(This post is an update of an earlier post, "How Not To Fuck Up Your Conference Interview." ) You have submitted your cover letter, your c.v., and your recommendations. And lo! You've been long short-listed, and invited for a conference interview! … [Read more...] about On To The Conference Interview!
Major Job Market Mistakes
Editing Your C.V. and Letter for Teaching/Writing Positions
Today's post is a Special Request post for a reader who shall remain anonymous. Her question concerns how to tailor her letter and c.v. for different jobs. Here's the background: She is a Victorian literature specialist and on the job market in … [Read more...] about Editing Your C.V. and Letter for Teaching/Writing Positions
Job Letter Issues When You’re Beyond the Dissertation
Today’s post is a Special Request post for Amy, who wishes to know how the standard “dissertation” paragraph of the job letter should be adapted when the writer is well beyond dissertation stage. This is a good question! Applying for jobs … [Read more...] about Job Letter Issues When You’re Beyond the Dissertation
The Golden Rule of the Research Statement
Today's post is short. It's about the Research Statement. There's undoubtedly a lot to say about Research Statements. But Dr. Karen doesn't have time today, because she's submerged in client work with looming deadlines. So this post is simply going … [Read more...] about The Golden Rule of the Research Statement
Women Fail, But Men Bomb: A Special Request Post for Guys on the Market
Today's post is a Special Request post for Jon, who wrote very good-naturedly to ask, “You have much advice for women. Got any male-specific advice for the ABD, on-the-market sort of guy?” Jon went on to ask, “did you ever meet a promising job or … [Read more...] about Women Fail, But Men Bomb: A Special Request Post for Guys on the Market
Is That Your Final Answer? Or, Why Graduate Students Ramble
Graduate students ramble. The question is not, do you ramble. The question is, why. I was on the phone with a client last week, working on interview responses for an upcoming fellowship interview, and for the first time, I understood the answer to … [Read more...] about Is That Your Final Answer? Or, Why Graduate Students Ramble
Do. Or Do Not. There Is No Try. (Academic Writing and The Force)
The best piece of advice about writing that I got as a graduate student came from my external Ph.D. committee member, a full professor in the English department. A poet and a romantic and undoubtedly a former or current pot smoker, he was much more … [Read more...] about Do. Or Do Not. There Is No Try. (Academic Writing and The Force)
What is Evidence of Teaching Excellence?
Today's post is a Special Request post for quite a few clients, who wanted to know what is meant when a job ad asks for “Evidence of Teaching Excellence.” I want to state at the outset that I have only a few thoughts to offer on this subject, and … [Read more...] about What is Evidence of Teaching Excellence?
Should I Use Interfolio?
[Sept 2019 update: the fact is, Interfolio is unavoidable for many searches and required in a number of fields. The advice here is mostly outdated. I'll leave it up because I still think it's worth asking ourselves why this tech adaptation became … [Read more...] about Should I Use Interfolio?
How to Work the Conference (Part Three of Three)
This is Part Three of our three-part series, "How to Work the Conference." Today's column discusses mealtimes and the book exhibit. In last week's post I quoted extensively from The Tenured Radical's column on conferences. One of her best lines in … [Read more...] about How to Work the Conference (Part Three of Three)