Applying for a job, haggling for a job, and keeping a job

Louis Gross - MBI - October 2006

In applying for a job, choose a small subset of possible positions that
you really want, learn about the people at these places, and specialize
your application packet a bit to each one of these separately.

I: Application packet:

1. Cover letter - one page - be explicit why you are appropriate for
the position, state a little bit about your background, be
enthusiastic.

2. CV - include everything including ms in preparation, all academic
awards including undergrad, all teaching experience, all mentoring
experience, relevant volunteer experience (e.g. math tutor)

3. Statement of research interests - summarize in one paragraph the
main results from your dissertation work, then summarize main results
from post-doc work. Then lay out a plan, with possibly several
different components as to your future plans - think 5 years out at
least. Where do you want to be, what "big" questions do you want to
work on and how does the smaller ones fit into this. Think of this as a
research plan for the initial 5-10 years of your career. Do not assume
the reader knows anything about your research area, so use more
scientific laypersons language - define your terms.

4. Statement of Teaching interests - summarize in a couple paragraphs
what your teaching experience has been, give a bit of your teaching
philosophy and in this it is best to give examples of how you have met
this. Thus might be particular projects you developed/used in a course
you taught, implementation of computer-based examples, etc. For
example, in my Math for Life Sci course I recently gave a project that
had the students measure their height before and after sleeping.
Objective was to (i) have them collect data on themselves on topic they
had not thought about before, (ii) provide a way to compare themselves
to others through distribution of responses, (iii) point out the
problems with "bad data" in data collection, (iv) introduce regression
ideas, (v) illustrate use of a computer software tool to analyze their
data, and (vi) point out requirements for review board oversight of
data collection on humans.

Go on to state your teaching objectives over the next 5 years -
e.g. what courses you might like to teach/develo, what graduate
seminars you'd like to lead, what texts you might be interested in
developing. For the top schools on your list, tie this in to
particular courses they have on campus. This is point at which you
might mention any interdisciplinary teaching you'd like to do.

5. Manuscripts - you might include only 2-3 that are not yet published,
unless the application asks you to send reprints.

6. References - be absolutely certain that the references are people
who can write a good letter for you - they have been your mentors
and/or have been involved in your teaching. At least one should be able
to discuss your teaching ability. Typically, if this list does not
include your major advisors, people will be concerned - so address this
if necessary in the cover letter.

Make it as easy as possible for the references to write a letter for
you - give them all the material you are sending out and give them
an electronic version of the addresses to send to, as well as sort
the ads into difefernt groups if you are applying to different types
of positions. Make sure the references know which jobs are the ones of
most interest to you. Ask them to possibly contact (email or phone)
anyone they know at your top choice positions to alert them to your
application.

II: Interviews

1. Prepare for this, whether it is a phone or visit one, by looking
over in some detail the people in the department, with particular
emphasis on those you might collaborate with. But  don't limit yourself
to those in your immediate field of expertise. Consider possible
interactions you might have with the strongest research groups in the
institution.

2. Dress neatly and professionally - get a haircut.

3. Make sure you know the schedule of who you will be meeting, know who
they are beforehand from google, and in particular make sure you look
at the info on the members of the search committee and thedept head.

4. Let your host know well in advance if you have any dietary
preferences and/or special needs assistance.

5. Act interested throughout the interview (e.g. don't assume anything
about whether you are likely to get an offer or not - the fact that you
are there puts you in the running). Don't ask questions about your
competitors for the position (if someone volunteers this, don't dwell
on it or ask them to dwell on it).

6. When you meet faculty, assume they know nothing about you. Remind
them of your interests and try to tie these into theirs if you know
theirs and if not, ask them. Your job in personal interactions is to
make it clear to them that you will be a useful colleague to have
around. It is also to make it clear that you have expertise that the
department needs and you really are an expert in your chosen area.

7. When you meet students, graduate or undergrad, get them to talk
about their own interests and listen to them. Make suggsetions as
appropriate, but don't be too strong in this regard and don't be
critical even if what they are doing appears trivial. Be positive.

8. You'll be likely meeting some administrator during an interview. Be
prepared with questions for them. If there is a lapse in conversation
(e.g. you have nothing in common) get them talking about themselves.

9. For a research talk, remember that the attendees will mostly not be
in your area of expertise. So start off stating why the area and
questions are of interest, how you got involved in them, and what the
long-term view is of these questions (e.g. make it clear that you have
a overview that is broader than the detailed topic of your
presentation). Start off so that all grad students in the audience,
independent of math area, understand what you are doing, then elaborate
and get more detailed. By the end it should be clear to any attendees
that (a) this is really interesting stuff (b) you have done something
really new (c) there is still more to do and (d) you are the best
person around to carry out more work in this area. Be enthusiastic.
Smile alot.

Don't go on too long or too short - be certain beforehand exactly how
much time you will be alloted. Get in the room early to set up any
necessary technology. Speak clearly, don't mumble and don't yell.

Make sure you go over the presentation beforehand with an audience who
can critique you (e.g. include some students/colleagues who are not
involved in the details of your work) and encourage them to be
critical.

10. If there is a teaching presentation, be sure to have this carefully
prepared with a lesson plan beforehand. Have someone critique this talk
as well, watching particularly for clarity of expression, chalk board
usage and clear ennunciation.

11. In conversations with the Head, you have no obligation to inform
them about other offers/possible positions, but do so if you think this
will help your situation (it may or may not - depends on
circumstances). Go into the interview with a set of mimimum
requirements but do not state these. They should tell you what the
options are, salary range to be expected, startup, moving expenses,
summer funding, etc. Typically this will be gone over at an interview
with the Head, in which they will also give you a tour of possible
office space.

12. Exit interview - this may be with the search committee or may be
with the Head. Be prepared for them to ask if you are still interested
and to ask you why you are particularly interested in the position,
what if anything happened during the interview to reinforce your
interest.

III. Haggling

1. Most everything is negotiable at least to some extent. If you are
not happy with an offer, state so. There is little advantage to either
the dept or you if you accept a position but are dissatisfied with some
aspects of the offer.

2. Look at the B & B PRIMER ON FIRST JOB HAGGLING
http://www.tiem.utk.edu/~gross/JobHaggling.txt 
this is a bit dated but still has many of the essential components of 
the job process.

3. Spousal/partner matters. You have no obligation to bring these up at
any time during the process and under no circumstances should anyone
bring it up if you do not do so first (e.g. it is illegal for anyone to
ask you questions about constraints due to spouse/ partner). If someone
does bring this up and you don't want to talk about it, simply ignore
the question.

My suggestion is that if this issue is something that will have a major
impact on whether you accept a position, then you be honest about it,
but ONLY after you get an interview. There is little reason to bring
this up prior to an interview unless there are two positions available
at the institution that you and your spouse are applying for, or if
there is a possibility of a split position (somewhat rare). I suggest
that you be open about the matter from the start of the interview with
the goal of determining what the options are, and how other individuals
have dealt with the two-body problem there.

IV. Keeping the job

1. Work your butt off.

2. Find a good mentor and listen to them.

3. Collaborate with some colleagues either in your dept or elsewhere at
the institution.

4. Bring in some money - see my Notes on Writing and Getting Grants
http://www.tiem.utk.edu/~gross/grantwriting.txt

5. Treat all students with respect

6. Get publications out quickly.

7. Do all committee work assigned to you with care and efficiency.

8. Be certain your teaching effort is at least competent, and
preferably, do something a bit innovative.

9. Go back to 1.