BackStage

CJ asked, in an earlier post,

How much work is it to apply to each place on your spreadsheet?

Short answer: A LOT!

Long answer: Umm… well, let’s look at an example position.

George State University is running the following ad:

Anticipated TT asst or assoc professor with a teaching specialty in graduate classical or contemporary sociological theory and additional substantive research interests in one of the three following concentrations: family, health and life course, gender and sexuality, or race and urban. We enthusiastically encourage applications from minority candidates. An offer of employment will be conditional on background verification. Candidates should submit: 1)letter outlining their qualifications; 2)curriculum vitae; 3)sample of scholarly work; 4)evidence of teaching effectiveness (i.e., course syllabi, student evaluations, and statement of teaching philosophy); and 5)three letters of recommendation. PhD in sociology is required at time of appointment.

So, let’s assume you’ve done your job searches and know the places you are going to apply (of course, this is an ungoing process of checking and rechecking the job boards, talking to people, looking at websites to see if anything has opened, etc.). Now you have to start fullfilling those requirements.*

1. Letter outlining your qualifications: Cover letter. Blick. Okay, so you should have about 4 or 5 stock letters that you will write — one for different areas of teaching and a different version depending on if it’s a teaching or research job. These can be used across universities. Meaning, if I am applying to two jobs that are theory positions that are teaching schools, I use the same letter. But, you still have to change the letter to bring in specific details of that department (show them that you are familiar with their department).  Of course, if you REALLY REALLY REALLY want the job, you should write a special letter just for that school. Really research it and address how you fit into their department — how you are congruent, how you will bring something new that is missing.
2. CV: You should have different versions of this, one stressing research and one stressing teaching. I know I should do this, but I’m not sure I will. Mostly, because I don’t have much to include under teaching. I may have it just where I move subheadings around (put the teaching higher in the CV for teaching jobs).
3. Sample of Scholarly Work: Now you have to consider what to send. Should be sole authored or first authored things, but sometimes you may want to send something where you are second author, if it’s to a great journal. Some places will make you send a dissertation chapter.
4. Teaching effectiveness: E gads! Lots of work. You write the philosophy (how you approach classes). Then you have to include stats from teaching evaluations and comments. Which means you have to shift through them, do some data entry, and create tables and what not. Syllabi! I’ve been told only to include classes I have or am going to teach. Well, that means I now have to quickly write my Ethnic and Race Relations syllabus to include in these packets.
5. Letters of recommendation: This takes more work than you would think. Of course your major writes all of them (or your chair, what ever you call the Master of your Universe). Then you should pick people based on the job type (if its teaching, do you have anyone who has seen you teach?). Also, pick people based on University (hey, if they know people there, and are liked there, and they say they like you… it’s a nice tidy Heider Triangle). Then you need to match based on area — social psych profs write for social psych, theory for theory, etc. Of course, you need to find out who is willing to write for you. Then, they may not be willing to write for you for all jobs (hey, if they are the major prof for someone else who is applying to the same school as you — they shouldn’t write for you, they’ll be writing for that other person, and that other person should get a stronger letter). Then, you need to create a Word document with mailing labels for each person. AND some of them ask you for “talking points” — things you would like them to stress.

Phew.

And, I’m sure I’m missing lots cause I’m just starting! And, different places ask for different things. Some want a seperate research goal. Some, evidently, want a statement of religion.

*See Anomie for some tips on some of these requirements.