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As soon as you start your graduate studies, you
should begin preparing for the job market by:
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- Working to establish
your scholarly record.
- Submitting papers
for publication to peer-reviewed journals and for presentation
at national and international conferences.
- Attending conferences and lectures.
- Establishing relationships
with all members of the faculty with expertise in your area of
interest. These will be the faculty from whom you will ultimately
request letters of recommendation.
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Most colleges and universities require candidates
to have their Ph.D. already in hand before an appointment
can be made. Searching for a job before you can resonably claim
that you will have your dissertation defended prior to the
start date of the job is often futile. However, in some rare
cases ABD students are able to secure tenure-track appointments
contingent on their completing their degree. You should consider
applying when:
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- Your disseration
is in its final stages.
- You have started
to establish a publication record.
- In rare cases,
when coursework and exams are complete and you have ABD status.
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The Penn State Graduate Program is committed
to placing all its students. When you have questions about
the placement process, you should contact:
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- The Graduate
Placement Officer -- Prof.
Emily Grosholz.
- Your Disseration Advisor -- Your
disseration advisor is most familiar with your work and knows
the field best. S/he will be able to contact colleagues in the
field when necessary, direct you to promising job prospects and
make suggestions concerning writing samples, your CV and cover
letter.
- The Director of Graduate Studies -- Prof.
Christopher Long.
- Any Member of the Faculty -- Students
should feel free to contact any member of the faculty for advice
concerning placement. Members of the faculty have developed contacts
at a wide range of institutions. Chances are that someone on
the faculty knows someone at the institution to which you are
applying.
- Recent
Graduates -- Often those who have recently negotiated the
job market successfully have the most helpful insights. Below
is a list of recent graduates who have indicated a willingness
to share their experiences.
- Kathryn Hume's Book -- Students
have found Kathryn Hume's book, Surviving
Your Academic Job Hunt, very helpful. Professor Hume
is a member of Penn State's English Department.
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- Jobs
for Philosophers -- The newspaper and web-page that posts
all the available positions for philosophers. The web-site posts
positions throughout the year, while the paper comes out four
times a year. The most postings are in October and November so
that interviews can be arranged for the annual Eastern Division
Meeting of the APA in December.
- JFP
Alert Mailing List -- This list sends you an e-mail anytime
a new posting is made to the Jobs for Philosophers web
page.
- JobSeeker
Database -- The APA allows applicants to submit information
about their qualifications and interests into a database that
potential employers can search.
- The
Chronicle of Higher Education -- The Chronicle posts
a wide variety of academic positions.
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It depends on your personal situation, but generally
it is best:
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- To apply for any
position for which you are genuinely qualified.
- Not to limit yourself too narrowly to a specific area of the
country or, indeed, to jobs exclusively in the United States.
- Not to limit yourself to a particular kind of institution (i.e.,
major research university, small liberal arts college, etc.).
- To be as flexible and open as possible.
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Job advertisements should indicate precisely
what to include in your dossier. However, an academic dossier
usually includes:
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- A Cover Letter --
The cover letter should be brief: normally no longer than a page. Click
here for an example of how a cover letter might be structured.
- Curriculum Vita -- Your CV should be clear and concise.
While formats vary, a good CV will clearly present the candidate's
educational history, publications, awards and other qualifications.
For some helpful advice concerning the preparation of a CV, including
some samples, see http://www.quintcareers.com/curriculum_vitae.html.
For another example, see Professor
Long's CV.
- Letters of Recomendation -- Each job positing will
announce the number of letters of recommendation it requires.
Normally, the request is for three. For the most part, these
letters are expected to be sent directly to the search committee
from the professors. It is important:
- To alert your professors of your intention to request letters
of recommendation from them;
- To provide your professors with the accurate address of
the institution, including the name of the person to whom
the letter should be addressed;
- To give your professors adequate lead time for them to
write a thoughtful, well-constructed letter
- To ask professors to write who know your work well, who
will be able to write positively about your work; and, whenever
possible, who have personal contacts with the institution
to which you are applying.
- Writing Sample -- Your writing sample should be a
serious study, usually between 15 and 20 pages in length, that
deals directly with the area of specialization of the position
for which you are applying. It should showcase your philosophical
abilities.
- Teaching Portfolio -- Although not required, a teaching
portfolio can be a good way to showcase your teaching credentials.
It is often difficult to document a dedication to excellent teaching.
For more information on teaching portfolios, see: http://www.psu.edu/celt/portfolio.html; http://www.utexas.edu/academic/cte/teachfolio.html.
For an example, see Professor
Long's Teaching Portfolio.
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Searching for a job in Philosophy can be a very
stressful and disconcerting experience. Here are a few things
to keep in mind to make the process as smooth as possible:
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- Give Yourself
and Your Professors Lead Time -- Prepare the material you
will need well ahead of the appearance of the October issue of
the Jobs for Philosophers. Alert those who will write
your letters of recommendation of your intention to go on the
market as early as possible.
- Keep Records -- You need to keep track of the institutions
to which you applied, what you sent to each, when you mailed
the material, who you asked to send letters of recommendation,
and who may have called on your behalf.
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Once you have been asked for an interview, you
should:
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- Do Research --
Use the internet to find out the mission of the college or university,
the kinds of courses offered by the department, the names and interests
of the faculty and whatever other features of the institution and
department that makes it stand out. Here is a link to a list of American
Colleges and Universities to help get you started.
- Participate in a Mock Interview -- Each year the Department
of Philosophy at Penn State arranges mock interviews for students
who will be interviewed at the APA in December. These interviews
are designed to recreate the atmosphere of a real interview and
are tailored to the specific institutions with which each student
will interview. After each mock interview, strategies for improvement
are discussed with the student.
- Work with PSU Faculty -- Members of the faculty are
important resources. Find out if any of the faculty knows someone
on the faculty of the institution with which you are interviewing.
Ask them to contact their colleagues on your behalf.
- Review your Dossier -- If you have applied to multiple
positions, be sure you know what you sent to each institution.
Be aware of the material you have provided for them so that you
can anticipate questions based on that information. Think about
your writing sample and be prepared to discuss it in some detail.
- Anticipate Questions -- Be prepared to answer questions
about your research interests. Practice giving a brief but succinct
description of your research program. Think about your attitudes
about teaching, your teaching philosophy. What will you say if
you are asked about your most difficult or most rewarding teaching
experience?
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The interview itself can be very stressful. It
is helpful to consider the following before entering the interview:
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- Come with
Questions -- At some point in every interview, you will
be asked if you have any questions. The wrong answer to this
question is: No. Always be prepared to ask your interviewers
a question. This is an opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge
of and interest in their department and institution. Your question
should be informed by the research you have done in preparing
for the interview. You might ask:
- About the collegiality of the members of the faculty.
- About the library resources.
- About a particular program that you think sets the department
apart from others.
- How many majors there are and what they do after graduation.
- If there is an active philosophy club.
- Do not ask about the teaching load.
- Dress Professionally --
It is important to convey the impression that you are a serious,
professional candidate. Suits and ties for men, professional
suits for women are expected.
- Speak Formally, without Affectation -- Pay attention
to your manner of speech. It should be polite and formal, but
not affected.
- Be Yourself -- An interview is an opportunity for you
and your potential employer to determine your compatability with
one another. It is therefore important to allow your own personality
to show itself.
- Listen to the Questions before Answering -- Be sure
to listen to the entire question before answering it. Do not
interrupt. Answer the question that was asked. When in doubt,
it is always fair to ask if the person is satisfied with the
answer you have given. Don't be afraid to follow up.
- Make Eye Contact -- It may seem obvious, but direct
eye contact demonstrates your interest in what is being discussed,
your respect for the speaker and it reflects a sense of self-confidence.
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If you are invited for a campus interview, you
are probably one of the final two or three candidates being
considered. Congratulations. In preparing for your visit, you
should:
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- Participate
in a Mock Dean's Interview -- Each year the Philosophy Department
at Penn State arranges for a mock interview with one of its deans
to prepare students for the kinds of questions they might encounter
in a dean's interview during a campus visit.
- Do More Research -- Because being invited on campus
indicates a strong committment to your candidacy, it requires
a deeper understanding of the institution on your part. Do more
research into the department and the institution as a whole.
Find out what the mission of the college or university is and
think about how the philosophy department fits into the institution
as a whole.
- Prepare an Appropriate Job Talk -- From the prospective
employer, find out how long you are expected to speak, what the
usual format for a job talk at that institution is, and even
what topic would be most well received. Be sure to:
- Present Material with which you are Comfortable: This is
not the time to try out new material.
- Directly Address the Relevant Area of Specialization
- Limit the Length of your Paper to Allow for Questions
- Prepare Handouts if Appropriate
- Deliver the Paper here at PSU before going on-campus
- Prepare Sample Syllabi -- Develop a few sample syllabi
for courses that you might teach. This gives prospective empolyers
an idea of the range of your abilities and it reinforces the
notion that you take teaching seriously.
- Arrive with Questions -- During the on-campus visit
you will again have opportunities to ask questions. As you do
your research, think about possible questions you might ask.
What strikes you as unique about the institution or department?
Give your hosts an opportunity to talk about their own programs
and initiatives. Each constituency of the institution has different
concerns and interests. Be ready to speak to:
- Faculty Members
- The Chair/Head of the Department
- Undergraduate Students
- Graduate Students (if applicable)
- The Dean of the College
- The Provost/Academic Vice President (depending on the institution)
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Campus visits are exhausting because each moment
has the intensity of an interview. Be sure to:
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- Be on Time --
Make sure you have a clear sense of your itinerary. For the most
part, a member of the faculty is responsible for making sure you
arrive where you are supposed to be. However, when it is your responsibility,
make sure you are on time.
- Remain in "Interview Mode" -- Continue to
follow the basic guidelines for interviews outlined above during
the entire course of your visit.
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