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Job Market Overview. External Time Line. October Job Openings for Economists August and September too November JOE too December 1 (sometimes earlier): first deadlines for materials(December JOE) Mid December : ASSA Interview Scheduling
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External Time Line • October Job Openings for Economists • August and September too • November JOE too • December 1 (sometimes earlier): first deadlines for materials(December JOE) • Mid December: ASSA Interview Scheduling • January 3-5, Atlanta: ASSA meetings (first round interviews) • January-March +: Flybacks/Offers
Your Time Line • August • Dissertation well under way (1 main paper as draft, 2 other papers well along) • Draft of Job Market Paper for Advisor • September • Further Circulation/Polishing of Job Market Paper • Contacting Letter Writers (scheduling departmental seminar) • Presentation of Job Market Paper in department seminar. • Hotel reservations for Atlanta • October • Sorting through ads • Preparing CV • Preparing thesis abstract • Preparing teaching materials • Final polishing of paper • KEA presentation
November • Sorting through more ads • Mailing materials • Southern Economic Association Meetings • Flight? To Atlanta • December • Scheduling ASSA interviews • Preparing for interviews • Further refining job talk from feedback • Mock interviews in department • Christmas: A great time to practice your “spiel” on unsuspecting friends and relatives. • January • Final polishing of job talk • First flyouts
Application Packets • Cover letter: a brief introduction • Thesis abstract: briefly describe your thesis work. • CV: shows working papers from thesis and presentation and teaching experience • Job market paper: well polished • Teaching philosophy: well written, clearly thought about. • Teaching evaluations: nicely presented summary of teaching history.
What are they looking for? • Ph.D.s in economics (not ABD’s…) • The “Done Signal” • Polished Job market paper • Past tense (I examined…not I will look at…) • Results (my estimates show) • Future work • Teaching: • You’ve given some thought to what you want to teach and why • You’ve given some thought to how to teach and take it seriously
ASSA Interviews • Business Attire (Generally Suits) • Your Spiel: Be prepared to give a short oral overview of your thesis work. Focusing on your JMP, but briefly discussing other aspects. • Teaching Interests: what do want to teach, what can you teach. What is your style, books etc. • All of this needs to convey that you are Assistant Professor material. • For non-Academic Jobs, interviews are similar. They won’t ask you about “teaching” but ask you about presenting to other groups.
How do they pick flyouts? • The Done Signal. • Can you carry on a conversation? • Can you demonstrate that you understand your work? • Will you be able to teach their students? • And will you be ready to take up the job in the fall (or will you still be ABD)?
Flyouts • You’ll need a credit card with a decent limit. You book air travel, they reimburse. • Attire: Again Business Suit • Typically ½ hour meeting with faculty/deans/etc. Job talk in the afternoon (although that varies). • Job talk may be research talk or teaching an undergraduate class. You need to be prepared for both. • Meals: don’t chew with your mouth open. Be able to carry on a conversation. • It’s a long day, go in with a positive attitude.
Offers • Typically a week or two to decide. • Get everything in writing. • We’ll help you negotiate some. • Once you accept one, you’re done. No reneging!
After I clear, then what? • Well, you should be nearly done with the thesis, and finish it up. Get ready to move. • What if I don’t clear? • Second and third rounds: schools who don’t get their first choice come back to the pool. • Secondary/Visiting market: some schools need to hire bodies, this can be a visiting position etc. • Non-academic market often goes late since they typically lose to academic positions. • ASSA Job Market Scramble
Conclusion • Imperative to signal that you are well along. • Crucial to be able to communicate: spoken and written. • Important that you have a command of your own work. • Important that you understand other aspects of the job (teaching or whatever). • Did I mention that you need to look like you will finish before you arrive?