In an academic job search, it is not uncommon to get questions related to diversity during your interview. You may be asked: “How do you bring diversity into the classroom?” and “How do you bring diversity to your research?” Recently though, diversity statements have become more and more standard. So along with your CV, cover letter, research statement and teaching statement, you might also be asked to provide a diversity statement. What is this document and what should you include? It really should be a personal reflection of your feelings and your approach to being a leader and a teacher. However, teaching is meant in the broadest sense possible as…
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Answering Diversity Questions During an Interview
As you prepare for graduate, professional school or job interviews, you may be asked a question related to diversity. Interviewers are very interested in selecting candidates who are aware of and who will contribute to the diversity mission of their organization. Have you practiced how you will answer diversity-related questions? In Career Services, we have seen trainees range in their comfort level about addressing diversity topics. Some trainees have several experiences to answer these questions, that said—many others are unsure how to approach answering the question. Perhaps they do not feel well-versed in diversity-topics, may be from a majority or underrepresented group and wonder how to respond, feel that are…
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Making Career Searches Less Scary
During a recent OITE workshop on the topic of career planning, trainees from all levels described finding the job search process “scary” and had feelings of fear and stress regarding approaching the next steps. For post bacs, applying to graduate, medical and other professional schools can sometimes feel like an uncharted maze at Halloween. For post docs and visiting fellows, hearing the scary stories about pursuing academic careers, making the big step into industry, or searching for jobs in the US and abroad country is akin to walking in the dark in uncharted territory. To add to previous OITE Halloween posts, here are some suggestions to help you slay the…
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Writing the Teaching Statement
As you prepare a your written application materials to use when entering the Academic Job Market, in addition to the standard Curriculum Vitae (CV), Cover Letter, and a diversity statements, you may be asked submit a Teaching Statement . In general, teaching statements help search committees gain an understanding about how you approach teaching courses in your academic discipline. This statement, that will include your philosophy towards teaching science, will give the reader a concise synopsis of the underpinnings and origins to your approach to teaching followed by the strategies you plan to use, and examples and evidence of your success. The authors of, The Academic Job Search Handbook (5th…
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Getting a Faculty Job – Revisited
We are reaching into the archives to update the August 2013 blog post, “Getting a Faculty Job.” Starting in August, a large share of faculty jobs will begin accepting applications to fill positions that begin in the fall of the following year. Here are some key elements of the academic job search to consider before you apply: What type of educational institution is appealing to you? Do you want to be at a large research university (like Columbia University in NYC), a state school that terminates in a master’s program (like Eastern Michigan University), or a four-year liberal arts environment, (like Swarthmore College) or community college. Each of these types…
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Five Steps to Evaluate Organizational Culture Before You Accept the Offer
One of the most important criteria to consider during the job, graduate school, or Postdoc search is to learn about the culture of the place where you are applying. This means to gather information about the employee’s opinions of the work environment, the support and benefits that they receive, and the values that drive the organization. This is important because you will work and /or study in this environment for many years and you want to find a good fit for your interests and personal style. But how do you assess this when you are applying? Step 1: Learn about and list your values Factor in your personal and work…