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Reflections Blog

Tales from the Academic Job Market

7/31/2019

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Academic Job Search
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Image from freepik.com
As the calendar approaches August, it is that time of year again - the academic job search season is upon us. Faculty job advertisements start to be released in August and some application deadlines are as soon as mid-September.
Many bright and motivated graduate students and postdocs will be applying for these positions.

Landing a Faculty Job is Challenging
I think most know that it has become exceedingly difficult to land a tenure-track academic position (see a nice description of the process from one applicant here & see also). Data from the biomedical sciences estimate only ~20% of all Ph.D.s are working in tenured or tenure-track academic positions. In 2006, ~15% of US doctorates in biological sciences were in tenured/tenure-track positions within six years of completing their Ph.D.s with ~18% in untenured roles (postdocs, lecturers, research associates), this compared with ~55% in tenured/tenure-track roles in 1972.
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Figure from Schillebeeckx et al., 2013 Nature Biotechnology. Since 1982, almost 800,000 PhDs were awarded in science and engineering (S&E) fields, whereas only about 100,000 academic faculty positions were created in those fields within the same time frame. The number of S&E PhDs awarded annually has also increased over this time frame, from ∼19,000 in 1982 to ∼36,000 in 2011. In contrast, the number of faculty positions created each year has not risen substantially.
The aspiration of many Ph.D.s is to strive toward an academic position, though interest is declining. But what will make you more competitive on the academic job market?

Predictors of Academic Job Market Success
For some insight, see this nice piece on preparing for the job search. Quantitative studies have also begun to shed light on the hiring process. Perhaps not surprisingly, the number of first-author publications (particularly in high-impact journals) are strong predictors of who becomes a principal investigator, PI (i.e., faculty member running a research lab). In addition, making sure your research builds on but branches out from that of your graduate school and postdoctoral mentors is critical.

I am also working with a team from the Future_PI Slack group to better understand what metrics predict who receives academic job offers. We are still analyzing that data but what I can say is that the objective metrics of funding track record and high-impact publications are important but the effects are rather small. What that means is that what separates those who get job offers from those who don't is not such much the volume or quality of their work or their ability to attract funding. Rather, I believe, it often comes down to the more subjective measure of "fit."

UPDATED 7/28/20: See our eLife paper, A Survey-based Analysis of the Academic Job Market
UPDATED 6/29/22: Learn more about our faculty job market collaboration work and complete our faculty job market surveys for the 2020-2021 and/or 2021-2022 application cycles. 
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What do search committees want?
There are many pieces (see here and here and here) out there documenting the faculty search process from the point of view of the search committees themselves. FYI, these committees are composed of human beings making decisions and sometimes a hiring decision is about more than you as a candidate (i.e., politics and internal departmental power structures can come into play).

What is "fit"?
The illusive quality of "fit" is difficult to quantify and verbalize. How do you know if you are a good fit for a position and/or employer? It all starts with reaching out and speaking with people at the place(s) you want to work.
From my own experience on the academic job market, here are some points to keep in mind:
1) Leverage your network to find out what search committees really want (i.e., are prioritizing).
2) If you are in doubt regarding your fit for a position, reach out to the search committee chair.
2) And thoroughly research the department to see if YOU think you would be a good fit.

It is important to learn more about what search committees want as a job advertisement often doesn't tell the whole story. Sometimes, committees don't even know what they want.

I will give you an example: I was forwarded a job advertisement for a genetic epidemiologist faculty position at a large, research-intensive institution a couple of years ago. I don't consider myself to be an epidemiologist. Though, I did some behavioral genetics research. Nevertheless, the department where this position was located looked like a great fit: interdisciplinary, growing, filled with faculty interested in understanding complex problems such as drug addiction (which I myself was researching) at all levels. I figured it was worth inquiring with the search committee chair whether I would be a good fit. I emailed him, attached my CV, and asked if I should apply for the open position. He replied back that this was an interdisciplinary position and they were looking for researchers doing a variety of interesting work in relation to the study of drug addiction.
I applied and SURPRISE, this was the only position I applied to (out of 26) where I got an onsite interview that year.

LESSON: NEVER assume you aren't a potential fit for a position. Research the department to see if YOU think you could fit in there. If the answer is YES, I encourage you to apply and make the case in your cover letter. Also, reach out to the search committee chair for some guidance. Sometimes they will give you the blanket "we encourage all interested individuals to apply." If that is the case, doing your own homework to make a decision on whether to apply or not is critical.
Also, if the search committee chair can't give you more clarity on your "fit" and/or there is no chair mentioned by name in the job advertisement, reach out to members of the department doing work you admire and see as potential future collaborators. Set up a phone/Skype call to ask them how they like working there, what resources are available to faculty, what the typical teaching load entails, etc... You may be surprised what you learn from that conversation.

When I was interested in a position at another large, research-intensive university, I reached out to a faculty there doing work I found interesting to see if we could talk about the department. He graciously agreed.
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At the start of our call he mentioned that SURPRISE he was on the search committee for the position. And guess what? This was one of those places with no search committee chair contact information was listed on the advertisement. What luck! He gave me the inside scoop and told me the department was prioritizing a faculty candidate doing diversity research. That was not apparent to me at all in the job advertisement. So, I was glad I spoke with this professor. I tailored my application to reflect the fact that the work I did was focused on how reward and decision making behavior varied based on participant sex, age, and genetic makeup (i.e., biological diversity). I didn't expect to hear from this department, though, knowing their priorities for someone studying diversity as a construct. And, after I submitted my materials, I didn't hear back from them. Having the knowledge that my fit was poor for the position, though, made the rejection easier to process.

Do your research & connect with potential future colleagues
Hopefully these personal accounts show you the importance of not just blindly submitting your materials to as many open positions as possible. If you take the time to do your research and talk to faculty in the department, you can better prioritize where to apply and how to tailor your materials to make the best use of your precious time. Applying to faculty positions takes a lot of work and energy but putting in the extra effort to connect with the search committee chair or other departmental faculty is more than worth it.
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STOP, TAKE A STEP BACK, & REFLECT
If all these stats, amount of work required, and the apparent unpredictability of the job market has you questioning whether you should apply for faculty positions, that is more than OK. I think it is good to reflect on what you really want out of this next stage in your life. Faculty jobs have their PROS and CONS (see here & here & here) and there are MANY TYPES of faculty jobs, not just being a PI of a research lab at a research-intensive institution. You could work at a liberal arts college, community college (see also), or regional university (see also) - all of which highly value teaching. These types of positions are less focused on securing grant funding and the expectation to publish your work often (priorities when working at a research-intensive university) and may better fit your skills and interests.
Speaking of skills and interests, if you have some lingering doubts on whether a faculty job is the right fit for you but are unsure how your skills and interests translate to other potential careers, I highly recommend taking assessments through myIDP and ImaginePhD. These online tools (and see) will map your skills, interests, and values to potential career options and give you the vocabulary and references to further explore them. You will be amazed by the variety of careers out there for Ph.D.-trained researchers.

And what if you get that faculty job offer? First congrats! Second, reflect and ask yourself: Do you see the institution and department as a good fit? Will you enjoy living in the area? You shouldn't take a position because it is your only offer. You want to make sure it seems like the right place for you. And if you accept the offer but wonder if you can succeed as a faculty member or are afraid of "failing" while on the tenure-track, read this superb piece for some encouragement and inspiration.
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In closing, don't forget to also listen to your gut. What feels right in terms of a career for you?

I was barreling down the road to a tenure-track position and got as far as an on-site interview and the dreaded waiting game to see if I was going to receive an offer. Looking back now, I am glad I didn't. It would have been hard to turn one down.

I couldn't help feeling during that time though, that being a faculty member at a research-intensive university might not be the best fit for me. Did I really want to have to constantly be thinking about and writing the next grant application? Always be drafting and revising that next publication? Did I want to have to develop a large research arc for my lab that was both practical but also innovative? I realized that I really didn't want to do all those things. They were what I had come to expect from myself over 10 years of graduate school and postdoctoral work but they weren't things I enjoyed doing.

During my time as a graduate student and postdoctoral fellow I also really enjoyed mentoring and helping others with their career plans. I got involved in the Vanderbilt Postdoctoral Association and now I work in Postdoctoral Affairs. It is a better career fit for me than the tenure-track. I am still in an academic environment but I get to spend my time mentoring and helping talented postdocs navigate their career search and support them in their professional development. The work-life balance is great and I have a lot of autonomy in my new role. I think it is the right place for me at this stage in my life.

I hope all those reading this piece find what that right fit is for you, too. And realize it may change over time and that is OK.

Happy hunting!

Further reading & resources:
Great resources are available on getting your faculty application materials in order:
The Academic Job Search (from University of California, Berkeley)
Academic Careers: Start Here (from the University of California, San Francisco)

You can also find examples of my own application docs on my Job Search Resources page.

Making the Right Moves: A Practical Guide to Scientific Management for Postdocs and New Faculty
resource from Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

See also my Inside Higher Ed Carpe Careers piece on The Importance of Informational Interviews in your faculty job search. 
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The power of human connection

7/3/2019

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Life Advice
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Growing up, especially in middle and high school, I was not the most social person. I was (and still am) quite introspective...OK spending lots of time with myself and my thoughts. Interacting with people, especially during those awkward teenage years, seemed wrought with uncertainty and peril including the possibility of rejection, judgement, hostility, and pressure to conform. Human beings are complicated and unpredictable...do I really need them in my life?

Loneliness

I was pretty much a loner. A LONER...a kind of dirty word in the gregarious 21st Century, social-media driven society we currently live in. I am OK admitting it, though, as I don't see it as a completely negative thing. Sometimes you need to be alone with your thoughts to understand who you are and what you want out of life.
I was/am not alone in feeling alone. Data suggests many people (especially adolescents) feel alone and social media may make the situation worse. Loneliness is associated with increased mortality (see also) and the problem is getting worse with over 50% of Americans in one survey reporting they have no one outside their immediate family to discuss important matters with. But, we really need human connection, including people to confide in and advise us as we make important decisions in our lives. These people could be members of your family but it helps to have a deep professional network as well.
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The Solitary Nature of Graduate & Postdoc Work
Pursuing a graduate degree, you can very much focus on yourself and your work - your task is to do a lot of thinking, analysis, and writing. These are often solo tasks and it is easy to think that your productivity and success are self-driven.

I would argue this sense of focus and unwillingness to seek outside support ramps up as a postdoc. As a postdoc, there is no longer a thesis/dissertation committee to naturally serve as a board of advisors. Postdocs should definitely work to expand their mentoring network beyond their primary research advisor. You should really form a "board of directors" for you consisting of people (ideally from a variety of backgrounds) whose opinions and advice you trust. These individuals can help you expand your horizons - encouraging you to think about the skills and experiences you should pursue as you work toward the next step in your career. They can also help you expand your network, often a critical component to securing your next job. 

The Importance of Networking

Most people, especially the Ph.D.-trained scientists I have surrounded myself with in my current and past roles, hate the word networking. They see it as an awkward and extractive process - that they are trying to use the relationship as a means to get a job. This may be the ultimate goal but should not be the mindset going into a networking encounter.
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The reason this type of "networking" is often so difficult is because students and postdocs don't start networking in earnest until they need a job. Their desperation ramps up the stress/anxiety for the subsequent interactions.
It is impossible to deny, though, that networks are often crucial to securing employment...see links at the end of this article on the "hidden job market."
This realization comes down to the fact that trust is a key component in the hiring process. If a perspective employee comes recommended by someone a potential employer trusts, we give that person an edge in the hiring process. It is human nature.
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So, while interacting with people you don't know can feel awkward and comes with much uncertainty leading up to it...what to say to break the ice, how to fill the awkward silence that sometimes arises, etc..., it is crucially important to build genuine human connections. And not just for selfish reasons. We are social creatures and our mental and physical health is closely tied to interacting with others. Being with others makes us feel good. Furthermore, you never know what can come out of such in-person interactions.
A "stranger" is someone you just haven't connected with yet.

Small Actions, Big Impact

Recently, I attended the 2019 Graduate Career Consortium annual meeting. The GCC is a group of individuals who work with graduate students and postdoctoral researchers to help them build the skills they need to secure meaningful employment. They are a super generous and supportive group and I heard only good things about them from colleagues at Vanderbilt and UNC.
The GCC conference was filled with many opportunities to interact with attendees outside the usual sessions and meals including morning walking groups and impromptu dinners together. It would have been mentally/emotionally easier for me to choose not to attend these various extracurricular networking events. I had a long day, spent hours interacting with others during the formal conference events, and had work I needed to do.
I am glad I took the time to take part in these events, though.
At GCC, I met some great people on the morning walks and was able to talk with them on a more personal and intimate level than during the more formal (and crowded) conference networking events. I met a former GCC president and learned about opportunities to get involved with the association by volunteering on a Ph.D. outcomes committee (something I am personally very interested in). The dinners allowed me to really connect with some awesome people and feel helpful. At one dinner, I met a young man who was finishing up his Ph.D. and looking for employment, ideally in graduate career development. Hearing his story, I couldn't help but be impressed with his experiences and background. He seemed like he would be a great addition to any career and professional development office.
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The next day, during a pre-conference event, all in attendance lined up by the number of years they had been working in graduate career/professional development and this young man was at the far end (year 0). After he mentioned to the group he was finishing up Grad School, I felt compelled to tell the room that he was looking for a job. I don't think this guy would have done that publicly but know he appreciated the gesture (he thanked me later that day). At dinner the night before he mentioned he was applying for a position at Duke and I know one of the people he was going to meet with at the conference. I made sure to put in a good word for him. Who knows what will come of my actions but helping this young man out felt good. I think this is what most senior individuals at organizations feel when you interact with them - if they see your potential and passion, they are willing to help you out and get personal satisfaction from doing so.
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Helping Others Helps Us

Most people want to help others, especially others they know to be deserving. However, it takes knowing someone on a more intimate level than what they do, where they work, etc... (gleaned from small talk) to really understand their personality, their wants/needs, and the value they can bring to an organization. So, I urge the postdocs and graduate students I interact with (and it's good advice for everyone) to build strong connections, ask for help and advice, and go beyond their comfort zone. The little actions you take can add up to big effects on your life.

I am personally going to try to meet more people, build my own personal board of directors, and develop deeper connections with others who share my personal and professional interests. I encourage you to do what you need to expand your network and interact with others: volunteer, attend (graduate or postdoctoral) association events at your institution, take advantage of networking opportunities in your community or at professional conferences, or just talk to a stranger. These actions will make you feel more connected to the world, increase your mental health, and could deeply impact your life.
While such "everyday" interactions may seem trivial and tangential in the near term, they could have a lasting effect on you, long term. You certainly won't know until you try.
Other Good Reads:
The secret to happiness is helping others
10 Facts that prove helping others is a key to achieving happiness
Loneliness: Human Nature and the Need for Social Connection
Why you should speak with strangers
How to have better conversations with people you've just met
Tapping the hidden job market
6 Ways to crack the hidden job market
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    A neuroscientist by training, I now work to improve the career readiness of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars.

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