Three Tips for Taking Agony Out of the Academic Job Search - Blog

by Kate Baggott February 10, 2023
Three Tips for Taking Agony Out of the Academic Job Search

You are not imagining it. The competition for online and on-ground teaching jobs is increasing. The job application process for teaching and research positions in higher education, and some knowledge industries, is much more demanding than it is for other jobs. As an inexperienced scholar, you will have to do a lot of work for free to build your CV. And, yes, you will probably submit over 100 applications before you are invited to a single interview.

“Teaching and research applications are much longer and more complicated and time-consuming to fill out than what is commonly required for a professional application,” acknowledges Sheila Fry, COO of Professor Services at The Babb Group. “Unlike other search and recruitment processes, the academic application requires information from all facets of your experience–as an educator and as a professional. The applications take much longer to fill out and the documentation required with each submission is more detailed and extensive.”

In the world of academia and applied research, searching for a job is a full-time job itself. There are some ways to take the agony out of your academic job search. Here are our three tips for making it more manageable.
1. Understand and Accept WHY They Need So Much More Detail
Potential professors must pass a background check, and there needs to be enough detail to verify for the check to be successful. A criminal background check and vulnerable persons check are normal if you get to the consideration stage. Law enforcement agencies have processes and practices to do those checks correctly.

The process of verifying credentials, however, is not as established. There have been hiring scandals at colleges and universities around the world. In Canada, a series of CBC and Toronto Star investigations uncovered professors teaching at high-profile universities who were hired with fake degrees from diploma mills. In the U.S., West L.A. College and Polk State College made similar hiring mistakes. In Florida, a 2015 investigation discovered that at least 100 teachers were hired with fake credentials. In response to these scandals, schools, and institutes of higher education had no recourse but to make their hiring processes more stringent.
1. Use The Right Tools in the Right way
When colleges and universities start the hiring process, the first person to review your application materials – after it has been through an automated screening tool – will often have no training in or knowledge of your specific area of expertise. Subject matter experts, deans, and department chairs will become involved later in the hiring process. To get past the first gatekeepers, you need materials that describe who you are, what you have done, and how you will move forward in a new position.

“Hiring directors are inundated with CV’s,” says Dorothy Miraglia, VP of Sales for Professor Services. “They need to verify your expertise and credentials in the field so it’s important you stand out with an optimized CV and cover letter.”

The much-maligned cover letter is a tool that helps you describe your lived experience and its influence on your teaching style, work and volunteer history, and research choices. It is the forum where you showcase your personality, work ethic, and character.

Why You Need a CV Instead of a Resume

No, a curriculum vitae and a resume are not the same things. The resume writing farms claiming the terms are interchangeable are wrong, and their lack of knowledge harms academic and knowledge economy applicants.

A resume is a one- or two-page document that records your work and education history, a few words of the job description, and the skills you used to do those jobs. A CV is an exhaustive act of story-telling that encompasses your work and educational history and your personal history as it relates to teaching, learning, and research.

In addition, you need a statement of teaching philosophy that describes the methodologies you use to create learning experiences, inspire connection and interaction between students, and choose and use texts, technologies, and other learning materials. If you apply to faith-based institutions, you will also require a statement of faith and, usually, a pastoral reference from the cleric of the house of worship you attend.
1. Propose, Present, Publish, and Peer-review
While you are looking for a job, it is essential that you stay current with events and discoveries in your field. However, it is also crucial that you and your work remain current and relevant. Remember when we mentioned doing a lot of work for free? While looking for an academic job, you must keep writing proposals to present at conferences and lead seminars and discussions. You must continue to submit your work for publication and sit on peer-review panels.

“Continue being an active member in associations working with your field,” says Miraglia. “Write papers, present, network, attend conferences (even virtually), and stay up-to-date on the latest trends in your industry.”

That also means applying for post-doc residencies and fellowships that may be a necessary stepping stone between graduation and academic employment.

In addition to the full-time activities related to job searching, these activities are stressful, and self-care is necessary. Professor Services can help as its experts guide and mentor clients through the job search process. From creating your application documents to taking on the application submission process for you, our professionals apply their knowledge and expertise to support you from the search to employment.

Links referred to in this post:

CBC Marketplace investigation reveals professors with phony degrees

https://charlatan.ca/2017/09/29/cbc-marketplace-investigation-reveals-professors-with-phony-degrees/

Fake instructor degrees and lying on resumes

https://sundial.csun.edu/114175/news/fake-instructor-degrees-and-lying-on-resumes/

Polk State professor with fake diploma charged with grand theft

https://www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/news/2014/5/21/polk_state_professor

Over 100 teachers hired with fake credentials

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2005-07-19-0507180348-story.html

Why you need a professionally written CV

https://www.professorservices.com/blog/why-you-need-a-professionally-written-cv-2/

Self-care for job seekers

https://www.professorservices.com/blog/imgself-care-for-job-seekers/

Job application services

https://www.professorservices.com/product-category/job-application-services

CV and cover letter writing bundle

https://www.professorservices.com/product/professional-cv-writing-service-and-cover-letter-combo-bundle
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Kate Baggott

Kate Baggott is a digital content veteran. She is the current Head of Content and Communications for Edusity.com, The Babb Group and Professor Services.
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