Not long ago, I was handed a file that included a faculty application from about 1970. What was fascinating was to see how it has changed since then. My favorite line was the one with “height” and “weight.” I actually laughed out loud when I read that.
As I pondered the application form, I also remembered something one of my doctoral professors told me about generating my CV. “Try to find a way to make your personality stand out: Include something interesting or distinctive, perhaps in your ‘Interests’ section, at the end. Everyone says ‘film, reading, and travel,’ so avoid those. I personally like to see something about baseball in that spot.”
I thought this was a little odd—until I’d sat on enough search committees to hear the utter joy at seeing “gourmet cooking” listed as an interest. I thought one colleague would actually burst into tears at a résumé that mentioned “prolific pastry baking.” I have indeed heard baseball mentioned. And “certified welder” was a big discussion generator. Of course, those distinctionss can cut the other way as well; some candidates would be better served leaving a bit of mystery about their pastimes.
Should we include a line on faculty applications that says, “Tell us something interesting about yourself?” What advice do you have for applicants who wish to stand out from the crowd without veering into “odd duck” territory?
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12 Responses to On Being Distinctive
jkarlin - September 27, 2010 at 6:30 pm
Non-research or -teaching interests on a CV used in a faculty job application? Is this one of those field-by-field differences? In my field, including on your CV such interests would set you apart, but not in a good way.
quidditas - September 28, 2010 at 10:34 am
“My favorite line was the one with “height” and “weight.” I actually laughed out loud when I read that.”Don’t be laughing. With the rising cost of corporate health insurance, employers will soon seek legal cover(do they even need to bother? Don’t they do this now?) to rationalize hiring decisions based on just such metrics. I’m certain it’s done all over your institution where you don’t see it.”Non-research or -teaching interests on a CV used in a faculty job application? Is this one of those field-by-field differences? In my field, including on your CV such interests would set you apart, but not in a good way.”I agree. We want people who have never done anything other than go to school, do research, and travel or do coporate funded foundation based charity work in the summer. Don’t even try to chart a different path. If you did so through necessity, you’re just not a serious person.
shushufindi - September 28, 2010 at 11:33 am
I have to agree with jkarlin’s comment. I think a “personal interests” section on a CV could be seen as unprofessional.
snwiedmann - September 28, 2010 at 8:41 pm
jkarlin got it right.
aprilmay - September 29, 2010 at 6:20 pm
jarklin is right. I find it hard to believe any search committee is really wasting time discussing the applicant’s hobbies. It’s also hard to believe applicants are that unprofessional. I’ve been on many search committees, and we discuss the applicant in relation to the position, not whether they are a good cook or love to play soccer. In response to quidditas sarcasm (“We want people who have never done anything other than go to school, do research, and travel or do coporate funded foundation based charity work in the summer.”), nobody is saying you can’t have an outside life. We’re suggesting that your personal life doesn’t belong on the CV because it’s not part of the hiring decision. I don’t care about your favorite band or TV show, either. This isn’t online dating.
jarvis - September 30, 2010 at 12:48 pm
I think this discussion reveals one of the fundamental flaws in the hiring process; and potentially one of the most frustrating aspects of the job search for candidates. I just landed a tenure track position this year, thankfully after only one season on the market. I contanstly asked for comments from my mentors, read advice columns like this one, and had peers send me their successful cover letters, etc. All of that was tremendously helpful, but in truth, I constantly received conflicting advice: Yes, send a cover letter on letterhead; no, letterhead is dishonest if you are just a student….Yes, a cover letter should only be 1 page; no, always 2 pages…Yes, say something about your interests; no, never say anything like that….The job search is really, truly a mystery. While helpful to get advice (there do seem to be some important norms one should follow in general) the eventual decision will probably come down to things that are completely unexpected or unintended. I was told that they liked me at my university because while teaching as an adjunct I drove an hour to and from where my course was held. This apparently showed commitment to teaching according to them; they looked at where I lived compared to where I taught and discovered that a commute was involved. I didn’t highlight that fact in my cover letter.So, really, the truth might be that some search committees will never take “personal interests” into account, while others might, especially if flooded with 100-200 applications that look relatively similar. It seems that candidates would do well to get the “basics” accross (publishing, teaching experience, job fit). Spend 95% of your time on delivering those pieces of information as succintly, smartly, and elequently as possible. Everything else is up to the whims of clio.
mchag12 - September 30, 2010 at 1:49 pm
THey told me they liked me because I was wearing a suit and I looked like all I wanted to do was get out of it.
mchag12 - September 30, 2010 at 1:51 pm
Do you think they would mind if I told them that academia has taught me that my best friends are my cats?
depakartso - October 1, 2010 at 9:21 am
Asking for personal interests could be a minefield from the HR point of view. Questions are supposed to have something to do with job-related abilities. If you got into a hot discussion of pastry baking at an interview, and subsequently didn’t hire the person, they might wind up claiming discrimination based on sex stereotyping (far fetched, but not utterly out of the question in the current hiring environment).
kathrynsimon - October 5, 2010 at 7:57 am
Has anyone discovered the best format for one’s CV? I have used several and never quite know. I have so much professional experience which is the foundation for teaching. I have been adjunct for 13 years, same university / design school, and realized that going from adjunct to full time will not happen there despite accomplishments. I have been looking for a full time position in a university with a design school (similar to the one I teach in now). In the past 8 I hve been earning degrees to make teaching possible, now ABD. Pls suggest.
ccchron - October 9, 2010 at 5:56 pm
10. kathryn – there are many articles about CV format elsewhere on this site. Search “CV doctor.” Also see the discussion forums.
crandavj - October 12, 2010 at 1:21 pm
Years ago when I was applying for administrative college positions I was told that if I was called for an interview, that meant the college was convinced I could do the job. The purpose of the interview was to find out who I was as a person. If that is correct advice, then candidates including something about their personal interests may be on to a good thing. Currently, as a faculty member who has served on several search committees, I do know that we still are looking to find who the candidates are as people, even if we don’t really care about their non-professional interests.