Moderator: Sue Geller, Professor
Texas A&M University
Welcome! The Joint Committee on Employment Opportunities has decided to
try to be of more help for mathematical scientists on the job market,
especially for first timers. The blogs topics will come out of our
experience mentoring job seekers, especially at the Joint Mathematics
Meeting in January each year.
Our idea is to take a job seeker through the process, from deciding
where to apply, to applying, to interviewing via phone or at meetings or
at the workplace, to handling an offer, to negotiating, and maybe even
to beginning that first job. We will also try to have blogs on topics
that people write in and ask about.
At this time of year, some people have accepted jobs, others are
debating offers, and others are waiting to hear. My tip for this first
blog is to be sure to call places in which you are interested after you
receive an offer from another place. Simply tell them you have an offer
and ask them when you are likely to hear from them. This gives them the
opportunity to speed up the process lest they lose you. Be aware that
most places will tell you either you are no longer in the running or
they’ve filled their positions. But that is okay because you will know
whether or not to ask for more time to decide on your offer. I received
my current job by calling to inform them of another offer, which made
them look at me more carefully and more quickly. So I know such a call
can be worthwhile.
Until next time.
Sue
This is a great idea. Looking forward to having a look at some of the articles on your blog.
I would love to see posts on this blog made by actual search committee members, maybe from several different kinds of schools (big public research; small liberal arts, etc). I am “on the market” and would love to know more about what search committee members are thinking and what they want.
good advice. I’ve made the mistake before of not calling a few of the places I applied at after I got a job offer and they werent too happy that I didn’t let them know I was already employed. It really does waste the employers time when they are deciding whether or not to hire you.
13 January 2012
Somehow this never got posted when I wrote it on 23 Novfember 2011, so I thoughbt I would try again. . . . .
I am writing from the perspective of one who has seriously (new PhD) interviewed once and been on the hiring side 40 times. I am going to give you my perspective on what I see that looks good to me on the hiring side. I did this at Albion College (a small liberal arts school in Albion MI), at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (a terrific engineering school in Terre Haute IN), and the United States Military Academy (our country’s significant source of educated young Army officers at West Point NY). However, all the issues are basically the same whether we are hiring a tenure track liberal arts faculty, a tenure track or temporary engineering school colleague, or a three year post doc in teaching and research at West Point.
All the time I am looking for someone who is a contributor, has demonstrated some risk taking, and offers something beyond good (not necessarily great at the early stage) quality teaching in the classroom. Where do I see these things? I see them in the interesting items in the vita, I see them in the particulars offered up in your teaching statement, I see them in the writings of your references, and I see them in the research statement as well, although not so much as I am not really interested in research qualities. I am much more interested in teaching and other non-research contributions for that is where you will ultimately make your mark, at least at the schools I represented.
What are the specific kinds of things that catch my eye and mean much to me? Have you gone out to learn new things, e.g., taken seminars, short-courses, participated in extra curriculum (mathematics and non-mathematics types) activities. Have you pursued unusual activities, e.g., music and mathematics, social justice issues related to mathematics, community service using mathematics, avocational interests. Have you collaborated with colleagues, either on research, putting on events – be it local, regional, or national.
Honors and selections. One of the things I have noted is that folks like to (and should be proud to do so) “brag on” honor activities, at least on activities for which there are selection criteria, e.g, Project NExT, Top TA award. These are fine and I note them as a positive. Failure to present these means you are in the majority for only a minority get selected. In that majority there are lots (man!) good folks and your other information you bring forth will speak to that. So if you do not have honors do not fret. You are a talented person, after all you are probably about to get your PhD in mathematics. Think about that in terms of the greater society and where they are at. You are an honored person in my mind as an evaluator trying to determine who would be a good person to talk with in a further interview for a position on our team. Be proud. Stand tall. You have been all you can be and your credentials speak to that. (Sounds like teaching at West Point got to me :+))
Depth in some things.
Show you have depth in something other than the research area, e.g., you have taught the statistics course several times, have been selected as a “team” leader or exam developer or something which differentiates you from the ordinary TA in this environment. You have worked with the Residence Hall folks on planning academic activities and support or done the same with a local mathematics club or chess team or modeling activity with undergraduates or high school folks. You have committed a good bit of time to helping out with scouts, Boys/Girls Clubs, YM(W)C(J)A activities, sports, etc. Be sure to get letters of support from non-traditional folks as well as the traditional references. While three is a nice number there is no harm with providing more references, especially if these folks can offer a different picture (a positive one) of you and what you might offer your hew organization.
Breadth in some things. Hopefully, you have done a number of different things, had various exposures to courses (not just taught one course – although if you have perhaps you then can address the depth issue above more strongly). Perhaps you have taken on different duties in your TAship, e.g., assistant editor for a journal run by one of the faculty, had a unique work or intern experience (financial planning for a theatre or performance organization, work for NSA in summers, consulting, etc.), or tried your hand at something and failed, even. (You could be the next Thomas Edison!)
Good small points.
It is good to have had some exposure to teaching some version of a statistics course. Several levels of mathematics courses in your teaching bag are good as well, not just calculus. E.g., mathematics for elementary teachers, finite mathematics, pre-college algebra, “at risk” student work.
Promote yourself. Represent early involvements in intellectual pursuits in your young life through your current position, even quick mention of HS Honor Society or Eagle Scout or team Captain tells me something. Have a rich web page that a committee member can go to and see interesting things – not Under Construction, not pointers to other interesting things, but interesting things about you!
Finally, engaging style. Think of the letter you write as a conversation. Talk to the reader, do not preach, itemize, list, or drone on. NEVER send them somewhere for something – they will not get there. Offer it THERE AND NOW or not at all. Engage them. Ask a question of them, even if rhetorical and then offer your answer so they see how you think. Always open my letters with “Hello” rather than Dear Dr. Tell or the awful to whom it may concern. Make sure you give them complete information on anything and everything. Make it easy for them to learn more about you. Do not hide things. Shine the light on them. Do not put your candle under a bushel, let it shine.
After a suitable amount of time do not hesitate to contact those schools who are on y our top list and ask them how the process is going, email would be fine. They will usually give you an update on the process. It will relax you somewhat.
If you get an interview ALWAYS write a short note of thank you to the hostess or host, especially, if it’s a department social affair in someone’s home. Do not be sexist, do not just send it to one partner of a hosting team, send it to the pair. You would be amazed at how many colleagues will brag on the fact that they got a personal note of thanks for some young candidate and you will stay in their memory (favorably!) for such a small gesture. It is something your grandmother should have (maybe she did) taught you!
That is all for now. I wish you well. It is an exciting time to be in our profession and the rewards of working with young people and colleagues is worth the angst you may experience for a period in your life.