Getting a Job In Academia Jennifer Schopf Argonne

Getting a Job In Academia Jennifer Schopf Argonne National Lab April, 2002 jms@mcs. anl. gov

Outline • • • What to apply for (alternatives in academia) Where to apply Job Application Packet Interviewing Making Decisions Two-Body Problem

Picking the Right Job for You • Academia – Post Doc vs Faculty – Teaching vs Research – Large vs Small • Industry – Contractor – Full-time

Contractor • How do you find a company to represent you? – Find one campany, sign a short agreement – Get advice from friends – Don’t lock yourself in

Longer Term Industry • Support - scientific programmer positions – national labs, companies • Research - IBM, Lucent – similar to academia • Management • Design– you wont be hired in to this at most places

Benefits of Post Doc • Lots of time for research – added publications – time to establish post-graduate career track – grant writing experience • • Build reputation Possibility of moving up in market More people to write letters for you Little or no administrative and teaching load

Cons of Post Docs (In CS) • Some post docs are tied to specific projects • Not truly independent • Some bias in the field - “Couldn’t you get a REAL job? ” • Lower pay • Relocating again in 2 years

Applying for Post docs • • Talk to someone senior in your area Research institutions and national labs NSF NATA, NSERC Canada, Foreign embassies • Applications generally by fall

Limited Term Teaching Positions (Lecture or Visiting Positions) • Get lots of teaching experience • May provide an opportunity to be at a better department than otherwise possible • Flexibility with no commitment

Teaching vs Research • Teaching Schools – Teach 5 -6 classes per year (3 -5 preps) – Generally no Ph. D students, maybe MS – Still expected to do some research • 1 paper a year • 1 grant (total) before tenure – More committee work – Less money (salary, startup, etc), less travel

Research vs Teaching • Research Schools – 3 -4 classes per year (after first) – Ph. D and MS students – Expected to spend MOST of your time on research • Several papers a year, esp. journals before tenure • Several grants before tenure- solo PI and joint – Better chance to know your community – Better money than teaching, more travel

Large vs Small • Large (25 faculty or more) – Small fish in a bigger pond – Instant collaborators - but beware of being overshadowed – Well established procedures and support • Small (15 faculty or less) – Easier to establish independence – Lots of dept “extras” – Chance to build and influence

Outline • • • What to apply for (alternatives in academia) Where to apply Job Application Packet Interviewing Making Decisions Two-Body Problem

Where to Find Open Positions • http: //www. cra. org/main/cra. jobs. html • http: //www. acm. org/cacm/careeropps/ • www. computer. org/careers/ • Word of mouth • Send in an application anyway!

How to Decide Where to Apply • Professional – Who/what else is nearby? – What have other people said about the dept? • Personal – Geographically compatible - can you live there? (weather, urban/suburban, hobbies) – Family issues – Other opportunities

Which Department to Apply to? • CS/CE/ECE has no clear division –. All 3 will advertise for operating systems! • Applied Math/CS Theory • Cognitive Science/AI Computer Science • When in doubt, send to both

How Many to Apply to? • • How many interviews do you want to go to? How competitive are you? How competitive are the schools? How focused is your search? • Personally, I think more is better than lessit’s just the cost of a stamp

Timelines • Now – Get to know the people in your field – Publish • • Dec/Jan - Applications for openings due Feb/April - Interviews (Mid-Jan/Feb - send out additional aps? ) March/June - Offers

Outline • • • What to apply for (alternatives in academia) Where to apply Job Application Packet Interviewing Making Decisions Two-Body Problem

Application Packet • • • Cover Letter CV Research Statement Teaching Statement Papers Letters of Reference

Cover Letter • Departmental letterhead • “Dear Search Committee (Chair): ” NOT “Dear Sir: ” • Your name (printed, not just signed) • University, Advisor • Area of research and when you’re finishing • Generally, not something to sweat - have one that you alter slightly for each school

CV • Basic contact info- email, phone with dependable messaging, web page (think about what’s on it) • Education info- where, when, what • Thesis title, advisor, completion date, summary • Small research summary (3 -4 sentences) • Papers, posters, talks, presentations • Fellowships, awards, grants • Service, other education, special programs • List of letter writers and contact info for them

Research Statement • What are you doing now, why is it important, what is the main result they should associate with you • How does your work sit in your field • What other projects have you been part of • What do you want to do next? – Concrete, feasible, independent

Teaching Statement • • Teaching philosophy Experience or prior teaching Mentoring experience Thoughts on classes you might like to teach or develop

Papers • • Can include copies of 1 -3, but not more Make sure citations are on first page Should be recent, first author work In direct area of work

Letters of Reference - Who? • • • At least 3, probably 4, not more than 5 One MUST be your advisor As senior as possible (one with tenure) As familiar with your work as possible Not all at your university, although academic is considered better than industry • If you’re applying to a teaching school, have one that can address your teaching

Letters of Reference - How? • Ask early (November? ) • Give each writer a package with your job packet PLUS extra papers, thesis chaps • Make SURE they get sent on time – When they are requested, bug them to send! – Give them a list of schools • ask for sealed letters for each • request that they be sent everywhere automatically • Double check that they were sent

Miscellaneous stuff • • Single-sided printing Reasonable spacing/fonts/copying Staple each thing separately Put your name on every packet (every page of your CV) • Don’t fold things up • Have your entire packet online (sans letters) - including your talk!

Outline • • • What to apply for (alternatives in academia) Where to apply Job Application Packet Interviewing Making Decisions Two-Body Problem

Being Invited to Interview • Be honest - would you go there if they made you an offer? • Ask to speak with certain people (grad students, a research group, someone in another dept) • Think about your travel - east coast vs west coast • Plan a day off in-between!

During the Interview • • • Breakfast, lunch and dinner (often w. host) Half hour meetings with each prof. Meeting with Chair, Dean Possible meeting with grad students Talk • Your schedule WILL get messed up - be flexible!

The Talk • Often thought of as most important part of interview • Judged for your research and area • Judged for you ability to explain it to wide range of researchers • Judged for teaching expectations • Judges for interactions with audience

Preparing the Talk • Rule of thumb– 1/3 for everyone – 1/3 for your area – 1/3 to show you’re good! • Do 3+ practice talks first- seriously! • Tune your talk for different audiences

Talk, cont. • • • Have slides to throw out (not just at end) Have slides to add & for common questions Speak clearly and loudly Be dynamic! Repeat the question back Think - is this a talk You would want to sit through?

Questions during the Interview • Brief descriptions of your research- 1 sentence, 3 min, 10 min • What is the (single) most important contribution of your research? • What is the most important new (recent) result in your field? • Where do you publish/get grants from?

Questions 2 • • What are you currently working on? What will you work on next? Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10? What kind of projects do you want to have students work on with you? (think grad, ms, and undergrad)

Questions 3 • What’s going on in group X (not your group) at your current school? • What are your strengths/weaknesses as a researcher/teacher? • Who would you expect to interact most with in this department?

Questions 4 • • What courses would you like to teach? What do you like about teaching? What are you looking for in a department? What are you looking for in a startup package? • Where else are you/have you applied? • What kind of offers do you have?

Questions 5 • Be honest • Be direct • Be discrete • Don’t say anything bad about anyone

Illegal Questions and What to Do • So, when are you going to get married? – Oh you sound just like my mother • So, when are you going to have a baby? – Oh, you sound just like my father • Aren’t you a little young to be starting in a position like this? – My family’s blessed with good genes, we all look younger than we are

Be Sure To Stay Reachable • Have a cell phone with voice mail that you give out as a contact number so people can find you on the road • Take a portable with you- but check to make sure everyone can handle portable slides • Get local dial-ups to check mail from the hotel

Things to Make Your Life Better While Interviewing • • • Keep a notebook of thoughts Get enough sleep Watch your health Try to exercise, eat ok Take time for yourself/family

Outline • • • What to apply for (alternatives in academia) Where to apply Job Application Packet Interviewing Making Decisions Two-Body Problem

The Offer • Teaching load - often reduced for 1 year • Committee load - often reduced for 1 year • Salary - Taulbee survey – http: //www. cra. org/statistics/ • • • Startup funds (equipment, travel, summer) Student support Tenure clock Moving expenses (including your flight) Resources - space, admin, supplies, etc

Negotiating Your Offer • Decide what is absolutely non-negotiable to accept the job • Some things are easier than others to argue • Ask for the advice of your host • You ARE expected to argue with what they give you- do this!! • Don’t be afraid to ask for a delayed start date or adjusted tenure clock

How to Choose Among Offers • • How hard do you want to work? Cohesiveness/environment of dept? Colleagues Big/little fish in a little/big sea Importance of getting big grants Likelihood of tenure Big science vs small science

Things to Consider • • Quality of students Availability of students in your area Growth plan for department Department vision/leadership/standing within university

Choosing 2 • Relative importance of teaching/research/service • Your vision vs department vision • Quality of life! – Environment/climate – Cost of living – Schools

Outline • • • What to apply for (alternatives in academia) Where to apply Job Application Packet Interviewing Making Decisions Two-Body Problem

2 -Body Problem Application Tips • Consider cities/regions with more than one univ. or an active industry (SF, Boston, NY, Chicago, Toronto, Vancouver, Paris, etc. ) • Consider commuting distance – Berkeley - Stanford - IBM Almaden • Consider applying for a post-doc or temporary teaching position • Apply to a little lower caliber institution

2 -Body Problem When to tell people Pros and cons of: • On the application • At the interview • At the offer • Some schools have special funds for this

References • This talk – http: //www. mcs. anl. gov/~jms/Talks/FILL_IN • Getting a Job- CRA-W – http: //www. cra. org/Activities/craw/pubs. html • Sample Job Packet – www. cs. nwu. edu/~jms/Job. Packet/applic. html • Ellen Spertus’s info – www. mills. edu/ACAD_INFO/MCS/SPERTUS /job-search