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July 21, 2009, 11:00 AM ET
Educating Applicants
Over the years I've been shocked at the demands that some applicants have inserted in their cover letters. I've seen people with little higher education experience demand senior faculty rank, I've grimaced at salary expectations that were completely unrealistic, I've flinched at presumptions about outlandish teaching loads, and I've chuckled aloud at demands for benefits that would make a corporate executive flinch.
What strikes me about such demands is not really the boldness of the assertions but rather the depth of professional ignorance that was demonstrated. I suppose that each of us has stories about our own ignorance in a previous job search, but most of us have learned the ropes, at least through trial and error.
Here's what I'm wondering, though: How can we better educate folks about the realities, the proprieties, and even the basic terminologies of our profession? What resources have helped you as you have entered into academe or advanced in your field?
Comments
1. dano64 - July 25, 2009 at 03:55 pm
Is it possible that these demands come from the philosophy of bidding higher than what is desired? For xample, if I want $45k annually, perhaps I should bid $55K to see if I get it? In Silicon Valley in the 1980s, I was encouraged to do this, even if the job was a low-end admin-type job.
2. jruiz - July 28, 2009 at 08:09 am
"I've seen people with little higher education experience demand senior faculty rank" I've seen job descriptions for one-year VAPs that read like a full professor is being sought. It works both ways.
3. szakin - July 30, 2009 at 10:34 pm
That's surprising. Don't most people know that this is a courtship, not an assault? On the other hand, every interview I've had in academia (including one that resulted in a job) struck me as stunningly magisterial and one-sided. Professors and particularly department heads adopt a magisterial tone that makes me want to run in the other direction. You guys need to watch that. It's rarely merited by professional achievements that would be recognized as significant by any objective measure.
4. szakin - July 30, 2009 at 10:35 pm
That's surprising. Don't most people know that this is a courtship, not an assault? On the other hand, every interview I've had in academia (including one that resulted in a job) struck me as stunningly magisterial and one-sided. Professors and particularly department heads adopt a magisterial tone that makes me want to run in the other direction. You guys need to watch that. It's rarely merited by professional achievements that would be recognized as significant by any objective measure.
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