Preparing for Faculty Careers

Preparing for a faculty career means understanding yourself and the higher education landscape, building skills, and conducting a job search. It's never too early — or too late — to begin.

If you are considering a faculty career, tap into the knowledge and experience of the faculty, staff, and advanced students in your department or program. Take advantage of Stanford's extensive resources to explore your options, build your skills, and prepare your application materials.

Download a summary of these steps and resources

Step 1: Understanding Faculty Roles

What do faculty members do? How do faculty roles differ at different types of colleges and universities? What do I value? What type of faculty jobs should I consider? Which types of institutions should I explore? Understanding the answers to these questions will help you find out where you will thrive, focus on building necessary skills, and apply strategically for the jobs you want.

• Attend an Academic Chat to discuss faculty careers
• Take the Preparing for Faculty Careers course (EDUC 343C, Spring)
• Apply for the Preparing Future Professors faculty shadowing program
• VISIT YOUR CAREER CENTER (THERE ARE FIVE ON CAMPUS!)
• LEARN MORE FROM TOMORROW'S PROFESSOR NEWSLETTER
• Explore more Understanding Faculty Roles resources

Step 2: Building Necessary Skills

Faculty work involves research and scholarship, teaching, and service. You can build skills in each of these areas while at Stanford. Much of what you do in grad school will help you prepare for your future career.

• Get teaching experience with Grad Teaching @Stanford
• Use the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity's extensive resources
• Visit the Teaching Commons to expand your knowledge of teaching and learning
• Use the Graduate Professional Development Framework to develop more skills
• Browse courses about teaching and education
• Learn and practice your leadership and management skills in Management Matters
• Explore more Building Skills resources

Step 3: Conducting a Faculty Job Search

The faculty job search can take an entire year or more. Depending on the discipline and the type of institution, it is typically conducted in the last year of graduate school or toward the end of a postdoctoral fellowship. Preparing for the job search and putting together all of the materials takes time. Start early

• Check out the intensive Jumpstart Your Academic job search course
• Find more future faculty resources (PDF)
• Explore more Conducting a Faculty Job Search resources