1. Landing Your First Academic Job: Application Process and Tips AAEA Annual Meetings Portland, Oregon, July 30, 2007 Yin Xia Department of Agricultural Economics University of Missouri – Columbia

2. What Do Professors Do? Teaching and advising Teaching and advising Teach graduate and undergraduate courses Teach graduate and undergraduate courses Advise graduate and undergraduate students Advise graduate and undergraduate students Service Service Serve on committees within one’s institution or in the profession Serve on committees within one’s institution or in the profession Provide professional services Provide professional services Research Research Write proposals and bring in external research funds Write proposals and bring in external research funds Support research program and graduate students Support research program and graduate students Perform research Perform research Publish in referred journals Publish in referred journals Present at professional meetings Present at professional meetings Extension and Outreach Extension and Outreach

3. Faculty Recruiting Process Position announcement Position announcement Initial interview at conventions Initial interview at conventions First “short list” First “short list” Second “short list” Second “short list” Initial phone interview Initial phone interview Finalists for on-campus interview Finalists for on-campus interview On-campus interview On-campus interview Offer and negotiation Offer and negotiation

4. Application Package Standard items Standard items Cover letter Cover letter CV CV Letters of recommendation Letters of recommendation Additional items Additional items transcript transcript Statement of research Statement of research Reprints of articles Reprints of articles Part of all of dissertation Part of all of dissertation Statement of teaching philosophy Statement of teaching philosophy Course syllabi or proposals Course syllabi or proposals Course evaluations Course evaluations

5. Application Package — Cover Letter Be brief, yet highlight your accomplishments in research and teaching. Be brief, yet highlight your accomplishments in research and teaching. The first paragraph: convey basic information. The first paragraph: convey basic information. The next two to three paragraphs: tailor for your audience. The next two to three paragraphs: tailor for your audience. The final paragraph: request the next step in the process. The final paragraph: request the next step in the process.

6. Application Package — CV What to include in a CV? What to include in a CV? Objective Objective Education Education Research and teaching fields Research and teaching fields Publications Publications Professional presentations Professional presentations Teaching experience Teaching experience Honors and awards Honors and awards Professional services Professional services Professional affiliations Professional affiliations References with names and full addresses References with names and full addresses What not to include in a CV? What not to include in a CV? Business experience not directly related to academia or to the position Business experience not directly related to academia or to the position Detailed personal information Detailed personal information

7. Application Package — Letters of Recommendation Choose your referees carefully. Choose your referees carefully. Ask a potential referee for permission before supplying his/her names as a reference. Ask a potential referee for permission before supplying his/her names as a reference. Provide the referees your up-to-date CV, copies of publications, and other application materials. Provide the referees your up-to-date CV, copies of publications, and other application materials. Contact your referees to confirm they send their letters upon request. Contact your referees to confirm they send their letters upon request.

8. On-Campus Interview Research seminar Research seminar Teaching seminar Teaching seminar Meetings with the search committee Meetings with the search committee Meetings with individual or groups of faculty Meetings with individual or groups of faculty Meeting with graduate students Meeting with graduate students Meeting with department chair Meeting with department chair Meeting with deans Meeting with deans Meals with search committee members and/or other faculty members Meals with search committee members and/or other faculty members

9. On-Campus Interview — Before You Go Review your itinerary Review your itinerary Collect information on Collect information on the institution the institution the department the department the search committee members the search committee members other faculty members other faculty members Carefully prepare your presentations Carefully prepare your presentations Use appropriate visual aids, formats, colors, etc. Use appropriate visual aids, formats, colors, etc. Communicate with the search committee about your equipment need. Communicate with the search committee about your equipment need. Rehearse your seminar Rehearse your seminar Carry overhead slides as backup Carry overhead slides as backup Get prepared for most frequently asked questions Get prepared for most frequently asked questions What have you done? What have you done? What are your future plans? What are your future plans? How will you contribute to (or fit in) the Department? How will you contribute to (or fit in) the Department?

10. On-Campus Interview — When You are There Be professional, be confident, and be yourself Be professional, be confident, and be yourself Exercise good manners and display collegiality Exercise good manners and display collegiality Show your interest in others’ work Show your interest in others’ work The seminar The seminar Familiarize yourself with seminar room before your seminar. Familiarize yourself with seminar room before your seminar. Connect to the audience during your seminar. Connect to the audience during your seminar. Handle questions appropriately. Handle questions appropriately. Questions to ask and not to ask Questions to ask and not to ask Questions to ask Questions to ask Questions not to ask Questions not to ask

11. On-Campus Interview — After the Interview Write a follow-up thank-you letter Write a follow-up thank-you letter Re-state your interest in the position. Re-state your interest in the position. Mention several characteristics of the department that attract you Mention several characteristics of the department that attract you Inquire about hiring decision Inquire about hiring decision Usually be informed within eight weeks Usually be informed within eight weeks Contact the search committee after eight weeks Contact the search committee after eight weeks

12. Be Tough and Persistent in Your Job Search and Good Luck! Be Tough and Persistent in Your Job Search and Good Luck!