PhD-Level Job Search: Applying to Academic Roles

It’s no secret that faculty-track positions are highly competitive. You will need to put together a comprehensive search campaign, including a) deciding on where, and to which types of positions to apply to, b) building your network, securing letters of recommendation, c) writing a strong CV, and d) developing an excellent one-hour job talk.

Start cultivating your network as early as possible by actively making faculty contacts at Binghamton and other institutions. Attend professional association meetings and professional conferences, and if possible, present at or chair a session. This will build both your CV and your network. Teaching and research will be critical components of your application, so actively seek out teaching and publishing opportunities.

Beyond the Professoriate

This is an online professional development tool where postdocs and doctoral students can explore career options and learn job search strategies. Through two programs of study (Academic Careers and Professional Careers), students are empowered to make informed decisions about their career path and learn successful job search strategies from other PhDs. This link will take you to Stage 3 Implement (Faculty Jobs) where you can watch online lessons on “Academic CV”, “First-Round Interviews,” and “Should I go another year on the academic job market?”.

Faculty Careers Program of Study: Apply Stage 

A companion workbook to Beyond the Professoriate Platform’s Step 3-Implement Stage for Faculty Jobs, this workbook will help you prepare, draft, and review your application documents for faculty jobs so you can put your best application forward. In the Guide you will find lessons on: Academic CV, Academic Cover Letter, The Teaching Statement , The Teaching Portfolio, The Research Statement, and The Diversity Statement.

Additional Resources for the Academic Job Search

Formatting and Layout for CV

In the United States, curricula vitae (CVs) are used to apply for teaching or research opportunities, fellowships, further academic training, grants, contract funding proposals, tenure, and membership in a professional society or organization. To get help with your CV, schedule an appointment to see one of our career advisors.

Note: In the United States, the term “resume” is used for industry and other non-academic positions. In some international settings, the term “CV” is used for all opportunities – however, you should tailor your document based on position type.

While CVs can be several pages long, resumes should be 1-2 pages long and tailored to the specific job position.

You can find downloadable and editable CV templates on our website.

Teaching Philosophy Statement:

Your teaching philosophy is a self-reflective statement of your beliefs about teaching and learning. It’s a one to two page narrative that conveys your core ideas about being an effective teacher in the context of your discipline. It develops these ideas with specific, concrete examples of what the teacher and learners will do to achieve those goals. Importantly, your teaching philosophy statement also explains why you choose these options (University of Minnesota, 2022).

Research Statement:

A research statement is usually a single-spaced 1-2 page document that describes your research trajectory as a scholar, highlighting growth: from where you began to where you envision going in the next few years. Ultimately, research productivity, focus and future are the most highly scrutinized in academic faculty appointments, particularly at research-intensive universities. 

Tailor your research statement to the institution to which you are applying – if a university has a strong research focus, emphasize publications; if a university values teaching and research equally, consider ending with a paragraph about how your research complements your teaching and vice versa.

Cover Letters:

An academic cover letter can be part of the application package for faculty roles and it frames and introduces the rest of your application documents, such as your CV, research statement, and teaching statement/portfolio to the search committee. Your cover letter can demonstrate how your academic background fits with the description of the position, thus often includes a combination of your teaching, research, and service experiences. 

A strong cover letter will be tailored to the institution to which you’re applying to. For the humanities and social sciences it is typically 2–3 pages long, and for STEM fields 1–2 pages, but this may vary depending on your specific discipline.

Writing a Diversity Statement:

Diversity statements typically include your personal stories and past experiences as a member of an underrepresented group and your future plans to advance diversity, equity and inclusion. These statements are usually 1 to 2 pages long. Candidates can talk about how they have been impacted by diversity throughout their academic career and can bring up examples from their education or instructional experiences on how they have come to understand and appreciate diversity. A university that seeks this statement from applicants is typically concerned with ensuring that faculty hires are familiar with its diverse student populations and willing to support students in line with the university’s mission statement.