Faculty Hiring | Graduate College

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en" dir="ltr" prefix="og: https://ogp.me/ns#"> <head> <meta charset="utf-8" /> <meta name="description" content="Searching for and landing a faculty position is different from looking for a job in the corporate or not-for-profit sectors. Available positions are posted in specialized databases, application materials are usually different (with disciplinary distinctions), and the process is also usually congruent with the academic calendar. Faculty job openings may be posted as much as a year before they begin. Securing a tenure-track faculty position is more challenging than ever before, and advance planning and organization are essential. Where to Apply Before starting your search, research different types of institutions. The higher education landscape in the United States is very diverse. Consider where your interests best align with institutional missions. If you are in an interdisciplinary area, will you focus your search to certain types of departments? Learn about disciplinary expectations so you can address these in your applications. Stay current on national issues in higher education by reading the Chronicle of Higher Education and Inside Higher Ed. Where To Find Postings Most tenure-track faculty positions are posted in one or both of the following databases: HigherEdJobs The Chronicle of Higher Education job board In addition to regularly checking these, talk to mentors in your field to learn discipline-specific venues for finding job postings (scholarly associations, listservs, etc.). Arrange for Recommendations References are very important in academia. You will need 3-5 references who can speak to your research skills, potential as a scholar, and teaching skills in the classroom. In general, it is best to have references that know you well and have known you recently. When requesting references, make certain that the individual is willing to be a strong reference. You might ask by saying, 鈥淚鈥檓 going on the faculty job market this year, and I'd like for you to serve as a reference on my behalf. Do you feel you know me and my work well enough to serve as a positive reference?" It鈥檚 always good to follow up on this conversation with an e-mail message confirming their willingness to serve as a reference. Your request should also indicate what you would like the recommender to emphasize in their letter. Supply your references with a recent copy of your CV and any other materials that might help them comment positively on your work, such as a writing sample, dissertation chapter, or statement of research goals. Have a conversation with each reference about their expectations and preferences for the process, so that you are both on the same page going forward. Get Organized You will likely be applying to many different positions, and you need to keep track of the different details associated with each application. Plan how you will manage dates and details BEFORE you begin. It can be helpful to create an Excel spreadsheet or maintain a log or file so you can keep track of key information and deadlines. 聽 In addition to your spreadsheet or notebook, keep a dedicated folder (electronic or paper) for each position to which you apply. Keep track of details such as: The position announcement A copy of all application materials submitted Notes about any conversations with members of the search committee Notes from interviews and relevant telephone conversations Additional information gathered about that institution Offer or rejection letters A copy of your letter of acceptance or rejection Consider Your Broader Options According to research conducted by Maresi Nerad and others at the Center for Innovation and Research in Graduate Education at the University of Washington, it can take several years for a PhD to land a tenure-track job. As you prepare for your academic job search, be realistic and accept that you may need to spend more than one year on the job market. Consider how you will support yourself and remain scholarly active during the interim. Job seekers often spend the intervening years in contingent positions such as adjunct or visiting faculty, postdocs, or other non-tenure-track positions. Consider whether or how long you are willing to be in a contingent position and be open to exploring career options beyond the professoriate. Some students may wish to simultaneously manage both faculty and non-faculty job searches. The resources on this website as well as the advice of Graduate College Career Development Office counselors can help you as you explore diverse opportunities. Get Personalized Career Coaching If you are a current graduate student or postdoc at the University of Illinois, you can schedule an appointment to meet with a career advisor to discuss the academic job search, workshop application documents, prepare for interviews, and more. Schedule an Appointment 聽 Additional Resources Furlong, Jennifer and Julia Miller Vick. The Academic Job Search Handbook (Fourth Edition), University of Pennsylvania Press, 2008. 聽 Gray, Paul and David E. Drew. What They Didn't Teach You in Graduate School: 199 Helpful Hints for Success in Your Academic Career, Stylus Publishing, 2008." /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://grad.illinois.edu/professional-development/faculty-hiring" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="Graduate College" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://grad.illinois.edu/professional-development/faculty-hiring" /> <meta property="og:title" content="Faculty Hiring" /> <meta property="og:updated_time" content="2024-02-20" /> <meta name="Generator" content="Drupal 10 (https://www.drupal.org)" /> <meta name="MobileOptimized" content="width" /> <meta name="HandheldFriendly" content="true" /> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" /> <link rel="icon" href="/themes/custom/custom/favicon.ico" type="image/vnd.microsoft.icon" /> <title>Faculty Hiring | Graduate College</title> <link rel="preload" href="https://cdn.brand.illinois.edu/fonts/montserrat/montserrat-700-italic.woff2" as="font" 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role="main" class='area main'> <div class='area highlighted'> <div class='region region-highlighted'> <div data-drupal-messages-fallback class="hidden"></div> </div> </div> <div class="container main-container"> <div class='layout-content '> <div class='region region-breadcrumbs'> <div id="block-custom-breadcrumbs" class="block block-system_breadcrumb_block block-block-custom-breadcrumbs block__custom-breadcrumbs"> <ilw-breadcrumbs> <a href="/">Graduate College</a> <a href="/professional-development">Professional Development</a> <span>Faculty Hiring</span> </ilw-breadcrumbs> </div> </div> <div class="region region-page_title"> <div id="block-custom-page-title" class="block block-page_title_block block-block-custom-page-title block__custom-page-title"> <h1> <span>Faculty Hiring</span> </h1> </div> </div> <a id="main-content" tabindex="-1"></a> <article class="node node-page node--full" class='node node-page'> <div> <div class="field-sections multiple"> <div class='items field-sections-items'> <div class='item'> <div class="paragraph paragraph-body"> <div class="field-body"> <p>Searching for and landing a faculty position is different from looking for a job in the corporate or not-for-profit sectors. Available positions are posted in specialized databases, application materials are usually different (with disciplinary distinctions), and the process is also usually congruent with the academic calendar. Faculty job openings may be posted as much as a year before they begin.</p> <p>Securing a tenure-track faculty position is more challenging than ever before, and advance planning and organization are essential.</p> <h2>Where to Apply</h2> <p>Before starting your search, research different types of institutions. The <a href="https://grad.illinois.edu/professional-development/faculty-hiring/higher-ed-landscape">higher education landscape</a> in the United States is very diverse. Consider where your interests best align with institutional missions.</p> <p>If you are in an interdisciplinary area, will you focus your search to certain types of departments? Learn about disciplinary expectations so you can address these in your applications.</p> <p>Stay current on national issues in higher education by reading the <a href="http://chronicle.com/section/Home/5">Chronicle of Higher Education</a> and <a href="http://www.insidehighered.com/">Inside Higher Ed</a>.</p> <h2>Where To Find Postings</h2> <p>Most tenure-track faculty positions are posted in one or both of the following databases:</p> <ul> <li> <p><a href="https://www.higheredjobs.com/">HigherEdJobs</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a href="https://jobs.chronicle.com/">The Chronicle of Higher Education job board</a></p> </li> </ul> <p>In addition to regularly checking these, talk to mentors in your field to learn discipline-specific venues for finding job postings (scholarly associations, listservs, etc.).</p> <h2>Arrange for Recommendations</h2> <p>References are very important in academia. You will need 3-5 references who can speak to your research skills, potential as a scholar, and teaching skills in the classroom.</p> <ul> <li> <p>In general, it is best to have references that know you well and have known you recently.</p> </li> <li> <p>When requesting references, make certain that the individual is willing to be a strong reference. You might ask by saying, 鈥淚鈥檓 going on the faculty job market this year, and I'd like for you to serve as a reference on my behalf. Do you feel you know me and my work well enough to serve as a positive reference?" It鈥檚 always good to follow up on this conversation with an e-mail message confirming their willingness to serve as a reference. Your request should also indicate what you would like the recommender to emphasize in their letter.</p> </li> <li> <p>Supply your references with a recent copy of your CV and any other materials that might help them comment positively on your work, such as a writing sample, dissertation chapter, or statement of research goals.</p> </li> <li> <p>Have a conversation with each reference about their expectations and preferences for the process, so that you are both on the same page going forward.</p> </li> </ul> <h2>Get Organized</h2> You will likely be applying to many different positions, and you need to keep track of the different details associated with each application. Plan how you will manage dates and details BEFORE you begin. It can be helpful to create an Excel spreadsheet or maintain a log or file so you can keep track of key information and deadlines.   In addition to your spreadsheet or notebook, keep a dedicated folder (electronic or paper) for each position to which you apply. Keep track of details such as: <ul> <li> <p>The position announcement</p> </li> <li> <p>A copy of all application materials submitted</p> </li> <li> <p>Notes about any conversations with members of the search committee</p> </li> <li> <p>Notes from interviews and relevant telephone conversations</p> </li> <li> <p>Additional information gathered about that institution</p> </li> <li> <p>Offer or rejection letters</p> </li> <li> <p>A copy of your letter of acceptance or rejection</p> </li> </ul> <h2>Consider Your Broader Options</h2> <p>According to research conducted by Maresi Nerad and others at the <a href="http://www.cirge.washington.edu/">Center for Innovation and Research in Graduate Education</a> at the University of Washington, it can take several years for a PhD to land a tenure-track job.</p> <p>As you prepare for your academic job search, be realistic and accept that you may need to spend more than one year on the job market. Consider how you will support yourself and remain scholarly active during the interim. Job seekers often spend the intervening years in contingent positions such as adjunct or visiting faculty, postdocs, or other non-tenure-track positions. Consider whether or how long you are willing to be in a contingent position and be open to <a href="https://grad.illinois.edu/professional-development/exploring-careers">exploring career options</a> beyond the professoriate.</p> <p>Some students may wish to simultaneously manage both faculty and non-faculty job searches. The resources on this website as well as the advice of Graduate College Career Development Office counselors can help you as you explore diverse opportunities.</p> <h2>Get Personalized Career Coaching</h2> <p>If you are a current graduate student or postdoc at the University of Illinois, you can schedule an appointment to meet with a career advisor to discuss the academic job search, workshop application documents, prepare for interviews, and more.</p> <p><a class="ilw-button ilw-theme-default" href="https://grad.illinois.edu/professional-development/career-dev-office/career-advising">Schedule an Appointment</a></p> <h2> </h2> <h2>Additional Resources</h2> <strong>Furlong, Jennifer and Julia Miller Vick. </strong><em><strong>The Academic Job Search Handbook (Fourth Edition)</strong></em><strong>, University of Pennsylvania Press, 2008.</strong>   <strong>Gray, Paul and David E. Drew. </strong><em><strong>What They Didn't Teach You in Graduate School: 199 Helpful Hints for Success in Your Academic Career</strong></em><strong>, Stylus Publishing, 2008.</strong> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </main> </div> <ilw-footer> <a slot="site-name" href="/">Graduate College</a> <div slot="social"> <div class='region region-footer_social'> <div id="block-custom-socialmediaicons" class="block block-block_content:d7866e85-7061-4bad-a6cd-a67a0f7db1e7 block-block-custom-socialmediaicons block__custom-socialmediaicons"> <div class="social-icons"> <div class="paragraph paragraph-icon icon-only"> <a href='https://www.facebook.com/GradCollegeIllinois' title='Facebook'> <i class="fa-brands fa-facebook-f"></i> <span class='icon-label ilw-sr-only'>Facebook</span> </a> </div> <div class="paragraph paragraph-icon icon-only"> <a href='https://twitter.com/GradCollegeIL' title='X (Twitter)'> <i class="fa-brands fa-x-twitter"></i> <span 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