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…”
Productivity
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
Managing Your Postdoc Year(s): Avoid These Mistakes (A Guest Post)
A few months ago I wrote a column in Chronicle Vitae about managing your time for a postdoc; the main point being, get your writing done! A reader wrote to follow up and share her own story about failing to effectively manage her writing time on a … [Read more...] about Managing Your Postdoc Year(s): Avoid These Mistakes (A Guest Post)
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
When I Say ‘Be Specific,’ What Do I Mean?
As I explained in last week's post, I won't be blogging for the next few months while I get the Professor Is In book written. However, I had this post in draft form, so I'm putting it up. After this I hope to solicit guest posts on a range of … [Read more...] about When I Say ‘Be Specific,’ What Do I Mean?
Two Pet Peeves From the World of Grants
Two pet peeves from the world of grants: A grant proposal must not contain the phrase “I need to,” as in “for my revisions of the manuscript I need to pay closer attention to feminist critiques and read more deeply in the women’s studies … [Read more...] about Two Pet Peeves From the World of Grants
The Big Issue In Your Grant Proposal
In the Foolproof Grant Template I ask for an opening sentence or two that quickly engages the reader on the "big topic" of the research. My clients have a terrible time grasping what that opening should look like. They've been so disciplined through … [Read more...] about The Big Issue In Your Grant Proposal
Teaching: Not When and Where but What and How
When discussing teaching in the teaching paragraph of your letter, one of the temptations is to tell a chronological tale of how you taught as an adjunct here and an adjunct there, and taught this class in Fall 2012 and this other class in Spring … [Read more...] about Teaching: Not When and Where but What and How