Higher Education has been around for hundreds of years, and there’s no sign of it going away soon. For that reason, there are plenty of jobs in higher Education, whether you’re working as an adjunct professor or as the vice president of marketing. To help you land one of these jobs, here are some tips from real people in higher Education about how to get a job.
What you should know about the hiring process
Hiring managers will seek concrete evidence that you are the best candidate. When preparing your resume, cover letter, and interview responses, you should consider this. Hiring managers will also want to know how you see yourself fitting into their organization and what value you can bring.
Don’t forget about the other people involved with the hiring process, including those who interview candidates and make final hiring decisions. It’s essential for them to feel like they can work with you as well! Remember to find out if there are any specific requirements for applying before you send off an application.
Once you’ve submitted an application, wait until the company has notified you of an open position before following up. If there is no notification of new work available, follow up every few months or so until one becomes available.
When following up on an open position, remember not to repeat your previous message and only follow up once every six months if no response is given after initial contact. Resumes are typically judged based on relevancy, qualifications, and potential fit. Make sure to focus your resume around these aspects while highlighting experiences relevant to the position.
For example, Working directly with undergraduate students might be listed under Relevant experience rather than Education. Most schools list the qualifications needed for each job opening; pay attention to these details when deciding whether or not you’re qualified.
Most schools will ask applicants to provide a cover letter and/or resume, but it is often helpful to include a professional summary. Generally, resumes are evaluated using relevance, qualifications, and potential fit. Focus your resume on these aspects while emphasizing experiences that relate to the position.
What you should know about academic careers
Academic careers are often misunderstood. There is so much more than sitting around and teaching classes all day. You must understand what it takes to have an academic career, including the rewards and challenges before you start applying for jobs. Here is some advice on how to get a job in higher Education.
Research first : The typical path is a Ph.D. (often four years), followed by one or two years of postdoctoral work, which can be funded through fellowships or outside funding. Talk to current faculty members about their work and interests at research universities, visit the campuses; talk with students about their experience with professors in different departments; research online graduate programs that interest you.
Find out about your preferences: Do you want a primary research position? Are teaching loads considered when making hiring decisions? What kinds of courses do faculty members teach? How many courses per year?
How many contact hours per week are typical for faculty members who also teach courses? What does tenure look like at each institution? Are there opportunities for international travel or collaboration with other schools abroad?
Does the school place emphasis on undergraduate teaching? Is it possible to pursue part-time research while working full-time as an adjunct professor?
What percentage of faculty members at this university are women or minority scholars? Who is most likely to receive tenure within three years of joining the faculty–senior scholar, junior scholar, both equally likely?
Know yourself well: If you don’t think you will be happy without lots of time for family life or professional pursuits outside academia, consider whether this job would make sense. You may need to consider childcare arrangements if working full-time requires a long commute. Is it worth sacrificing time with family and friends just to have a high-paying career in academia?
How you can prepare for getting a job in higher Education
Think about what you want out of your career and school. What are your long-term goals? What is important to you?
- Learn more about the field, including the colleges and universities most relevant to your career goals.
- Consider what school best suits your needs, whether public or private, small or large, research-oriented or teaching-oriented.
- Apply for internships or work-study opportunities to get a feel for the setting before committing yourself to full-time attendance at an institution.
- Explore all possible financial aid options, grants, and loans. Explore scholarship programs available to students with diverse backgrounds and scholarships offered by individual institutions.
- Connect with others who have been successful in academia through mentorships, networking events on campus, or online networks like LinkedIn or Twitter.
Look for ways to participate in research during your undergraduate experience, such as joining a lab group at the university where you would like to pursue graduate studies.
Take advantage of professional development workshops offered by higher education institutions to prepare students for life after college, such as those offered by AAC&U’s Integrating Careers into College Curricula (IC3) program.
Learn how you can prepare for getting a job in higher Education with this post!
Ways to Increase your Chances of Getting Hired as an Academic
1. Make sure your CV and cover letter are tailored and perfect for the position you are applying for.
2. Engage with the department on social media networks and make sure that you follow them on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram if they have accounts.
3. Attend every campus event possible- career fairs, workshops, department meetings- to increase your chances of meeting faculty or administrators who may be looking for someone like you.
4. Make a list of all professors teaching courses that interest you so you can connect with them outside of class by emailing them about their research or inviting them to coffee once they return from sabbatical or leave the university due to retirement or illness
5. If you attend an institution with an honors program, get involved! Take advantage of opportunities like tutoring, community service work, and academic support programs offered through honors.
6. Join student organizations related to your primary interests. Political science clubs at public universities and private schools offer opportunities to meet other students interested in politics and government.
Tips for applying for jobs online
1. Make sure your resume is up-to-date and reflects the most recent work history.
2. Create an online portfolio that includes samples of your work, such as presentations, proposals, video clips, or articles you have written. Be sure to include contact information and the scope of your skillset!
3. Create a professional email address and make sure it is available on all social media profiles and email accounts so that employers can easily find you when they search for candidates.
4. Prepare for phone interviews by researching the company you are applying with so that you can ask intelligent questions about the company’s goals and challenges and what type of person they are looking for in their next hire.
5. Rehearse answers to common interview questions beforehand, like Tell me about yourself or What makes you qualified? Ensure your answer highlights relevant experience while maintaining eye contact with the interviewer.
Tips for making your application stand out CV, cover letter
The following are tips for making your application stand out and get noticed.
-Do your research on the institution you’re applying for.
-Proofread your CV and cover letter thoroughly before submitting them.
-Be upfront about extenuating circumstances that may have impacted your grades or academic performance, such as illness or disability.
-Keep it short – don’t include irrelevant information.
-Get someone else to proofread it for you too! Employers will often prefer candidates who can work well in a team environment and show initiative.
If there’s anything of note on your resume, mention it explicitly- so if you’ve studied abroad at a prestigious school, say so! Be sure not to use generic phrases like responsible for, coordinated with, managed, etc.
Instead, say what you did explicitly- manage social media marketing campaigns. Don’t forget to highlight skills relevant to the job you’re applying for. Employers will take note of these things. Try not to use cliches like hard work, or I’m very good with people make sure every word counts!
Remember that institutions want competent, confident, and independent individuals; try not to sound overly humble or submissive. Some terms that might help you appear thoughtful, confident and independent are articulate, strategic, and intelligent.
It is also essential to tailor your CV/cover letter according to the type of role you are applying for, whether it is teaching-focused or administration-focused (see below).
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