past August, and I am currently employed at Vanderbilt as a Lecturer in the English Department. I am a United States citizen.

CV – Major Categories Name, date compiled, address Degrees Dissertation abstract Current employment Fellowships, Honours, and Awards Publications Conference papers Teaching experience (list courses taught or tutored for) Foreign languages (if relevant) References

Teaching Portfolio or Profile Statement of teaching philosophy Sample evaluations Sample assignments Sample syllabi Teaching mentor comments Student comments

Letters of Recommendation Usually need at least three In the US, generally sent directly from the recommenders to the prospective employers – if not, you should make sure it’s clear you haven’t seen the contents of the letters Interfolio accounts

Writing Samples Nearly always required in the Humanities, but also in other fields Ideally you will have published articles to send in, but if not a section of the dissertation will do

Final tips Humanities PhDs face the greatest challenges, but all areas of academic hiring are cutting back on permanent, full- time, tenure-track positions

Final tips You have to make yourself the strongest candidate you can Practice speaking in public – give presentations of your work whenever you can, including here at Canterbury Attend seminars for postgraduate professionalization and share tips and experiences with each other

Books in the library on academic careers and the job search The Doctoral Experience: Success and Failure in Graduate School. Sara Delamont, Paul Atkingson, Odette Parry. (British) So You Want to Be a Professor? A Handbook for Graduate Students – P. Aarne Vesilind The Chicago Guide to Your Academic Career—John A. Goldsmith, et al The Chicago Guide to Your Career in Science – Victor A. Bloomfield and Esam E. El- Fakahany Learning the Literacy Practices of Graduate School – Christine Pearson Casanave and Xiaoming Li Achieving Your Doctorate in Education – Hillary Burgess, et al The Postgraduate’s Companion—Gerard Hall and Jo Longman The Academic’s Handbook – A. Leigh DeNeef and Craufurd D. Goodwin The Academic Job Search Handbook – Julia Miller Vick and Jennifer S. Furlong On the Market: Surviving the Academic Job Search – Christina Boufis and Victoria Olsen The Curriculum Vitae Handbook – Rebecca Anthony and Gerald Roe Surviving Your Academic Job Hunt: Advice for the Humanities – Kathryn Hume