Leaving These Hallowed Halls… Vivek Pai Princeton University

2 Overview Job search process Early preparations Applications Job talk Interviews Wrapping up Loads o’ advice:

3 Job Search Process There’s a “season” Largely dictated by academia’s schedule Convenient but not necessary for industry Feb/March- April/May General steps Publishing activity Send out applications Schedule & conduct visits Select offer, conclude

4 Publish & Promote Start early – one to two years in advance Get your advisor to help you Attend conferences, meet people Quality versus quantity Goal: become a known/trusted quantity

5 Sending Out Applications Start before December Have essays, etc., finalized by January Some schools have earlier deadlines On-line resources: CRA, US News Decision lead time Schools – variable lead time (committees) Industry – short lead time if not HR

6 The Job Talk Target: not your hosts Your hosts already like you Everybody else has to be convinced Simplify work, but explain complexity Aim: a few, well-presented ideas minutes without questions Make it attractive but not gaudy Practice, practice, practice

7 Interview Preparations Scheduling Just say no, sometimes Avoid >2 per week Locality = fewer trips Cost Reimbursed later Have $6K handy Ask them to pay Frequent flier miles Clothing Travel light – use Gaps One “good” outfit One “relaxed” outfit Other stuff Drugs – bring everything Laptop? Slides OK One set of sundry items Something fun

8 The Actual Interview Day One Arrive night before, sleep Wake up, iron, breakfast Morning: 45-min meetings Lunch: eat light, no sauce Afternoon: talk at 4pm Do NOT run late Dinner: more talk, still interviewing Day ends at 8:30 - sleep Day Two Iron casual shirt, breakfast Better morning questions More relaxed lunch Wrap up with chair Depart On airplane, organize receipts

9 Between Interviews Swap dirty clothes for clean ones Restock drugs Catch up on Submit reimbursements Request schedules for upcoming interviews Print out next department’s web pages Lather. Rinse. Repeat

10 Wrapping Up Play it straight Small community – word travels Give everyone advance notice of decisions Small number of second visits Play tourist, bring S.O. if you still have one You’re in charge this time Offers CRA Taulbee survey Rejection isn’t necessarily about you

11 General Advice Planning pays off – time is precious No heroism of any kind – mental or physical. Disaster is really disaster. Know your worth – avoid over/underestimates This is the start of your career – start well