The Tenure-Track Job Search Process
in Science/STEM Education: Advice & Recommendations from Two Recent
Job-seekers
Joshua Rosenberg, University of
Tennessee, Knoxville
Tina Vo, University of Nevada, Las
Vegas
Hi again
everyone, Josh and Tina’s final post!
Having
discussed the overall
job search process, preparing, and submitting applications in previous posts, we discuss an
exciting but also possibly nerve-wracking part of the process, interviewing
(and negotiating!) for a position. We discuss the interview process--both the
phone or screening interview as well as the campus visit and interview followed
by how to decide that the job is a good fit for you--and perhaps the most
nerve-wracking and exciting part of all, negotiating the finer points of a job
offer.
The Interrogation(s)/ Interview
After you apply, if the search
committee is interested in you, they will invite you to a screening interview
(not a campus interview)
Screening Interview (10- 60 minutes)
- These interviews will be by videoconference
or by phone
- Preparing is key, both for this process in general and for the specific position
- Know the school, know the department, know
the programs offered. Have questions ready!
● Plan to take at least 1-2 hours to
do this research, and as long as 2-4 for the first one
- Practice speaking personably with character, leverage
your friends and family to ask you interview questions!
- Err on the side of short responses that beg follow-ups
and prompt conversation (<2min)
- Common questions that you may be asked
● Opener: What
about [insert University or solicitation] makes you interested in working here?
● Research: Can you
tell us a little about your current and future research?
● Funding: Can you
tell us about your experiences writing, receiving, or managing grants?
● Teaching: What is
your teaching philosophy?
● Social:
How would you deal with interpersonal conflict within a department?
● Weird quirky/tricky questions: What
do you see as the biggest problems in the field? What theoretical or conceptual
frameworks do you draw on?
- Write down the interview questions you remember after
you’re finished; these may help you to prepare for other screening
interviews
- Write a thank you note to the chair
Anywhere from a few days (in one
case hours) to a week later, they might contact you to schedule an on campus
interview.
On campus (1-3 days)
● Planning the when you go on campus matters - Do you have other interviews?
Consider other timelines. While it doesn’t feel like it, you actually have a
lot of leverage.
● Be cordial while expressing respect
and excitement in communications.
● Preparation
i. Review the interview questions.
ii.
Practice
the job talk a lot - and this is really important: Be under time!
iii. Practice the teaching demo- this is
also important. Manage your time well, go with the teaching flow and the more
engaging, the better, so build in small group discussion and active learning in
ways you feel comfortable.
i. Be the best dressed one
there and wear
walking shoes.
● Read informational pamphlets, make
small talk, do not bust out the phone
i. So much can be learned from paying
attention to the environment. How involved are the student organizations? Are
graduate students hanging posters on the wall?
ii. What are people's passion projects?
iii. How much does a department value
work/life balance?
● The people
i. You will speak with a lot of different people during your
visit.
ii. Try to find someone in the
department who will talk openly with you and will help you to navigate this
process.
1.
They
may be able to tell you, for instance, who really wants to hear about your
ideas for applying for external funding or your ability to teach a specific
class.
2.
Sometimes,
but not always, this “ally” will be the search chair, but it may also be a
junior member on the search committee, someone who you happen to know, or
someone you have a connection with.
i. You won’t get to eat a lot, it’s
true
ii. Don’t be afraid to direct the
conversation
● Write your thank you notes as you
go! Or at least take notes on the different conversations you had so you can
put something personal in each communication
Overall advice on the interview
process: Whether on the phone, Skype, Zoom, or in person, let your personality
shine through. When answering questions, try to also give a concrete example,
personal anecdotes are really meaningful. Be yourself… just the future, more
poised, version of yourself. Be enthusiastic, and remember, they would be just
as lucky to have you!
The Decision and Negotiations
- Do you want the job?
● If not, politely decline.
● Contact other universities to tell
them that you have been given an offer.
- Knowing when negotiations actually begin can be tricky
● Some begin while you’re on the
interview- drop hints about what you value and the resources your research
needs
● Some begin once they’ve formally
offered you the job- multiple phone calls or emails about what you want/need
vs. what they can or won’t offer
● Some never start- they have only one
package, and you can take it or leave it
- Try to get inside knowledge on
what’s negotiable, and trust it.
● Lean on your mentors and peers.
- A formal offer may take awhile
● Both of our offers took weeks to
finish and sign (>1 month after the initial offer).
● After negotiation, it has to go up
the administrative flag pole again.
● It is acceptable to contact the
person you negotiated with after 2-3 weeks just to see where you are in the
processes
Overall
advice for deciding and negotiating: Figure out what
you would need to be happy and successful. Don’t let yourself feel too afraid to
negotiate. While there are negotiation horror stories, they are few and far
between. If you are a reasonable human being, and as long as your future
institution is reasonable too, everything will be fine. If they are not
reasonable; better to find out now than at the tenure review.
Summary
At the conclusion of the process, you may have a job or you may keep looking. Many of our
friends and colleagues have had success in post-doctoral or other research- or
teaching-related positions, after which you may be back on the market--or be
happy with. After the process, (try to) take a break, even though you may still
have to defend your dissertation and other parts of your degree program (i.e.,
completing research and teaching assistantships). It won’t hit you for awhile,
but know that whatever stage you are at, job or no, you should be proud of yourself.
Your tenacity, your research, your love for science and/or teaching will
eventually take you where you need to be.
Good luck, have fun, do good!
P.S.
Also, remember to graduate! Most offers have a clause that will limit your
contract and pay if you if do not have degree in hand by the start date.
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