There is a kind of line in job documents that is technically blameless, but is so generic, so very much "stating the obvious" that it also completely pointless. This kind of line fills space while doing nothing to distinguish you in any way. The … [Read more...] about Don’t State the Obvious
How To Build Your Tenure File
What is the REF? A Primer on UK Academia (Guest Post)
This was generously sent in by a former client, now employed faculty member. She is Lecturer (assistant professor) at the University of London. I am always grateful for info on the UK job market, especially the REF. For more on the UK academic job … [Read more...] about What is the REF? A Primer on UK Academia (Guest Post)
The Status of the Press Matters, Still!
A debate has simmered on the comment thread to my post, Does the Status of the Press Matter, in recent weeks, on the question: is Palgrave MacMillan a press with high enough status for a US R1 tenure case? My position has always been, based on my … [Read more...] about The Status of the Press Matters, Still!
In Response to Popular Demand, More on the 5-Year Plan
This is a repost of an older post. It follows sequentially from last week's on the five-year plan. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In response to the flood of inquiries about what, exactly, a 5-Year Plan should look like, following on last week's post, … [Read more...] about In Response to Popular Demand, More on the 5-Year Plan
Why You Need a 5-Year Plan
This is a re-post of a previously published post. In the wind-down weeks of Spring, we will focus on big-picture planning for your career trajectory in the immediate and longer term. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When I trained my own Ph.D. students, I … [Read more...] about Why You Need a 5-Year Plan
Job Market PTSD
RE-posted from 2011. When this went up the first time, it got very little response. That surprised me. I think this is a real thing. Readers? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Today's post is another Special Request post, this time coming from Kate, who … [Read more...] about Job Market PTSD
Eight Tips on Writing Efficiently while Overloaded with Teaching, Service and Kids (A Guest Post)
A reader wrote asking for a post on how to write a book while working at a teaching-intensive university. I put out a request for a guest post on the subject on Facebook, and Steve Engler responded with this account of writing a book while teaching … [Read more...] about Eight Tips on Writing Efficiently while Overloaded with Teaching, Service and Kids (A Guest Post)
Writing Your Book While Juggling Teaching and Kids (A Guest Post)
A reader wrote asking for a post on how to write a book while working at a teaching-intensive university. I put out a request for a guest post on the subject on Facebook, and Katherine Vukadin responded with this account of writing a book while … [Read more...] about Writing Your Book While Juggling Teaching and Kids (A Guest Post)
Of Cover Letters and Magic (A Follow-up Post)
There is some advice I give that I believe in fiercely and will defend to the death (ref: Should I Do an Edited Collection?). And then there is some advice I give that I am very willing to concede may be wrong or at least, less than completely (or … [Read more...] about Of Cover Letters and Magic (A Follow-up Post)
Does the Status of the Press Matter?
Today’s post is in response to a reader who wrote in asking, “does the status of the press matter when seeking to publish your book?” Sometimes I am surprised by what people ask me, and this is one of those times. Does anyone not know the answer to … [Read more...] about Does the Status of the Press Matter?