Preparing for an Academic Career Path

Traditionally, a doctoral degree (or Masters-level in some disciplines) prepares the candidate for a faculty position. However, it is important for applicants to understand the process of preparing for and conducting an academic job search in order to present themselves effectively to search committees in departments best suited to their research interests, academic experiences and personal values. Supervisors and other faculty members are excellent sources of information specific to their fields. This site covers information that is generally applicable to most fields.

The 'typical' academic job search cycle is a bit of a misnomer. There are significant differences between departments and institutions - even between hiring committees within the same department. The following information presents the usual stages of the job search from the posting of positions to the negotiation of offers. As is the case for all aspects of the academic job search, the best sources for specific information and advice are supervisors, program deans or other faculty members in a relevant field.