Plan strategies to search for academic job

Part 2 (next week): CVs and Resumes for Academics

Spring is an important time for professionals in academia, including teachers and administrators at all levels, from elementary through college, public or private. While the first round of hiring for next fall has already taken place in many cases, now is when schools make a concerted effort to fill any gaps in staffing for the next academic year.

Whether you are a seasoned professional or a soon-to-be graduate in the field, you need a plan to gain your next position. In this week’s column, I’ll present some strategies for your search; next week, I’ll provide pointers for fine-tuning your curriculum vitae.

Find job leads. Of course you can (and should) keep an eye on the digital job postings, whether you watch the website for a specific employer or cast a broader net. But here's a secret you need to know: Not all openings are posted, and not all postings result in hiring an online applicant. This is especially true of private institutions, but public entities, including the public school system, also have back doors.

It’s not cynicism that drives me to mention this, but pragmatism. If you rely on only the front door, you might be knocking a long time while other candidates stream past you to get the job. To keep yourself in the game, resolve to use all methods to learn of current and potential job leads. That means not only reviewing and responding to ads (the front door), but also talking with teachers, principals, deans or department chairs to introduce yourself and learn of future hiring plans.

Make the outreach. Start by listing your top 15 or 20 potential employers. If this is difficult, the exercise is all the more important. Not being able to list a broad selection of desired organizations is a sign of a too-narrow search. To broaden the list, consider variations in location, level, or organization type.

Once you have your list, concentrate on finding the correct department manager: Who would be your boss if you worked there? This is the person you want to contact with a polite introduction and inquiry about future hiring needs. The contact itself can by via mail, email or phone. Your goal is to learn of opportunities that may not yet be advertised, and to make yourself known as someone available and interested in the organization. If you are able to schedule a brief meeting, so much the better.

Time your campaign. If you want to be working in the fall, you don't have any time to waste. Respond immediately to any ads that interest you, while simultaneously reaching out to the organizations from your list. Follow up on both tracks as best you can.

If your best efforts don’t result in a job, don’t despair. Although late winter and early spring are the ideal time for a search of this nature, another hiring “season” that is often overlooked by academic candidates happens in late summer. This is when first hires sometimes back out of contracts, or when employers discover they under-estimated the need for new staff. In either case, a direct contact from a last-minute candidate may prove most welcome later in the summer.

Strengthen your candidacy. You may be well-qualified for the positions you seek, but do you stand out? Consider these ideas for strengthening your candidacy: Additional certifications or licensure, experience with particular student populations, fundraising or grant writing experience, ability to lead student clubs and activities, familiarity with online or digital course development, experience partnering with community or business leaders, fluency in multiple languages, etc.

If it doesn't work. Despite their best efforts, it's common for academics, whether teachers or administrators, to miss out on a round of musical chairs. If you end up out of the market for a year, use your time well. Network, volunteer in the schools you want to work in, attend conferences in the field, pick up a new licensure or certification, create a workbook or classroom curriculum, teach in another country, work for AmeriCorps … you get the idea.

Another option is to “go corporate.” For academics, this often means signing on as a trainer or as a learning and development manager for a corporation. If you do this, keep two things in mind: First, if you plan to return to academia, you’ll need to keep up your networking and likely your credentialing. This is doable, but only if you make a plan so things don’t slip away.

And second? You’ll need a resume instead of a CV (curriculum vitae). Come back next week to learn the difference and tips for building a CV for today’s world of job search.