Marketing Yourself Appropriately: How to Assemble Your Job Packet & Your “Elevator” Speech

1. ModupeAkinola, PhD Columbia University La Verne Hairston Higgins, PhD, GPHR, SPHR Eastern Michigan University Marketing Yourself Appropriately:How to Assemble Your Job Packet & Your “Elevator” Speech

2. Attend Talks • Get to know Faculty at various schools • Have lunch with speakers • Schedule one-on-one time with speakers in your research domain • Attend Conferences and Submit Papers/Symposia • Symposia at conferences (particularly AoM) have higher acceptance rates • Gather a “dream team” of faculty & students for a symposium • Attend Parties/Socials • Informal events at conferences provide valuable opportunities to speak with faculty and graduate students about research interests • Great way to gain inside information about various schools Conferences & Talks

3. AoM Divisional consortia for student entering the job market • Information and deadlines are typically sent through the division list serve • You should sign up for the division list serve if you have not already • Make sure to meet the application deadlines • A nomination from your department or faculty may be required • Typically deadlines are May-June Doctoral Consortia

4. Academic Job Search

5. Consult with your advisor and mentors to identify potential schools • Become very familiar with their websites • Inform your faculty that you are on the job market • Prepare a draft of your application packet for • Review and feedback from your advisor, mentors and faculty • Your advisor to send to friends at the schools you’ve identified • Post materials with AoM Placement Services • If your advisors approves • Don’t do this if you’re not actively in the job market • Facilitates interviews at AoM annual meeting • Very important if you desire a position outside the US Your Packet

6. Cover letter • Express interest in department, programs, etc. • Suggests meeting at AoM, if you are attending • Notification that your advisor will be forwarding a letter of recommendation • Curriculum Vita • Samples of your research • 1-3 working or research papers • Research statement • 3-5 pages on how your work constitutes a “research stream” Packet Contents

7. Focus on critical information to be conveyed • Prepare 2-5 minute summary • Avoid clichés! • Practice delivering your elevator pitch • Get feedback • Incorporate feedback as appropriate • Think about follow-up questions your elevator pitch could precipitate Elevator Speech

8. Attend AoM Placement Workshop for Applicants, if possible • Preliminary interviews (usually 20-30 minutes) • BE PREPARED!!! • Know who will be present at the interview • Know the interview location • Be ready to discuss the • Overall research interests • Timeline for completion of your doctorate • Teaching area(s) and experience • Your current projects • Your Elevator Speech • Be ready to ask questions regarding the • Climate within the institution, school, and department • Culture for junior faculty • Not all interviews will go well! Interviewing at AoM

9. Attend Hosted Social Events • Sponsored by your Schools of interest • Know whose work aligns with your interests • Follow-up with people for One-on-One meetings • Not everyone who your or your advisor/mentors have contacted will be at the Academy • Use Placement Services to identify additional people to contact • Don’t be disheartened if you are not contacted or don’t have any formal interview invitations • Remember the dress code – Business Casual+ AoM Strategy

10. Feedback to AoM contacts • “Great to have met you” emails • To those with whom you had high quality conversations • To fellow attendees and presenters at your doctoral consortium • Join Graduate student information sharing groups, if you’re comfortable doing so • Formats are variable Post-AoM Strategy

11. Most applications are online submissions • Visit the website for the department, school, and institution • Information the same as in your packet, plus • New cover letter, without mentioning AoM • Teaching statement, if required • Updated CV • Additional letters of recommendation • Typically two in addition to your advisor • Some schools prefer list of names with contact information instead of letters Your Application

12. Invitations typically are extended • Shortly after the start of Fall term, at the end of September • Sometimes into January • Don’t hesitate to ask for an alternate campus visit date • You should avoid too many trips too close together • Ask questions of the person extending the invitation • Not all schools will call you! • Stay Confident! Invitations to Campus

13. Practice Your Job Talk • Practice Your Job Talk • Get feedback on your Job Talk • From your peers, your faculty in addition to your advisor & mentors • Be prepared to answer questions • Know the literature • Know the methodology • Select comfortable, appropriate attire for visits • Be prepared to talk about your work other than your job talk topic • Ask for breaks when visiting campuses • Theses are often omitted from schedules Visit Preparations

14. Don’t accept a campus invitation if you would not accept a job offer if it were extended • Don’t hesitate to withdraw your application if you don’t believe the position or institution is a good career fit for you • Determine if – • The faculty are potentially good colleagues • Your career interests be supported, long-term. • Thank you notes • Send within a couple of days • Personalize them Remember

15. Questions?

16. The Academic Job Search: Workshop for Applicants • Boston Marriott Copley Square, Salon E • Friday, 3 August, 5:30 - 7:00 pm • AoMPlacement Services • Boston Marriott Copley Square, Third Floor Atrium • Friday, noon – 5:00 pm • Saturday, Sunday & Monday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm [interviews until 8:00 pm] • Tuesday, 8:00am - noon AOMConference Resources