Steps to Getting and Keeping an Academic Position Dr. Steve Turner Mississippi State University Agricultural Economics AAEA Meeting, Long Beach, CA 2006

Getting an Academic Position Be Prepared Have the Right Stuff Select the Right Fit Be Strategic

Getting an Academic Position Be Prepared –Courses –Publications –Teaching –Professional Associations –Experiences

Getting an Academic Position Have the Right Stuff –Teaching Experiences –Publications – Quality and Quantity –Extension Programming –Grantsmanship –Communication Skills –Social Skills –Passion

Getting an Academic Position Select the Right Fit – Know yourself – Know your strengths and preferences – Know the job market

Getting an Academic Position Be Strategic –Get the interview –Get the job offer –Make decision

Keeping an Academic Position Show Up for Work Do Your Job Excel In Something(s) Connect Make Yourself Invaluable Know Your Boss and Colleagues Be Sociable

Keeping an Academic Position Show Up for Work – Be visible – Put in hours (overtime) – Look and act professional – Be pleasant to be around

Keeping an Academic Position Do Your Work – Teaching – Research – Extension – Citizenship

Keeping an Academic Position Excel in Something(s) – Best in Department – Best in College – Best in University – Best in Nation – Best in World

Keeping an Academic Position Connect – Internally – Externally – Applies to research, teaching, and extension

Keeping an Academic Position Make Yourself Invaluable – Find a demand – Be consistent – Have tough skin

Keeping an Academic Position Know Your Boss and Colleagues – Make him/her/them look good – Find their strengths – Ask, Seek, Find – Do not wait around – the clock is ticking

Keeping an Academic Position Be Sociable – Manners “… the lubricating oil of an organization… simple things like saying ‘thank you’ and ‘please’ and knowing a person’s name or asking about their family enable two people to work together whether they like each other or not” ( Peter Drucker, Harvard Business Review, 1999, p. 67) –

Good Luck