The Application Process

1. Are you ready for the market?

• Review Your Career Goal and Progress
• Talk with Your Advisor(s)
• Decide What Type of Job You Want
  • Industry/Government/Applied
  • Private/Public College/University

2. Find the Job Listings

• ASA Job Bank
• Chronicle of Higher Education
• Professional Publications
• Online Announcements
• Personal Contacts
• Convention Placement Services (e.g. ASA Employment Service)

3. Decide Where to Apply

• Job Fit
  • Peterson’s/Barron’s
  • U.S. News & World Report Rankings
• Location and Community
  • Various “Quality of Life” Rankings
• College and Community Websites
• Short List

4. The Application Package

• The Cover Letter
• The Vita
• Letters of Recommendation
• Writing Samples, Teaching Portfolio, Research Statement, etc.

5. Tracking Your Applications

• Application Log
  • Know the job ad and what they are looking for
  • List contacts, dates of correspondence, etc.

• Pay Attention to Deadlines
• Email/mail Confirmations

6. Online Tools

• Online Discussion Board
  
• Sanitize Your Social Networking Sites

7. Be Ready

• Know Something about the School and Department in Case They Call
  • Be ready to discuss your academic training and teaching areas
  • Be ready to discuss your research and dissertation topic (3-sentence/ 1-paragraph/ and 5-minute versions)

• Putting together your teaching package
  • Know the textbooks in your field
  • Prepare sample syllabi
  • Prepare a sample (generic) lecture, activity/discussion protocol

• Putting together your job talk
  • Prepare a generic presentation, based on your research
  • Rehearsal as often as you can