Resources

On-Demand Webinars by Stanford faculty, industry experts and senior researchers go beyond course curricula to address emerging academic topics and trends. Offered by the Stanford Center for Professional Development, you will find free webinars on strategy, design thinking, leadership, decision analysis and innovation, from aeronautics to statistics. They are sorted by 12 different fields. Graduate students not in the engineering and computer science fields may find the webinars on Design Thinking and Management Science and Engineering helpful.

Seminars are also offered in mobile-friendly format and can be watched at any time.

This article from the Chronicle of Higher Education uses six "lessons" to demystify the norms and expectations of graduate school and offer strategies for how to succeed in a professional academic context. Written for new students, but useful for anyone in need of a refresher and some advice.

Postdoc Academic Chats are monthly lunchtime seminars for postdocs across the university that recognize the specific aspects of the postdoc experience. Led by Dr. Rick Reis, the Postdoc Academic Chat series features lively presentations and discussions on relevant issues and strategies, such as how to generate the ideas that are most likely to get funded, how to negotiate for resources with colleagues, and why it helps to do a teaching postdoc. Attendees are asked to read three very short articles on the topic prior to the event.

Postdoc academic chats are limited to 40 people and lunch is served. Graduate students are welcome to attend if space is available.

Are you about to enter the job market for a faculty position? Get a jump-start on preparing yourself and your application materials. This course is practical and experiential, involving practicing and editing. We will work on both written and oral parts of your job search preparation, including CVs, cover letters, research and teaching statements, and the job talk. Experts from across Stanford will present. An interdisciplinary class of peers will support you.

Tuesday, Sept. 8 – Friday, Sept. 11, 9 AM – 5 PM; Saturday, Sept. 12, 9 AM – 12 PM

(Note Saturday session. Participants must be able to attend the entire course.)

Instructor(s)

• Chris Golde, Associate Vice Provost for Graduate Education, VPGE
• Laura Dominguez Chan, Assistant Dean and Associate Director of Career Communities, BEAM, Stanford Career Education

Audience & Capacity

Open to advanced doctoral students and postdoctoral scholars in any discipline who plan to enter the faculty job market in 2015-2016. Space is limited to 60.

Objectives

By participating in this course, you will:

• Understand the academic hiring and job search process
• Start drafting your job application materials
• Read job announcements and assess their fit with your values, skills, and career goals
• Identify the steps you need to take after the class to enter the current academic job search cycle
• Know Stanford’s resources to help you during your job search

Summary

This course is a systematic preview of all aspects of the faculty job search so that participants will be well prepared to embark on the academic job search immediately. Participation is limited to those doctoral students and postdocs planning to enter the job market (even in a limited way) during the 2015-16 academic year. 

"The Jumpstart course was really invaluable in helping me through my job search. I think that it made my application and interview so much stronger, and for that I am so grateful!  Thankfully, my search went really well. I am starting a faculty job in July."  Leah, science postdoc, SGSI 2014 participant

This will be highly experiential and workshop focused. The schedule includes these topics:

• An overview of the job search process. 
• The landscape of higher education in the US, including different types of colleges and universities, and how faculty work varies among them.
• Identifying job listings and assessing values and fit.
• Written parts of an application. Time will be spent drafting, editing and/or reviewing: CVs, cover letters, teaching statements, and research statements. We will share information about other written elements: diversity statements and a professional web presence.
• Verbal parts of an application. We will practice interviews. We will share information about job talks and teaching demonstrations.
• Negotiating terms of a job offer.
• Tools for managing stress.
• Developing a plan for assembling a portfolio of materials and managing the logistics of the application process.
• Panel of faculty who have served on hiring committees.
• Panel of recent job seekers.

“BEST thing I’ve done in two years. Huge time commitment, but SO worthwhile.”  Maureen, biosciences postdoc, SGSI 2014 participant

Note: If you are trying to decide whether a faculty career is right for you, we recommend the SGSI 2015: Designing the Professional course.