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Academic Job Search – Academic Job Search – My experienceMy experience

Bodhisattva SenBodhisattva Sen

Columbia UniversityColumbia University

27 January 201027 January 2010

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1-2 years before graduating1-2 years before graduating

Some thoughts about direction of your Some thoughts about direction of your research – your research – your interestsinterests, , goalsgoals

Type of departments – Stat, BioStat, Med Type of departments – Stat, BioStat, Med School, Business SchoolSchool, Business School

InterdisciplinaryInterdisciplinary research interests sell well research interests sell wellTheoretical interests need to be Theoretical interests need to be supplemented with applicationssupplemented with applications

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Contd…Contd…

Big question – Big question – What do I bring to the table that What do I bring to the table that others do not?others do not?

Look at websites for new job candidates, Look at websites for new job candidates, department seminar websitesdepartment seminar websites

View the profile of new job candidatesView the profile of new job candidates

Track themTrack them

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Job websitesJob websites

http://www.imstat.org/jobs/usa_bydate.htmhttp://www.imstat.org/jobs/usa_bydate.htm

http://jobs.amstat.org/search/results/http://jobs.amstat.org/search/results/

http://www.stat.purdue.edu/resources/jobs/jobs.chttp://www.stat.purdue.edu/resources/jobs/jobs.cgi?type=1gi?type=1

http://www.stat.ufl.edu/vlib/jobs.htmlhttp://www.stat.ufl.edu/vlib/jobs.html

Go to department websitesGo to department websites

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October ‘10October ‘10

So you are applying for academic job…So you are applying for academic job…

Where are you Where are you applyingapplying??

Post-Doc/Tenure track/VisitingPost-Doc/Tenure track/Visiting – pros and – pros and conscons

Selective/All outSelective/All out

Get the names of the dept.; deadlinesGet the names of the dept.; deadlines

Talk to your advisors/faculty members Talk to your advisors/faculty members about your/their choicesabout your/their choices

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Documents to prepareDocuments to prepare

CV CV

Research StatementResearch Statement

Teaching StatementTeaching Statement

Your web-siteYour web-site

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November ‘10November ‘10

Finalize the list Finalize the list

Find recommenders – at least threeFind recommenders – at least three

How to choose recommenders?How to choose recommenders?

Get addresses of dept. Get addresses of dept.

Online/Offline applicationOnline/Offline application

Deadlines start from NovemberDeadlines start from November

Send out the applicationsSend out the applications

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Job InterviewJob Interview

4-7 interviews per position4-7 interviews per position

Usually one whole day, sometimes 2 daysUsually one whole day, sometimes 2 days

Talk – 50 minsTalk – 50 mins

Meeting – 30 mins with about 10-15 Meeting – 30 mins with about 10-15 faculty membersfaculty members

Schedule them early, and no more than 2 Schedule them early, and no more than 2 per weekper week

8:30 am – 8:30 pm (quite hectic!) 8:30 am – 8:30 pm (quite hectic!)

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TipsTipsYour Your attitude/personality attitude/personality mattersmattersBe friendly, polite; enjoy the processBe friendly, polite; enjoy the processShow interest in others worksShow interest in others worksShow your Show your breadthbreadth of knowledge of knowledgeShow your interest in the Show your interest in the departmentdepartment and and placeplaceDo your Do your homeworkhomeworkImportance: Importance: How do you handle questions after talk How do you handle questions after talk TalkTalk Personal MeetingsPersonal Meetings

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HomeworkHomework

Be aware Be aware of the faculty members research of the faculty members research interests/ areasinterests/ areas

More intensive focus on their recent work More intensive focus on their recent work

Read some papers; at least the abstractsRead some papers; at least the abstracts

Connections to your work/interestsConnections to your work/interests

Know about the Know about the departmentdepartment, its , its historyhistory

Practice Practice your job talk; fine tune the talkyour job talk; fine tune the talk

The more time you devote, the better!The more time you devote, the better!

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Job TalkJob TalkExpress your Express your enthusiasmenthusiasm/interest/interestExplainExplain the problem and why it is the problem and why it is interestinginteresting Highlight Highlight youryour contribution contributionGive the Give the broaderbroader picture pictureDo Do notnot make any statement that you are not make any statement that you are not absolutely sure aboutabsolutely sure aboutNeed not give detailed proofsNeed not give detailed proofsMotivate your results, explain intuitively Motivate your results, explain intuitively What are they looking for

Whether you know your subject How clearly/easily you can communicate Will you be a good researcher in the future

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Individual meetingsIndividual meetingsLet the discussion take its Let the discussion take its own shapeown shape

Show your enthusiasm in your research as well Show your enthusiasm in your research as well as in the other persons researchas in the other persons research

HomeworkHomework comes in handy comes in handy

Make Make connectionsconnections with your own research with your own research

Show your Show your breadthbreadth of knowledge of knowledge

Be an interested listenerBe an interested listener

Common questionsCommon questions

Other research experience comes in handy!Other research experience comes in handy!

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MiscellaneousMiscellaneous

Do not ask about your Do not ask about your salarysalary, performance of , performance of other job candidatesother job candidates

You may write a thank you e-mail after the You may write a thank you e-mail after the interview interview

In lunch/dinner In lunch/dinner Focus less on food, and more on othersFocus less on food, and more on others Politics, Sports, your department, other Politics, Sports, your department, other

interestinterest Remember they also want a Remember they also want a good colleaguegood colleague

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GeneralGeneralDo not Do not open any weak cornersopen any weak corners

EnjoyEnjoy the experience; meeting so many new the experience; meeting so many new people can be people can be tiringtiring

I think they will I think they will rememberremember you – put up a good you – put up a good impressionimpression

Even the e-mail’s you write to them count, so be Even the e-mail’s you write to them count, so be seriousserious

Dress code?Dress code?