1. A Recent Candidate Noah A. Smith {cs,clsp}.jhu.edu  {lti,mld}.scs.cmu.edu Noah A. Smith {cs,clsp}.jhu.edu  {lti,mld}.scs.cmu.edu

2. Outline, Per Instructions Background & Career History Advice I Found Helpful What I Wish I Knew Last Fall Surprises Industry and Academia Background & Career History Advice I Found Helpful What I Wish I Knew Last Fall Surprises Industry and Academia

3. 19992000200120022003200420052006 B.A. (Ling.) B.S. (CS) M.S.E. (CS) Ph.D. (CS) core NLP unsupervised learning statistical MT NLP algorithms w ccj cc w c c cw cc linguistics t U. of Maryland Johns Hopkins University CMU U. of Edinburgh New York U. MSR 2007 degrees institutions interests and publications t t w

4. Advice

5. Don’t plan on getting much else done (except maybe in January) Apply as broadly as you can. Strong recommendation letters are crucial. Use a dossier service. Spend time on your application materials (C.V., statements). Don’t plan on getting much else done (except maybe in January) Apply as broadly as you can. Strong recommendation letters are crucial. Use a dossier service. Spend time on your application materials (C.V., statements). Advice

6. Job Talk Advice Practice lots with your advisor (You can learn to talk like Eisner!) When at work, down the pub, in your house Practice for your parents And practice for your spouse! You’ll be sick of your talk, I expect But practice is the way To improve, to perfect. Practice lots with your advisor (You can learn to talk like Eisner!) When at work, down the pub, in your house Practice for your parents And practice for your spouse! You’ll be sick of your talk, I expect But practice is the way To improve, to perfect.

7. What I Wish I’d Known The market is unpredictable. Departments aren’t synchronized, but you can usually beg for time. Job talk advice does not unify. Life is not fair. The market is unpredictable. Departments aren’t synchronized, but you can usually beg for time. Job talk advice does not unify. Life is not fair.

8. Surprises Others on the market are not the enemy. Me: lots of email/chat with 5+ competitors. You’re an adult now! People default to respecting you (mostly) People will challenge you People assume you already know How It Works (until you ask) You must play ambassador for NLP! And your lab, department, school … Others on the market are not the enemy. Me: lots of email/chat with 5+ competitors. You’re an adult now! People default to respecting you (mostly) People will challenge you People assume you already know How It Works (until you ask) You must play ambassador for NLP! And your lab, department, school …

9. Differences between Industry and Academia Interviews for research positions vary little (talk + 2 days of one-on-one meetings). And they’ll offer similar (starting) salaries. Interviews for research positions vary little (talk + 2 days of one-on-one meetings). And they’ll offer similar (starting) salaries.

10. Parting Shots Skip the wine at interview dinners. Get plenty of rest. Gmail yourself notes every night. Join frequent flier programs. If you buy me a drink, I’ll tell you about getting married during my job search and the two body problem. Good luck! Skip the wine at interview dinners. Get plenty of rest. Gmail yourself notes every night. Join frequent flier programs. If you buy me a drink, I’ll tell you about getting married during my job search and the two body problem. Good luck!