Professor Andy Pratt (CMCI) and Dr Alice Taylor (History) shared their knowledge and experience of the application and interview process at the Arts & Humanities Researchers’ Society event ‘How to Get Hired in Academia’ held on Tuesday 17th January.
A basic summary of the key points mentioned in the talk:
- PUBLICATIONS, PUBLICATIONS, PUBLICATIONS – you need publications to get a job. End of story.
- Do not send the same application information and covering letter to all jobs you apply for, make them specific. Address it to the correct person and always provide most recent experience first.
- In the covering letter, write something really compelling that makes you stand out.
- In the interview don’t assume everyone will have read your application thoroughly. Whatever they ask, make sure you convey your unique experience and expertise that is required for the job, even if you are repeating your CV, application form and covering letter.
- Be doing everything you can now (as a PhD student) to get the experience needed such as guest lectures, presentations, seminars etc.
- Writing – show evidence that you are writing all the time, that you have something in the pipeline to submit to a journal.
- Reputation – yep, that’s right, even at this early stage in your career you are expected to get noticed and network in your field.
- Check out your competition
- Don’t be downhearted about rejections as there will be quite a few. Think about it in terms of perfecting your interview technique.
- Sign up to a jobs website such as jobs.ac.uk for latest positions
- Doing a postdoc after your PhD allows you to build up the teaching and publications record required to get hired
- An interview panel can consist of 3-15 people, but the average is usually 5-6 academics asking you questions
- At the end of an interview, they always ask you ‘Have you got any questions for the panel?’ Make sure you’ve got questions and don’t ask about pay.
- Choose references carefully. It helps if it is a famous person in your field.
Dr. Alice Taylor ended the session by emphasizing that if this is the career path you truly wish to follow and you believe your research really matters, then the challenges of getting hired in academia are surmountable.
You are warmly invited to the next event, ‘Alternative Careers to Academia’ on Tuesday 21st February 1-2pm in the Old Senior Common Room, Strand Campus.
