In response to many requests, I am devoting today's post to the teaching-centric letter. The absence of a post on this subject before now might seem surprising on a blog that purports to cover every aspect of the academic job search. But that … [Read more...] about The Teaching-Centric Letter
How To Write Academic Job Cover Letters
Adjectives Are Not Arguments, Part I
It is time that all of you grasped a simple yet profound truth of academic writing: adjectives are not arguments. Simply repeating the words: complex multivalent/multidirectional/multiplicitous unique diasporic transnational … [Read more...] about Adjectives Are Not Arguments, Part I
Stop Acting Like a Grad Student, Redux: “After My Defense, I Will…”
I am always telling clients to stop "sounding like a grad student." But the trouble is, clients don't understand all the ways that they do this. Some are obvious. "While a grad student in the English Ph.D. program, I....." is a sure giveaway. … [Read more...] about Stop Acting Like a Grad Student, Redux: “After My Defense, I Will…”
The Hash-Slinging Slasher
This fall, a new phenomenon has emerged in job documents---the slash/dash addiction. I think, if you read the examples below (which are shared with permission of the authors), you'll see the problem. In a way, it's just another manifestation of … [Read more...] about The Hash-Slinging Slasher
Banish These Words, 2014
Previously I told you to banish the words "unique" and "burgeoning." Here is a new set of painfully overused, excruciatingly tedious, annoyingly self-important, and frustratingly vacant words to be banished in 2014: Banish these … [Read more...] about Banish These Words, 2014
We Don’t Need Your New Perspective
If you have the words "a new perspective" in any of your job documents, get rid of it. It's the tritest and most hackneyed of all job document language (that is not in the hyper-emotional-passion vein.) Who is not doing something from a new … [Read more...] about We Don’t Need Your New Perspective
Those 12 Sentences: Evaluating Cover Letter Advice
Many of you have undoubtedly seen the blog post by Philip N. Howard that has been circulating around the internet for the past couple of weeks, called A Dozen Sentences That Should Appear in Your Academic Cover Letter. It was originally published on … [Read more...] about Those 12 Sentences: Evaluating Cover Letter Advice
How To Tailor a Job Letter (Without Flattering, Pandering, or Begging)
An expanded and updated version of this post can now be found in Chapter 23 of my new book, The Professor Is In: The Essential Guide to Turning Your Ph.D. Into a Job. I am keeping a shortened version here, but for the complete discussion including … [Read more...] about How To Tailor a Job Letter (Without Flattering, Pandering, or Begging)
Grad Student Grandiosity
Grad students tend to veer between two extremes: I know nothing and I know everything. The latter position is an over-compensatory response to fear of the former. As you gain experience you find a middle ground of calm confidence. However, at the … [Read more...] about Grad Student Grandiosity
Break The Cycle of List-Addiction (Or, Just Say No To Flabby Logic)
[This is a repost from August 2011] Too many of us are addicted to lists in your writing. What does this look like? Well, something like this: “In sum, my dissertation uses interviews, surveys, textual analysis, and internet research in order … [Read more...] about Break The Cycle of List-Addiction (Or, Just Say No To Flabby Logic)