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[skinnymargarita]

My mother asked my wife last night about what kind of second career she think's I'd do well in. My wife "lovingly" responded, "I'm still waiting for his first one."

Nice!

[quack]

I would like to add one thing to your list about the resume and cover letter.  I am an instructor at a community college and have been on several search committees.  I want so badly to grade some resumes and cover letters and send them back to the applicants.  In these tough economic times, every applicant needs to send out excellent resumes.

I have one right now and the applicant used a bizarre stick-like font in 14 point type.  Her cover letter looks like she may have used several different fonts.  I know she may have been trying to send the message that she is creative, but the message I get is "frivolous."

I have another cover letter that is two pages long and the applicant adds every detail of her life, including the fact that she has very little experience with construction equipment.  (Not exactly a skill we're looking for in an English teacher.)

At the opposite extreme I have a resume from a young man that tells which jobs he has had, but list no skills gained in those jobs nor his position at those jobs.  He lists three references with nothing but a name and phone number.

There is a wealth of information on the internet and in Tech Writing and Business Communication textbooks on how to write good resumes. I would like to remind people, to please please make use of those resources and work on that resume and cover letter.

Chime. And show a mentor or three.

[skinnymargarita]

  I want so badly to grade some resumes and cover letters and send them back to the applicants. 

Chime. And show a mentor or three.

You know, I would never intentionally send a cover letter with non-essential information, but I have re-read letters that I sent and found a typo - and I truly re-read my stuff multiple times and have spouse and daughter read them as well. Sometimes these things happen, to my shame of course. Who knows if that would cost me a job!

My question is - would you totally write off an applicant based on 1 typo on a letter? I would have said yes, but I wonder if I can do it so can someone else. I really do go over my letters with a fine-tooth comb. I can not imagine how I missed it. I also have the academic job search handbook, which I used to help me write the letter. I think it was a very wise investment!

Cheers!

[pink_]

You know, I would never intentionally send a cover letter with non-essential information, but I have re-read letters that I sent and found a typo - and I truly re-read my stuff multiple times and have spouse and daughter read them as well. Sometimes these things happen, to my shame of course. Who knows if that would cost me a job!

My question is - would you totally write off an applicant based on 1 typo on a letter? I would have said yes, but I wonder if I can do it so can someone else. I really do go over my letters with a fine-tooth comb. I can not imagine how I missed it. I also have the academic job search handbook, which I used to help me write the letter. I think it was a very wise investment!

Cheers!

Typically, if there is one typo, it's not a big deal--a SC might not notice, or if they do, they might not care.  If there are multiple errors however, especially in this tight market, then it could be a problem.

When I was on the market a few years ago, one of my early letters stated that I was applying for "assistant of basketweaving" instead of "assistant professor of basketweaving."  Oops.  Of course, I caught the mistake when I returned to my office from the post office, after mailing the application.  I figured that that job was DOA and just was glad that at least I had only made the mistake the one time.  But I did end up getting called for an interview, so you never know.

[niceguyjin]

I posted this in the meet n greet / "Welcome to the Fora" section but I thought this would be appropriate.

I'm currently unemployed and finishing my master's degree in International Education. I focus on studying abroad and international student advising. It has been a stressful time for me. I struggled with the transition of being a college student to working at a college. I had a practicum/job at a liberal arts school that lasted for a year. It wasn't the best experience but it was experience.

In this American economy, I've been struggling to find a job and I'm getting more frustrated each day I get rejection emails. I don't understand why someone who is in the middle of completing their master's degree is less qualified than someone who is done? Also where the heck are the entry-level jobs? How am I suppose to get experience if no one will hire me because I don't have the experience?

Many job postings out there require that you have knowledge of SEVIS. That is fine but there is no way to get that experience if you haven't seen the actual program at the school and the DSO (Designated School Official) allows you.

I was hopeful, though, for a job that I applied for. I had an 80 min phone interview and the school brought me to campus for a full day of interviews, showing me around town, and a small presentation. However, I received a rejection letter in the mail telling me that they moved people internally to fill in the position. Why would they have me jump through all these hoops and then say no?

[mad_doctor]

I'm new to this group - thanks for maintaining such a fine site.

I saw the thread topic and felt the urge to vent a little. Perhaps some will be constructive, even if only for me...

First of all, thankfully I was able to get another job after losing the one I secured less than a year ago, presumably on account of the economy.  Secondly, I wonder if university admins make personnel decisions on merit anymore, or simply on the needs of their personal expense accounts.  After arriving in my new position last August, I published two articles this year, have one accepted for Winter 2008-2009, and another conditionally accepted for 2010.  I have excellent teaching evals, and a solid service record.  Of course, with these credentials, when I interviewed for this position last year the Dean and Provost were beside themselves to do everything in their power to recruit me.  All that changed once they felt the pinch of the economy.  Aren't they supposed to pre-approve budget lines for tenure-track faculty, and aren't we supposed to get at least one year to find another job?  I know tenure-track faculty are technically "at-will" employees, but I suppose I am a little put off by how openly modern university admins dismiss the protocols of our profession whenever it suits them to do so.  I can't count how many times I have heard a Dean openly speak of all the non-merit-based criteria considered in his decision, or then terminate faculty who play by the rules (pubs, good teaching, etc), usually with some lame excuse about "poor fit" (meaning poor fit with the admin, not the faculty). 

This is now the third time in twelve years I have had to find another job for reasons having nothing to do with merit (never been denied tenure).  I'm doing some serious thinking about whether I will remain in the academic profession, or seek a career path elsewhere.  I just don't know if the kind of jobs that attracted me to the profession even exist anymore.

[madhatter]

Welcome, mad_doctor! I'm pretty sure that Dr Evil and I did not have a love child, yet here you are...

[mad_doctor]

Welcome, mad_doctor! I'm pretty sure that Dr Evil and I did not have a love child, yet here you are...

Now there's a thought - what would the love child of Dr. Evil and the madhatter be like?  Perhaps something like me?  True, I'm mad, and I'm bad, but there's so much more to me...

[madhatter]

Congratulations on finding work as a spammer!

[alleyoxenfree]

mad_doc, your point is well-taken.  It becomes even more bizarre when observed at universities with lofty social goals or better yet, religious affiliations.  I've seen religious colleges cut lecturers in exchange for cutting deals with the dean to get other funding for tt faculty - lecturers who already had families and rent payments based on existing contracts.  Most contracts have language like "unless funding doesn't exist" and it's truly awe-inspiring the way colleges can make funding evaporate from one column and appear in another, and the people it affects be damned. It's sobering and sad and it's hard to know what the answer is - although it's hard to see whether this would be different in another industry. 

[alleyoxenfree]

Does anyone have a recommendation for a truly comfortable computer mouse?

Thanks for a relatively new and expensive mouse, I seem to be developing my first-ever case of hand fatigue and fingertip pain.  I think it forces me to click at a weird angle and with a lot of pressure.  There's no escaping all the letters and CVs to be churned out still.  So as to avoid carpal tunnel, can anyone make a suggestion of a mouse they love?    I'm working on a mac.

[wild_rose]

Does anyone have a recommendation for a truly comfortable computer mouse?

If you find something good, please let us know. I get "mouse shoulder" because the ergonomics at my desk and chair are nonexistant. My wrist hurts but the shoulder really throbs, sometimes spreading to my neck and ending in a tension headache.

Right now I just have a plain old Logitec two-button-and-a-wheel mouse (I love the wheel). Optical rather than trackball.

[alleyoxenfree]

I have a Logitech too and am starting to wonder.  It might be sheer overuse, although I don't know what I can do about that in writing and jobhunting season.  I find myself using my third finger to click, crossing it over the ball.  Or trying to be sure I click with my finger muscles rather than the fingertip.  Or using the trackpad on my laptop.  I think I just need a mouse in a different shape so perhaps I could alternate them, like shoes.  I'm definitely doing a lot of stretching and massaging my hand.  It's just puzzling because this has never happened, and I've spent a damn lot of my life on the computer and quality time with the mouse.

[mad_doctor]

mad_doc, your point is well-taken.  It becomes even more bizarre when observed at universities with lofty social goals or better yet, religious affiliations.  I've seen religious colleges cut lecturers in exchange for cutting deals with the dean to get other funding for tt faculty - lecturers who already had families and rent payments based on existing contracts.  Most contracts have language like "unless funding doesn't exist" and it's truly awe-inspiring the way colleges can make funding evaporate from one column and appear in another, and the people it affects be damned. It's sobering and sad and it's hard to know what the answer is - although it's hard to see whether this would be different in another industry. 

D@mn, that's cold, alleyoxenfree.

[mad_doctor]

Does anyone have a recommendation for a truly comfortable computer mouse?

Thanks for a relatively new and expensive mouse, I seem to be developing my first-ever case of hand fatigue and fingertip pain.  I think it forces me to click at a weird angle and with a lot of pressure.  There's no escaping all the letters and CVs to be churned out still.  So as to avoid carpal tunnel, can anyone make a suggestion of a mouse they love?    I'm working on a mac.

Stay away from the ones that have buttons on the sides - you inadvertently click them whenever you grab the mouse.