Corner View of Winston Hall
NC State University
Department of Sociology and Anthropology
Graduate
  For Applicants

Job Search Suggestions

These ideas pertain primarily to searches for academic jobs, but they could be expanded to non-academic searches, as well. They came out of a 1998 brainstorming session. Please give additional suggestions to the Director of Graduate Programs.

The student should:

  1. Make sure their teaching is fully and effectively presented in their applications
    • build teaching portfolio
    • arrange for teaching to be observed and evaluated for several years, if feasible by same faculty member (who can then write reference letter including details on teaching); the teaching mentor is a likely candidate
    • construct a clear statement about their teaching philosophy and method
  2. Think strategically (with chair of committee) about reference list, to include:
    • someone who knows a lot about the student's teaching
    • a letter from the PI of a research project student worked on, even if this person is not on the student's committee
  3. Try very hard to get published at least once before going on the job market.
  4. If not published, try to have a very polished paper ready to include with application.
  5. Practice job talk before interview and revise in light of feedback from faculty and students.
  6. Try very hard to present at professional meetings, such as the SSS and ASA meetings, in the spring and fall before going on the job market.

The chair of the student's advisory committee should:

  1. Consider writing a reference letter right after application is sent off even when letters are not requested with the initial application. (This may be inadvisable if the job advertisement asks that no letters be sent until requested.)
  2. Coordinate reference letters to assure coverage of important matters.
  3. Consider email or phone contacts at all schools to which student applies (if chair has such contacts).
  4. Circulate the names of departments where student has made a cut, inviting faculty with contacts there to send email or make a phone call.
  5. Address student's shortcomings, if any, in reference letter.
  6. Work substantively, stylistically, and tactically with student on application packet.

The Director of Graduate Programs should:

  1. Write general letter about department and its graduate program that students, if they choose, can include with application or that can be personalized and sent later.
  2. Call recruitment chair wherever a student makes a cut.
  3. Assemble list of job searchers with some details (e.g., dissertation advisory committee, specialty areas, dissertation title, session where presenting at the ASA meeting) for distribution at ASA meeting.
  4. Try to learn more about how the non-academic job markets work in order to extract hints about steps to take for students pursing non-academic jobs.