1. Navigating the Academic Job Market R. Karl Rethemeyer Associate Dean & Chair University at Albany – SUNY

2. 2 Do you really want to be an academic? There are tremendous benefits to the academy Prestige Autonomy Both social (teaching) and solitary (research) work Flexibility to pursue one’s intellectual interests But don’t romanticize this However Your PhD may teach you that the academy is not the right place Lots of very smart people are not right for the academy – and vice versa And then there’s the pay…

3. Do you really want to be an academic? About that negative coefficient on getting a PhD… Here is the reality in public affairs (nine-month contract) 3 Public (low – avg – high) Private (low – avg – high) Public06-07 Admin07-08 09-10 11-12 38,000 – 55,751 – 72,500 41,227 – 57,300 – 72,500 41,358 – 59,775 – 92,500 43,789 – 58,587 – 95,000 N/A – N/A – N/A 34,364 – 53,616 – 85,000 36,819 – 55,998 – 118,065 Political06-07 Sci07-08 09-10 11-12 28,503 – 50,053 – 70,000 38,502 – 51,302 – 83,748 36,092 – 53,463 – 78,000 40,000 – 55,000 – 94,000 35,000 – 50,475 – 70,000 34,000 – 52,527 – 84,000 41,400 – 57,125 – 83,000 39,702 – 58,497 – 82,000 Sociology06-07 07-08 09-10 11-12 34,690 – 49,590 – 70,000 38,000 – 52,075 – 80,000 40,000 – 54,591 – 75,000 35,100 – 56,154 – 82,193 35,000 – 48,450 – 68,000 37,500 – 51,367 – 79,346 41,000 – 54,591 – 72,000 36,194 – 56,369 – 80,032 Econ06-07 07-08 09-10 11-12 43,000 – 68,951 – 105,000 40,000 – 71,120 – 103,400 N/A – N/A – N/A 55,000 – 81,480 – 138,519 43,000 – 58,984 – 86,000 46,920 – 66,655 – 118,333 N/A – N/A – N/A 40,400 – 74,167 – 120,000

4. 4 Do you really want to be an academic? Here is another reality: Business schools pay more… Public (low – avg – high) Private (low – avg – high) Management06-07 All fields07-08 11-12 38,930 – 86,200 – 171,875 46,000 – 88,750 – 145,500 43,000 – 104,386 – 200,000 30,000 – 74,572 – 157,000 39,400 – 69,515 – 165,000 31,583 – 87,848 – 197,000 Mgmt, 06-07 Business07-08 Admin, Ops11-12 43,000 – 81,667 – 137,000 30,124 – 82,278 – 137,750 43,000 – 98,341 – 160,000 32,300 – 65,379 – 116,000 37,268 – 76,870 – 148,750 33,583 – 77,697 – 147,000 Finance /06-07 Fin. Mgmt07-08 11-12 65,000 – 100,958 – 171,875 66,897 – 110,455 – 170,000 56,448 – 123,787 – 198,333 47,070 – 98,876 – 154,500 31,902 – 72,041 – 152,500 53,040 – 121,395 – 197,000 Human 06-07 resources07-08 11-12 49,000 – 75,408 – 110,382 45,000 – 80,949 – 127,250 51,856 – 77,220 – 125,000 49,250 – 82,719 – 103,000 33,750 – 61,394 – 88,000 52,250 – 74,747 – 126,000 MIS06-07 07-08 11-12 66,000 – 88,943 – 118,000 57,538 – 91,452 – 120,000 55,000 – 91,887 – 150,000 80,000 – 94,250 – 122,000 38,570 – 88,327 – 127,200 51,000 – 74,900 – 100,500

5. 5 Do you really want to be an academic? Up to half of each PAD cohort decides not to enter the academy Consulting Independent research Government Non-profits Corporate work in finance, government relations, government contracting, etc. However… if you choose to go outside the academy after graduation, the door to the academy may be shut forever

6. 6 OK: I want to be an academic. Where do I fit? Professional schools are the primary option Policy and public administration departments Political science departments Business schools Other professional schools – Criminal Justice, Social Work, Public Health Some public affairs grads enter disciplines… Economics or Sociology But…to fit into these fields you must amass sufficient background in the core literature of these fields

7. 7 I’m years away from graduating. What can I do to improve my chances? Get to know faculty members who are connected to the professional niche you wish to enter Develop a transcript that has a discernible focus A clear disciplinary focus broadens your market Learn methods appropriate to this concentration / subfield

8. 8 What can I do at the beginning? Publish Make conference presentations starting no later than your third year Try to do one or more of these… Get varied teaching experience, especially in methods or commonly taught areas Get research experience Seek grant funding – just applying will help Get FINISHED!!!! The only good dissertation is a finished dissertation Length of time in program ~ productivity

9. 9 OK, What exactly is a faculty job? Faculty are hired on a 9 or 10-month contract The initial rank is Assistant Professor, with promotion possible to Associate and Full Associate & Full Professors usually have “tenure” Summers are not formally committed, but… You may be able to get grants/teaching to earn summer salary Your summers are not “free” until you get tenure (if ever) because of research requirements at most institutions

10. 10 OK, What exactly is a faculty job? Faculty are obligated to… Be research-active – your institution will determine what this means At a research intensive university, this usually means 1-2 referred article/year and/or a book every 2-4 years Teach 3-8 classes per year, depending on the institution (teaching “load”) Provide service – serve on committees, mentor & advise students, help administer the institution, be visible

11. 11 OK, What exactly is a faculty job? Faculty need to be active in their intellectual community Participate in intellectual exchanges on campus Participate in academic conferences regularly Publish regularly – 1-3 articles per year or 1-3 books over several years Potentially be a “public intellectual”

12. 12 OK, What exactly is a faculty job? “Publish or perish” Research universities: publication record is your key credential, but you must teach competently Teaching colleges: Research is less important Increasingly, faculty are expected to find grants You do not have to be stellar in each to be successful, but you should be good in all As a PhD student you need to… Learn a field of inquiry & start publishing Get teaching experience Embed yourself in an intellectual community

13. 13 I’m ready to go on the market. Now what? The market has picked up some since 2010 Better news: Long-run demographics may be favorable PublicService Careers.org JobsAsst. OnlyOpen/Assoc.Non-tenure tr. 20037418 (24%)17 (23%) 39 (53%) 200417849 (28%)63 (35%) 66 (37%) 200513623 (17%)45 (33%) 68 (50%) 200616933 (20%)72 (43%) 64 (38%) 200719342 (22%)49 (25%)102 (53%) 20087835 (45%)19 (24%) 24 (31%) 20099624 (25%)25 (26%) 47(49%) 20106628 (42%)15 (23%)23 (35%) 201110427 (26%)61 (59%)16 (15%) 2012 (so far)14858 (39%)63 (43%)27 (18%)

14. 14 Finding openings Searching the job listing sites: Chronicle of Higher Education PublicServiceCareers.org HigherEdJobs.com APSA ASA E-mail to departments of interest Telephone calls Key: Getting your advisors into the act

15. 15 Putting together a portfolio Goal: Help the overloaded search committee find you! Cover letters Create boiler plate, but tailor to each job Emphasize key experiences and publications Curriculum vitae Look at examples Highlight research and teaching experience Supporting materials Summaries of research interest, dissertation, and teaching Teaching evaluations Grant writing experience Transcripts Letters of recommendation Job market paper(s) See the sample portfolio online

16. 16 Job market papers Should have multiple items to send Dissertation chapters Papers – preferably published Some schools only want dissertation chapters; some don’t care Dissertation is best example of current work, but.. Chapters may be highly integrated, so it may be difficult to pull out something coherent Consider sending any articles that are published or have been accepted Best if the papers are single-authored

17. 17 Sending out applications This is time-consuming For a national search send out 15 to 60 packets PAD: You bear the costs – $500 - 1500 POS: The Department mails them for you First packets out by late August; the last in January or February – very front-loaded, BUT… In this economy things are scrambled… Use express mail to meet deadlines if you must Send out even if the deadline has passed – committees work slowly – but try to be on time

18. 18 Fly-outs Announced in Oct. through Feb. Paid for by the schools – on a reimbursement basis Consist of… A job talk Multiple faculty, student, and administration interviews Breakfast, lunch, and dinner with students, staff, faculty Possibly a “party” if they really want to torture you Very time-consuming and stressful Want to be scheduled close to the end of the decision period for the school

19. 19 Preparation Get to know the school/department and university via their web site Rankings Research agenda Age/rank distribution in school/department Review the courses offered… For what you could teach For holes Take a look at strategic plans and vision statements

20. 20 Interviews The job talk gets most of the attention, but bad interviews can also be fatal Be ready to give a mini version of your job talk Be ready to defend your work Be prepared to answer and ask questions

21. 21 Job talk Bad news: Some significant fraction of the voting faculty will not have read your job market paper(s) thoroughly More bad news: Your job talk will be one of the key evaluation of whether you belong at a given university Upshot: THE JOB TALK IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU WILL DO DURING THE APPLICATION PROCESS Practice, practice, practice, and practice again… With faculty With students With your dog, cat, or parakeet; with a mirror Be ready to field tough questions

22. 22 Other issues Remember that faculty positions are for the long haul; much of the job is social “Illegal” questions and how to answer them Avoid talking money until you have an offer Decisions are highly complex, emergent Preferences evolve School/department needs evolve Administrative preferences shift Budgets change There may only be a few good fits out there

23. 23 Dealing with an offer Understand how faculty contracts work Know what the standard package is in your field and at the institution making the offer Nine or 10 months salary Teaching load Benefits Research support (if any) Summer salary (if any)

24. 24 Dealing with an offer Know what the going rate is, but realize salary may not be negotiable if you have only one offer Remember that rank and prestige are dynamic – where will this school/department be in five years? Expect to be pressured for a quick decision, even though you may still be doing job talks

25. 25 Uh-oh: I don’t have an offer. Now what? Goal: Stay research active Options Defer graduation (especially international students) Post-doctoral work Adjunct positions Staff research positions Consulting A career in the “quasi-academy”

26. 26 For more information See the Rockefeller College job market site: www.albany.edu/rockefeller/career/career_phd_job_manual.htm http://eres.ulib.albany.edu/eres/coursepage.aspx?cid=331 Password: ROCKjob http://chronicle.com/jobs/ http://www.publicservicecareers.org/ http://www.higheredjobs.com/ http://www.apsanet.org/section_226.cfm http://jobbank.asanet.org/jobbank/index.cfm