In my two+ gratifying and enjoyable years of writing for Chronicle Vitae, I've only had one column rejected by them, and it is this one, which I submitted late in December as an end-of-year compendium of all my columns, organized thematically. I … [Read more...] about How to Write Your Own Rec. Letter, plus All of my Vitae columns
Graduate Student Concerns
Advisors, #dobetter
A reader wrote to share a case of useless department head job market advice. I pass it on with his/her full permission,* in the hopes that those of you who are advisers will reflect on your own practices, and do better. The department head response … [Read more...] about Advisors, #dobetter
Ph.D. Debt Survey Revisited
Remember my Ph.D. Debt Survey (who could forget it?) -- my crowdsourced google spreadsheet from 2014, of volunteered reader debt information from their undergraduate and graduate studies? (It's still open--feel free to add your own info using the … [Read more...] about Ph.D. Debt Survey Revisited
On Foregone Earnings, or the Economics of Adjunct Life (A Guest Post)
by Russ Burgos In August 1994, at age 31, I started graduate school in the hope (widely shared) of becoming One Who Professes. In May 2015, at age 52 and stuck in the adjunct life like a bug on flypaper, I rather wish I hadn’t. It’s the money, you … [Read more...] about On Foregone Earnings, or the Economics of Adjunct Life (A Guest Post)
Update on My Book: Blurbs, Reviews, and a Promotion
The book inches closer to actually existing in the material world (August 4)! It has gotten some lovely blurbs by amazing people, like this one by the inimitable Rebecca Schuman: “If you would like your academic career to begin in delusion and end … [Read more...] about Update on My Book: Blurbs, Reviews, and a Promotion
VAPS and Why They Suck – A Guest Post
This guest post is co-written by two veterans of the VAP-front who know whereof they speak. All too painfully. A followup from one of them: "One of these co-authors is taking another VAP because she hates herself." This piece was originally … [Read more...] about VAPS and Why They Suck – A Guest Post
Buy My Book!
Love the blog? Now get it in handy book form--only $11.40! Available for pre-order now--comes out August 4! Buy it at all these places! It also makes a great gift for all those struggling grad students in your life! For bulk orders for use … [Read more...] about Buy My Book!
I Don’t Know You
In last week's Job Offer Digest, one of my successful clients wrote this: "Still, don't kid yourself; working with Dr. Karen is hard! It forces you to take a long hard look at yourself, your work, and your presentation of your work. As she knows you … [Read more...] about I Don’t Know You
Strategizing Your CV for the Job Market
It's that time again! Alert readers know that each Spring I provide a limited-time CV Strategizing Session service between February and April. The idea is to look ahead to the Fall 2015 market, and help graduate students going on the market for the … [Read more...] about Strategizing Your CV for the Job Market
An Inconvenient Truth (A Guest Post)
A reader got in touch to tell me about an infuriating experience at a recent conference. I asked her to write it up as a guest post, and here it is. Professors: stop the madness. Tell graduate students the goddamned truth. Dear Karen, I just … [Read more...] about An Inconvenient Truth (A Guest Post)