Applying for a job, haggling for a job, and keeping a job Louis Gross - MBI - October 2006 In applying for a job, choose a small subset of possible positions that you really want, learn about the people at these places, and specialize your application packet a bit to each one of these separately. I: Application packet: 1. Cover letter - one page - be explicit why you are appropriate for the position, state a little bit about your background, be enthusiastic. 2. CV - include everything including ms in preparation, all academic awards including undergrad, all teaching experience, all mentoring experience, relevant volunteer experience (e.g. math tutor) 3. Statement of research interests - summarize in one paragraph the main results from your dissertation work, then summarize main results from post-doc work. Then lay out a plan, with possibly several different components as to your future plans - think 5 years out at least. Where do you want to be, what "big" questions do you want to work on and how does the smaller ones fit into this. Think of this as a research plan for the initial 5-10 years of your career. Do not assume the reader knows anything about your research area, so use more scientific laypersons language - define your terms. 4. Statement of Teaching interests - summarize in a couple paragraphs what your teaching experience has been, give a bit of your teaching philosophy and in this it is best to give examples of how you have met this. Thus might be particular projects you developed/used in a course you taught, implementation of computer-based examples, etc. For example, in my Math for Life Sci course I recently gave a project that had the students measure their height before and after sleeping. Objective was to (i) have them collect data on themselves on topic they had not thought about before, (ii) provide a way to compare themselves to others through distribution of responses, (iii) point out the problems with "bad data" in data collection, (iv) introduce regression ideas, (v) illustrate use of a computer software tool to analyze their data, and (vi) point out requirements for review board oversight of data collection on humans. Go on to state your teaching objectives over the next 5 years - e.g. what courses you might like to teach/develo, what graduate seminars you'd like to lead, what texts you might be interested in developing. For the top schools on your list, tie this in to particular courses they have on campus. This is point at which you might mention any interdisciplinary teaching you'd like to do. 5. Manuscripts - you might include only 2-3 that are not yet published, unless the application asks you to send reprints. 6. References - be absolutely certain that the references are people who can write a good letter for you - they have been your mentors and/or have been involved in your teaching. At least one should be able to discuss your teaching ability. Typically, if this list does not include your major advisors, people will be concerned - so address this if necessary in the cover letter. Make it as easy as possible for the references to write a letter for you - give them all the material you are sending out and give them an electronic version of the addresses to send to, as well as sort the ads into difefernt groups if you are applying to different types of positions. Make sure the references know which jobs are the ones of most interest to you. Ask them to possibly contact (email or phone) anyone they know at your top choice positions to alert them to your application. II: Interviews 1. Prepare for this, whether it is a phone or visit one, by looking over in some detail the people in the department, with particular emphasis on those you might collaborate with. But don't limit yourself to those in your immediate field of expertise. Consider possible interactions you might have with the strongest research groups in the institution. 2. Dress neatly and professionally - get a haircut. 3. Make sure you know the schedule of who you will be meeting, know who they are beforehand from google, and in particular make sure you look at the info on the members of the search committee and thedept head. 4. Let your host know well in advance if you have any dietary preferences and/or special needs assistance. 5. Act interested throughout the interview (e.g. don't assume anything about whether you are likely to get an offer or not - the fact that you are there puts you in the running). Don't ask questions about your competitors for the position (if someone volunteers this, don't dwell on it or ask them to dwell on it). 6. When you meet faculty, assume they know nothing about you. Remind them of your interests and try to tie these into theirs if you know theirs and if not, ask them. Your job in personal interactions is to make it clear to them that you will be a useful colleague to have around. It is also to make it clear that you have expertise that the department needs and you really are an expert in your chosen area. 7. When you meet students, graduate or undergrad, get them to talk about their own interests and listen to them. Make suggsetions as appropriate, but don't be too strong in this regard and don't be critical even if what they are doing appears trivial. Be positive. 8. You'll be likely meeting some administrator during an interview. Be prepared with questions for them. If there is a lapse in conversation (e.g. you have nothing in common) get them talking about themselves. 9. For a research talk, remember that the attendees will mostly not be in your area of expertise. So start off stating why the area and questions are of interest, how you got involved in them, and what the long-term view is of these questions (e.g. make it clear that you have a overview that is broader than the detailed topic of your presentation). Start off so that all grad students in the audience, independent of math area, understand what you are doing, then elaborate and get more detailed. By the end it should be clear to any attendees that (a) this is really interesting stuff (b) you have done something really new (c) there is still more to do and (d) you are the best person around to carry out more work in this area. Be enthusiastic. Smile alot. Don't go on too long or too short - be certain beforehand exactly how much time you will be alloted. Get in the room early to set up any necessary technology. Speak clearly, don't mumble and don't yell. Make sure you go over the presentation beforehand with an audience who can critique you (e.g. include some students/colleagues who are not involved in the details of your work) and encourage them to be critical. 10. If there is a teaching presentation, be sure to have this carefully prepared with a lesson plan beforehand. Have someone critique this talk as well, watching particularly for clarity of expression, chalk board usage and clear ennunciation. 11. In conversations with the Head, you have no obligation to inform them about other offers/possible positions, but do so if you think this will help your situation (it may or may not - depends on circumstances). Go into the interview with a set of mimimum requirements but do not state these. They should tell you what the options are, salary range to be expected, startup, moving expenses, summer funding, etc. Typically this will be gone over at an interview with the Head, in which they will also give you a tour of possible office space. 12. Exit interview - this may be with the search committee or may be with the Head. Be prepared for them to ask if you are still interested and to ask you why you are particularly interested in the position, what if anything happened during the interview to reinforce your interest. III. Haggling 1. Most everything is negotiable at least to some extent. If you are not happy with an offer, state so. There is little advantage to either the dept or you if you accept a position but are dissatisfied with some aspects of the offer. 2. Look at the B & B PRIMER ON FIRST JOB HAGGLING http://www.tiem.utk.edu/~gross/JobHaggling.txt this is a bit dated but still has many of the essential components of the job process. 3. Spousal/partner matters. You have no obligation to bring these up at any time during the process and under no circumstances should anyone bring it up if you do not do so first (e.g. it is illegal for anyone to ask you questions about constraints due to spouse/ partner). If someone does bring this up and you don't want to talk about it, simply ignore the question. My suggestion is that if this issue is something that will have a major impact on whether you accept a position, then you be honest about it, but ONLY after you get an interview. There is little reason to bring this up prior to an interview unless there are two positions available at the institution that you and your spouse are applying for, or if there is a possibility of a split position (somewhat rare). I suggest that you be open about the matter from the start of the interview with the goal of determining what the options are, and how other individuals have dealt with the two-body problem there. IV. Keeping the job 1. Work your butt off. 2. Find a good mentor and listen to them. 3. Collaborate with some colleagues either in your dept or elsewhere at the institution. 4. Bring in some money - see my Notes on Writing and Getting Grants http://www.tiem.utk.edu/~gross/grantwriting.txt 5. Treat all students with respect 6. Get publications out quickly. 7. Do all committee work assigned to you with care and efficiency. 8. Be certain your teaching effort is at least competent, and preferably, do something a bit innovative. 9. Go back to 1.