Gainfully employed: Application preparation to navigating negotiations
Jessica K. Bell · The FASEB Journal · 2007
As you finish your postdoctoral training and prepare to become a mentor versus the mentee, what do you need to know? Advertisements for academic positions receive hundreds of applications. How will you make your application rise above the rest? We will discuss preparation of your cover letter, curriculum vitae, research proposal, teaching philosophy and letters of recommendation. Once your application is received, what is the process for selecting candidates to be interviewed? Is a phone interview important? An on‐campus interview may include meeting individually with the faculty and dean, a research seminar, a chalk talk and time to meet with current graduate students/postdoctoral fellows. On your interview your research presentation may be your only exposure to some of your future colleagues – what should you say? What is a “chalk talk?” When an offer is made, you will be invited for a second interview. Can you and your research be successful in this environment? How do you negotiate for enough funds to equip your lab and pay student and postdoctoral stipends until you can secure a grant? Strategies to successfully navigate these negotiations will be addressed.