Securing an Academic Job: A Comprehensive Guide for Success

1. Getting an Academic Job. • Find out what the role requires. • What to do before applying. • Where and how to find jobs. • Your successful application. • Selection process. • Negotiating.

2. Find out what the role requires. • Consider very carefully developing abilities associated with Academic Level B criteria – bases of selection decisions. • Teaching (30-40%). • Research (30-40%). • Professional & community service (10-20%). • Administration (10-20%). • Expectations may vary internationally (e.g. US – more teaching for new staff)

3. Before applying… • Network – talk to departmental visitors, schmooze at conferences, send good mss to key people. • If you travel, offer to speak at local universities. • Publish but avoid junking up your cv. • Get teaching experience and make sure you get it evaluated (SET, peer).

4. Before applying… • Begin to make explicit a teaching philosophy (see, for example: * UNSW’s ‘Developing your teaching portfolio’ at http://www.ltu.unsw.edu.au/ref3-3-5_teaching_portfolio.cfm or * Carnegie Mellon’s guidance at http://www.cmu.edu/teaching/resources/developphilosophy.html. • Engage in some professional/community service (e.g., RGSSA, EIA (SA)). • Contribute to AOU activities (e.g., GEOView, organising PG days, mentoring, AUSAid tutoring). • Cultivate referees. Look to build a pool of good referees who know you. • Be sure you have a current passport if looking overseas.

5. Useful online job-finding sources.

6. Where and how to find jobs. • Read the Wednesday Australian (Higher Ed section). Build a file ofthe selection criteria for interesting like jobs. • Sign up for iag-list@flinders.edu.au or for caglist@lists.uvic.ca • Cold calling…? • For 1st or early job, apply for anything remotely close to skills and interests (esp. for US).

7. Your successful application… • Ask friends for copies of (successful) application materials. • Check the target AOU’s WWW site. Anyone you know? Consider speaking to them informally (culture, resources, internal candidates…). Think too about where you would ‘fit’? Who could you work with? • Call the AOU contact person. Check for ‘internal’ candidates. • Respond to the selection criteria! • Send copies of the application to your referee (or ask them to advise if they’re notified and you’ll send. Riskier.)

8. Your successful application... For most Australian, NZ, UK applications: • Cover letter (@1 page – make a good impression). • Responses to each criterion. • CV. • Appendices (e.g. publications, SETS) • Use good quality paper. Avoiod typos etc… • Make sure you have included everything required.

9. Your successful application. For the US and Canada probably also need: • Teaching philosophy • Research interests • Teaching evaluations • Academic transcript. • May be useful additions to consider for here, depending on role and institution.

10. CV contents. • Name • Address etc • Citizenship • Qualifications (including class of Honours) • Awards • Publications and grants • Conference presentations • Teaching experience • Community and professional service • Service to university • Professional development • Referees

11. Selection process – the formal part. • Seminar/talk – to staff, selection committee, students… In North America, may be two – one on research; one on teaching. • Other ‘tasks’ – role play, meeting other candidates. • Interview – 45-60 minutes.

12. The talk. • Vital part of the process. • Find out about key matters such as facilities & what type of talk they want (e.g. teaching, research…) See Making the Grade for detailed advice. • Road test your talk with a critical and constructive audience. • 20-60 minutes. • Audience watching for teaching ability and research issues (e.g. conceptual framework; prospects for development; ability to respond to questions…) • Questions an be very, very critical. (‘There but for the grace of God…’)

13. Interview – anticipate possible questions. • All that has gone into your written application may be forgotten. • Why do you want this job? • Outline your teaching philosophy. • How do you cope with student diversity? • What are your research plans for the next 2-3 years? • What will you do to get your research plan up and running in the first year? • What do you believe you can contribute to the AOU?

14. Interview – your questions. • “What questions do you have for us?” Prepare some. Areas might include: • Research funding. • Teaching ‘load’ and other expectations. • Offshore and online teaching? • ‘Culture’ of the AOU. • Activity level of PG students. • Show you’ve done some homework and are interested. Ask serious questions you really want answers to. • But - don’t ask about salary… • The interview is a 2-way street.

15. Interviewing – the informal parts. • Meals with prospective colleagues. • Arrange to meet staff and students. • Ask for a tour of the relevant facilities. • Think critically. Is this where you want to be? Will this place set you up well? Do you feel comfortable here? • But also remember, “It is easier to look for a job when you’re eating.” (M.D. Thomas)

16. Negotiating. • The offer. • Starting date. • Salary level. Find out too about insurances, salary packaging, and superannuation (retirement) matters… • Start-up research funds. • Teaching load. • Access to LSL/OSL. • Computer access. • Accommodation arrangements. • Access to RA/TAs… • Get all negotiated matters on paper or email.

17. Some other random thoughts. • Start before you’ve finished…. • Don’t underestimate the time finding a job will require. • Competition is very keen. • Learn from experiences. Seek feedback (in preparation and from selection process). • Be aware of seasonality of job offers.

18. Useful resources. • Do a Google on getting an academic job. • Check Amazon and Barnes & Noble for current helpful texts. • Look at geographers: getting jobshttp://depts.washington.edu/geogjobs/Jobs/jmenu.html • H:/Teaching materials/Getting an academic job