Starting a Successful Career in Academia: Ten Things You May or May Not Find Helpful Jimmy de la Torre Rutgers University Disclaimers: Results not typical. Experience may vary. Use at your own risk.

Starting a Successful Career in Academia: Ten Things You May or May Not Find Helpful Jimmy de la Torre Rutgers University Disclaimers: Results not typical. Experience may vary. Use at your own risk.

Disclaimers: Results not typical. Experience may vary. Use at your own risk.

10. Tool Up

Taking Classes vs. Doing Research

Go beyond the minimum course requirements Go beyond the minimum course requirements Expand your methodological repertoire – it will allow you greater flexibility in what you can read and what you can do Expand your methodological repertoire – it will allow you greater flexibility in what you can read and what you can do With other urgent demands, taking classes or attending workshops after graduation can be challenging With other urgent demands, taking classes or attending workshops after graduation can be challenging Explore different topics that interest you while in graduate school – you may never have the opportunity again until after tenure Explore different topics that interest you while in graduate school – you may never have the opportunity again until after tenure

9. The Search is On

Job Search – It’s a Two-Way Street

Impressing your prospective employer is only one side of the coin Impressing your prospective employer is only one side of the coin Being impressed by your future employer is the other side Being impressed by your future employer is the other side Collect relevant information during your interview Collect relevant information during your interview Be prepared to meet a diverse audience including people who are completely unfamiliar with your work Be prepared to meet a diverse audience including people who are completely unfamiliar with your work In negotiation, you’ll never know unless you ask (but be reasonable with your demands) In negotiation, you’ll never know unless you ask (but be reasonable with your demands) Don’t burn any bridges along the way Don’t burn any bridges along the way

8. Publish or Perish the Thought

Publish Strategically Think publication – work on what’s publishable Think publication – work on what’s publishable Be strategic where you publish – they don’t have to be all tier-one journals Be strategic where you publish – they don’t have to be all tier-one journals Keep the pipeline active Keep the pipeline active Be a savvy innovator – know what’s out there and where you can contribute Be a savvy innovator – know what’s out there and where you can contribute Not all your publications need to be brilliant – at least not before tenure Not all your publications need to be brilliant – at least not before tenure Work on topics that excite you Work on topics that excite you Work on topics that you can sell (both in terms of publication and grant support) Work on topics that you can sell (both in terms of publication and grant support)

7. Can’t Take Them for Granted

You, Too, Can be Funded Start early (as early as graduate school) Start early (as early as graduate school) Start small – to get your foot in the door Start small – to get your foot in the door Writing grants take time – so plan ahead Writing grants take time – so plan ahead Getting funded is tough – so don’t give up easily Getting funded is tough – so don’t give up easily Three important questions to ask: Three important questions to ask: What is merit of the proposed project? What is merit of the proposed project? Is it worth the funding investment? Is it worth the funding investment? Am I the right person to do it? Am I the right person to do it? Write to inform, not to impress Write to inform, not to impress Ask colleagues to read and comment on your writing Ask colleagues to read and comment on your writing Don’t be afraid to seek assistance from program officers and colleagues elsewhere Don’t be afraid to seek assistance from program officers and colleagues elsewhere

6. The Ties that Bind

Increase Your Net Worth Through Network

In academia, what you know is first and foremost, but who you know and who knows you may be as important In academia, what you know is first and foremost, but who you know and who knows you may be as important When attending conferences, it’s tempting to just go to talks and meet with old friends; however, take time to meet new people When attending conferences, it’s tempting to just go to talks and meet with old friends; however, take time to meet new people An introduction, a short chat or a cup of coffee can sometimes go a long way An introduction, a short chat or a cup of coffee can sometimes go a long way Consider possible collaborations with other researchers – if they don’t pan out, at least you have established new connections Consider possible collaborations with other researchers – if they don’t pan out, at least you have established new connections When given the opportunity to publicize your work, don’t think twice about it When given the opportunity to publicize your work, don’t think twice about it

5. Values, Values, Values

Balance May be the Spice of Life, But …

Imbalance Is the Reality of Life

Know Thy Values: It Matters to Know What Matters : no more, no less, and no exception so know what’s truly important to you, your institution, and your field : no more, no less, and no exception so know what’s truly important to you, your institution, and your field Unless you make deliberate decisions, your situation will decide for you Unless you make deliberate decisions, your situation will decide for you Several aspects of the academic and personal life need to be considered Several aspects of the academic and personal life need to be considered

Know Thy Values: It Matters to Know What Matters Career Personal Life To what extent am I willing to sacrifice my personal life to further my career?

Know Thy Values: It Matters to Know What Matters Teaching Research Service How much emphasis should I devote to each of these components?

Know Thy Values: It Matters to Know What Matters Writing Papers Writing Grants Without a guarantee of success, how much of my time should I set aside to grant writing?

Know Thy Values: It Matters to Know What Matters Personal Identity Overall Productivity How much of my own work do I need to establish a name for myself in the field?

Know Thy Values: It Matters to Know What Matters Scholarly Work Con$ulting Work Should I take on consulting work even if it does not lead to publications?

Know Thy Values: It Matters to Know What Matters : no more, no less, and no exception so know what’s truly important to you, your institution, and your field : no more, no less, and no exception so know what’s truly important to you, your institution, and your field Unless you make deliberate decisions, your situation will decide for you Unless you make deliberate decisions, your situation will decide for you Several aspects of the academic and personal life need to be considered Several aspects of the academic and personal life need to be considered It’s never easy, but learn to say no It’s never easy, but learn to say no Make decisions that you will be able to live with Make decisions that you will be able to live with In life, you may not have it all, but you can try to make sure that you get to keep the things that truly matter to you In life, you may not have it all, but you can try to make sure that you get to keep the things that truly matter to you

4. Who’s Afraid of the Tenure Process?

It’s More than a Game of Chance

Hiring tenure-track faculty involves huge investments so universities hire individuals they believe are tenurable Hiring tenure-track faculty involves huge investments so universities hire individuals they believe are tenurable Although the components are typically the same, tenure process varies across institutions Although the components are typically the same, tenure process varies across institutions Attend your university’s tenure/promotion workshop as soon as you can Attend your university’s tenure/promotion workshop as soon as you can If you have questions, don’t hesitate to consult your mentor and other colleagues If you have questions, don’t hesitate to consult your mentor and other colleagues In R1 institutions, research productivity is the primary basis of tenure In R1 institutions, research productivity is the primary basis of tenure

It’s More than a Game of Chance In addition to teaching and service, success in obtaining external grants can also evaluated In addition to teaching and service, success in obtaining external grants can also evaluated Letters from external evaluators are part of the tenure packet Letters from external evaluators are part of the tenure packet Quality and quantity of publications may be emphasized at the different levels of the tenure process so be prepared for both Quality and quantity of publications may be emphasized at the different levels of the tenure process so be prepared for both Tenure materials are usually submitted at the start of the 6 th year but updates can be done until review has been completed Tenure materials are usually submitted at the start of the 6 th year but updates can be done until review has been completed Official tenure decisions come out in March or April Official tenure decisions come out in March or April

3. Hang in There

Don’t Give Up … Easily

Rejection is a reality of the academic life – the sooner you get used to it, the faster you can move on Rejection is a reality of the academic life – the sooner you get used to it, the faster you can move on Rejection does not have to mean the end of the road; it can be an opportunity to improve your work Rejection does not have to mean the end of the road; it can be an opportunity to improve your work However, there are times when you need to pack up and cut your losses However, there are times when you need to pack up and cut your losses God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; And wisdom to know the difference. God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; And wisdom to know the difference.

2. No good deed goes … unrewarded!

Go Out and Get Involved Service encompasses work done for one’s institution and one’s professional community Service encompasses work done for one’s institution and one’s professional community Service to professional community includes reviewing manuscripts, conference proposals, grant proposals, etc. Service to professional community includes reviewing manuscripts, conference proposals, grant proposals, etc. Editors, program officers and senior colleagues take mental notes particularly of individuals who provide outstanding service Editors, program officers and senior colleagues take mental notes particularly of individuals who provide outstanding service Serve with professionalism – choose words carefully, remain impartial, be on time Serve with professionalism – choose words carefully, remain impartial, be on time Your service can demonstrate to people in positions of influence capabilities that might not be evident in your work elsewhere Your service can demonstrate to people in positions of influence capabilities that might not be evident in your work elsewhere

1. For a Better View, Take a Few Steps Back

Don’t Lose Your Perspective Don’t take things personally – people are just doing their job, albeit overzealously at times Don’t take things personally – people are just doing their job, albeit overzealously at times Don’t hold grudges – it will eat you up Don’t hold grudges – it will eat you up Don’t sweat out things you have no control over – focus on what you can change Don’t sweat out things you have no control over – focus on what you can change Work with what you have, not what you wish you have – no work place is perfect Work with what you have, not what you wish you have – no work place is perfect Have a sense of humor – it will help you ride out the difficulties of life Have a sense of humor – it will help you ride out the difficulties of life Be nice – there will be times when you will be at the receiving end Be nice – there will be times when you will be at the receiving end Finally, know what truly matters in life – you only have one life to live, live it with no regrets Finally, know what truly matters in life – you only have one life to live, live it with no regrets

Starting a Successful Career in Academia: Top 10 Things to Remember 6. You can increase your net worth through network 6. You can increase your net worth through network 7. You, too, can be funded 7. You, too, can be funded 8. Publish strategically 8. Publish strategically 9. Job search is a two-way street 9. Job search is a two-way street 10. Tool up

Starting a Successful Career in Academia: Top 10 Things to Remember 1. Don’t lose your perspective 1. Don’t lose your perspective 2. No good deed goes unrewarded 2. No good deed goes unrewarded 3. Hang in there 3. Hang in there 4. Tenure is more than a game of chance 4. Tenure is more than a game of chance 5. It matters to know what matters 5. It matters to know what matters