My Experiences on the Academic Job Search in 2003

1. My Experiences on the Academic Job Search in 2003 Sian Leah Beilock

2. Overview • Way before you are even thinking about a job. • The beginning. • Where and when to look. • Application materials. • The interview. • Decisions…hopefully!

3. Way Before… • Keep a file of CV’s for job candidates at MSU…even if they are not in your area. • Go to job talks at MSU – very helpful. • Look at CV’s of junior faculty at diff. schools. • Network – you have to do it! • Meet with distinguished speakers/visitors. • Talk to people at conferences.

4. The Beginning • Job vs. Post doc? • You don’t have to decide right away! • NRSA Postdoctoral Fellowships: Application receipt deadline for Fall start is not until April 5th. • What kind of job do you want? • Small vs. medium vs. big school.

5. Where and When to Look • Jobs posted roughly August through December. • APA Monitor: Print and on-line. • APS Observer: Print and on-line. • Chronicle of higher education. • Weekly emails of job postings and lots of neat resources for individuals on the job market. • Ads sent to department chairs and faculty.

6. Application Materials • Cover letter. • Vita. • Research statement. • Teaching statement. • Letters of recommendation – 3 or more. • Outside person may be a good idea.

7. Application Materials • Cover letter • Usually about 2 pages…not too long. • Includes: • Position you are applying for. • Your degrees and when you will receive them. • Research interests and key papers. • Teaching interests and summary of teaching effectiveness.

8. Application Materials • Vita • Education. • Usually has short research statement on it. • Papers, presentations, awards. • Teaching history. • References.

9. Application Materials • Research statement. • Mine is 3 pages. • Covers main areas of research and makes references to your papers or work you have done in these areas. • Dissertation topic and future directions.

10. Application Materials • Teaching statement. • Teaching philosophy and ways to implement such ideas. • Classes you have taught. • Summary of teaching evaluations – save your teaching evaluations!!! • Classes you can teach in the future.

11. Application Materials • Letters of recommendation • Usually schools ask for 3. • I would send in as many good ones as you think you can get. • Faculty in your area from another school may be a good idea. • Give your entire application packet to your letter writers.

12. After the Application is Sent In • Make a list of schools you have applied to with names of search chairs and deadlines. • Keep this list handy! • Be aware that you may be on display at conferences around job search time.

13. The Interview – Yeah!!! • Some schools do phone interviews first. • Mostly smaller schools. • Be prepared! • What are the faculty at that school doing? • Why would you be a good fit? • Questions about the program.

14. The Interview – Yeah!!! • You will have someone at the school who is coordinating your visit. • Schedule plane flights and lodging. • Coordinate schedule of visit. • Provide information about what they want from your job talk, etc. • This person can answer your questions!

15. Before You Go… • Get to know the faculty in the department. • Research interests. • Read quick papers of key faculty. • Ask faculty at MSU about people they know. • Quick facts about the school. • How many students, etc.

16. Before You Go… • List of questions for chair, dean, faculty, grads. • Chair: • Teaching load? • Support for research and teaching? • How does the college views the department? • Is the department growing (new lines, etc.)? • Space? • Expectations for tenure? • Tech support?

17. Before You Go… • List of questions for chair, dean, faculty, grads. • Dean: • How does the college views the department? • Future growth of department? • Support for grants? • What are you looking for in new hires?

18. Before You Go… • List of questions for chair, dean, faculty, grads. • Faculty: • Do you get the support you need? • Space, tech support? • How do you get along with other areas? • Do people collaborate? • Can you afford to live near campus? • Are people collegial…the job buzz word!

19. Before You Go… • List of questions for chair, dean, faculty, grads. • Graduate students: • What would you like to see in a new hire? • Are there classes that you would like to see? • Do you get the support that you need? • How do you get along with other areas? • Do people collaborate? • Can you afford to live near campus?

20. Right Before You Go… • A few days before you go on the interview you will get a schedule of people you will be meeting with. • Write down notes about each person’s research on the schedule and then carry it with you during your interview.

21. Job Talk • Its not that bad! • About 50 minutes of your research and future directions. • Not even CMU was worse than giving at talk in a brown bag or defense here at MSU. • Z.H. gave me the best advise…practice, practice, practice!

22. Interview Schedule for Sian Leah Beilock: January 8 –10 • Wednesday January 8 • 5:00 PM Arrive in Department • 5:30 PM Dinner with Members of the Cognitive Faculty Len Mark, organizer • Len Mark will drive Sian Beilock back to her lodging.

23. Interview Schedule for Sian Leah Beilock: January 8 –10 • Thursday, January 9 • 8:15 Breakfast and brief department tour Cecilia Shore • 9:30 Welcome Meeting with Department Chair Karen Schilling • 10:30Meeting with Associate Dean, College of Steven DeLue • Arts and Science (Len Mark will escort her to the • College; Jay Smart will escort her back to the Department) • 11:00 Meeting with cognitive faculty member Jay Smart • 11:30 Lunch with faculty Gary Stasser 

24. Interview Schedule for Sian Leah Beilock: January 8 –10 • Thursday, January 9 • 1:00 Preparation for colloquium Niles Davis  • 2:00 – 3:30 Colloquium (Room 207 Benton Hall) • 3:30 Meeting with cognitive faculty member David Waller • 4:00 Meeting with cognitive faculty member Yvonne Lippa • 4:30 Campus tour Len Mark • 5:15 – 6:15 Down time  • 6:30 Dinner with younger faculty David Waller   • 8:00 – 9:30 Reception at Karen Schilling’s home:

25. Interview Schedule for Sian Leah Beilock: January 8 –10 • Friday, January 10 • 8:30 Breakfast with Len Mark • 9:30 Meeting with faculty in the Department of Physical Education, Health & Sport Studies Melissa Chase, RobinVealey • 10:45 Return to Benton Hall Len Mark • 11:00Meeting with neuroscience faculty Steve Berry • 11:30Meeting with cognitive faculty member Allan Pantle • 12:00 – 1:30Lunch with graduate students from the Brain and Cognitive area Dean Smith

26. Interview Schedule for Sian Leah Beilock: January 8 –10 • Friday, January 10 • 1:30 Meeting with cognitive faculty member Robin Thomas • 2:00 Meeting with cognitive faculty member Lynn Olzak • 2:30 Meeting with cognitive faculty member Gordon Allen • 3:00 Meeting with cognitive faculty member Marv Dainoff • 3:30 Exit interview with Department Chair Karen Schilling

27. After the Interview • Email the chair of the search a thank you note. • Try to spell the city that the school is in correctly…note Pittsburgh has an H at the end of it! • Follow up with any one who wanted reprints or any other info. about you. • Wait.

28. Decisions • I have no advise here…if you have decisions to make, you are in a very nice position 

29. What I Wish I Knew Earlier • People have different ideas about how to conduct various parts of the search – unfortunately there is no one correct answer. • It’s a good idea to ask the same questions to the chair, dean, and faculty. • Marrying an academic makes things more difficult…but a lot of fun 