Academic Employment

What types of jobs are available in academia?

The US Academic job market consists of a variety of teaching and education administration positions but these are fiercely competed for. Current employment trends in the US indicate that while there are is a generation of professors retiring and leaving job openings, the struggling economy continues to influence hiring trends as universities battle with budget cuts and diminishing endowments. While the number of competitive full-time positions available has reduced, there has been an increase in part-time and online teaching positions and so the applicant pool has become more competitive. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the best opportunities for teaching positions over the next seven years will be in part-time and non-tenure positions (including online teaching positions), therefore increasing the competition for full-time teaching.

How can I search for jobs in the academic market?

Academic faculty and administrative positions are advertised on a number of different sites.

Chronicle of Higher Education (www.chronicle.com)

• Job search by type/discipline/region/school
• Site offers advice on application and interview process
• Statistics on employment trends and salaries
• Survey on best colleges to work for

Inside Higher Ed (www.insidehighered.com)

• Job search by type/discipline/region/school
• Site offers application and interview tips
• Statistics on employment trends and salaries

Higher Ed Jobs (www.higheredjobs.com)

• Job search by type/category/location
• Site offers various career tools
• Job seekers can post resumes for employers to view

Jobs in academia can also be searched through associations linked to each discipline. For example, academic jobs in chemistry can be searched for through the American Chemistry Society, an online resource that provides information on career fairs, academic positions, private and public sector jobs and resources associated with the field.

The job search for entry-level faculty positions such as assistant professorship is often a centralized process and not done by discipline. Faculty and administrative positions can also be searched for by individually searching each institution or college. You may want to conduct research on what sort of institution you would like to work for and seek information on employment opportunities directly with those institutions.

What is the hiring process for jobs in academia?

Many institutions use some sort of search committee or hiring committee to fill an open position. Search committees typically facilitate the recruiting process and oversee the evaluation of prospective candidates. Most committees serve in an advisory capacity, while the final decision is made by an administrator such as a Director or Dean of a department. Committees will usually oversee the entire process, from creating and posting the position announcement, screening and scheduling interview dates, conducting interviews, contacting references, to evaluation of candidates for the position. The size of the committee depends on the size of the institution, but is typically made up of between three to seven members, and it is formed each time there is a vacancy at the institution.

What do you need to know when applying and interviewing for jobs in academia?

Application Etiquette

During the application process, make sure to carefully research the requirements of the open position, along with the department and the institution the job at. Consider how your background and abilities fit the needs of the position, and tailor your application materials accordingly. Make sure you read the posting in its entirety to ensure that you meet the requirements of the available position. It is also important that the various elements that comprise your academic portfolio be tailored to the job and university that you are applying for. Below is a sample list of items you may want to include in your academic portfolio:

• Cover Letter
  • Curriculum Vitae/Resume
  • Statement of Teaching Philosophy
  • Research Statement (this is often required by research institutions)
  • Awards and Certificates
  • Documentation of Publications

Depending on the type of position you are applying for, it may also be prudent to include documentation of teaching experience including:

• Courses you are prepared to teach or have previously taught
• Classroom, Advising, and Technology Teaching tools
• Sample Syllabi and Course assignments
• Student evaluations of teaching

For further advice and useful tips for applying to academic jobs, please refer to the following articles.

E-applications

The Cover Letter for an academic job is an odd mixture of elements. This genre of cover letter must be the right mix of teaching biography, academic transcript, a listing of accomplishments and experiences.

Dossiers

Applying to small colleges

Interview Etiquette

Once you have been selected for an interview, refine your initial research on the position to gain a greater understanding of the position, the department, and the institution. Interviewers are more impressed by candidates that convey interest in the college or university, department and position, as well as the students. Being familiar with the institution’s history is another important aspect of interview success. Consider researching and becoming familiar with the department’s contributions to a body of knowledge and your prospective colleagues’ areas of research.

For those with an advanced degree, you should be prepared to answer questions about your thesis or dissertation. In addition to your personal career summary, or “elevator speech,” you should be able to give a brief description of the research you have done within a couple of minutes. This includes describing the research questions you posed for your topic and talking about the conclusions you drew through your work.

What are average salary and benefits in academia?

It is important to conduct research on salaries prior to accepting any offer from an institution. Average salary statistics for faculty positions can be found under the 2011/2012 CUPA-HR Salary Surveys at Higheredjobs.com. This site has information from the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources and is an excellent source for accurate salary information. Average administrative and faculty salaries can also be found at The Chronicle’s Annual List of Greatest Colleges to Work For which highlights average salaries according to institution. Average faculty salaries broken down by region, category, and academic rank can be located HERE.

What are some of the best colleges to work for?

There are many institutions that have been recognized as great employers to work for according to a survey provided by The Chronicle of Higher Education’s Greatest Colleges to Work For. The Survey compares colleges by region and lists number of employees, turnover rates, and categories of recognition. The survey also takes into account average annual salaries for both administrative and faculty positions.

How do you address issues of mobility in the academic job market as a Military Spouse?

Quite often, spouses of active duty military must look for teaching positions that can move with them. Because of this need for mobile careers, a number of issues arise such as whether or not military spouses can obtain tenure in higher education. A good solution for this problem that military spouses may want to consider is teaching online courses. Many universities offer an online track and there are also a number of universities that act strictly as an online college. Professors can teach full-time with online courses just as in the classroom or choose to teach part time and thus a lighter course load. Those spouses who must deal with the possibility of relocating should consider applying for online teaching positions so that they may continue to work either full-time or part time teaching while also continuing to be fully supportive of their spouse’s military career. Transitioning to teaching online courses can be done in a few ways, the first of which is to begin with a university by teaching in the classroom, therefore developing an in-person relationship with both faculty and staff and when necessary requesting to transfer to online teaching.