How to Get a Faculty Job

Faculty jobs can be difficult to land.

Landing a faculty job can be challenging if you aren't familiar with the process. For the most part, academic jobs at most universities involve multiple interviews and at least one campus visit. Maximize your potential for getting a faculty job; know the basic process and understand how to communicate how you would be an asset to a department.

Instructions

Applying For A Job

1. Find the centralized job postings for your field. Every field posts jobs in different locations. Therefore, it's extremely important to know where to look for jobs. Ask your academic advisor or other faculty members in the field.

2. Research the mission and goals of the university where you plan to apply. Get a feel for whether a university is research-oriented or teaching-oriented. Most universities have web pages dedicated to outlining mission statements.

3. Research the department for which you are applying. Familiarize yourself with the department chair and all faculty members. You should know relevant publications for each faculty member.

4. Write down all of the requirements listed in each job posting. Different departments have different requirements. For example, some may ask for a writing sample with the initial application packet, while others will not. Keep track of these by creating a document or spreadsheet with all requirements.

5. Prepare the initial application packet. Use the research you've done on a university and department to craft a personalized cover letter.

6. Send the packet to the department as early as possible. Wait for a written or email confirmation.

First Interview

1. Research the university and department more thoroughly if you've received an invitation for a first round interview. Many first round interviews are held at large national conferences, while others are completed over the phone.

2. Practice articulating answers to possible questions. Don't just practice in your head; practice out loud.

3. Stay calm and answer all questions proposed by the search committee.

4. Ask about the timeline of the job before closing out the interview. At this point, you should know what the next step is and exactly what the department needs from you as a candidate.

Campus Visit

1. Prepare a formal presentation for the campus visit. The requirements for the presentation differ from department to department. You'll likely need to discuss your dissertation and other relevant research.

2. Research faculty even closer. If the department has faculty in a similar research field, you'll want to know how their research relates to yours.

3. Be prepared to discuss your academic accomplishments and your personal life. Most campus visits include a dinner or other event where the search committee wants to get to know you as a person.

4. Express gratitude for the campus visit and find out the timeline for a hire. If you've made it this far, you're likely one of only a handful of other candidates.

Other Steps

1. Publish your dissertation. It is essential to prove that your research is publishable if you want to be hired at a research university.

2. Contribute to the field by presenting at conferences. This is a good way to market yourself and add a presentation line on your curriculum vitae.

3. Network with people in your field. This is extremely important as many fields in academia are very tight-knit.

References

• Standford University: How to Get a Faculty Job
• Washington University: Is Getting a Faculty Position Hard?
• University of Georgia: Advice on Pursuing a Career as a Professor in the Sciences