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[tinyboss]

I'm a first-semester graduate student, and I'm applying for a position as an adjunct instructor at a nearby community college.  Although I have a bachelor's degree in the field, which is the only stated requirement, I'm keenly aware of my thin resume.  My teaching experience is limited to tutoring and one TA-like job (for one section during a single semester) at another CC.  I don't even TA in my new program because I'm on fellowship. 

I am very excited about teaching, and my goal has always been not just to study <field>, but to teach it.  I'd really like to land this job.  Can anyone suggest things I should highlight or avoid in my cover letter, resume, and application to make it more likely that I'm considered for the position?

Thanks!

[bread_pirate_naan]

Ask your advisor and/or DGS about instructor of record opportunities down the line at your university.  Be a student and learn the game, because this set of conditions and goals,

I'm a first-semester graduate student
I'm applying for a position as an adjunct instructor
I don't even TA in my new program because I'm on fellowship. 

doesn't make you look smart.  The reason that you have a fellowship is so you can be a full-time student/scholar.

Can anyone suggest things I should highlight or avoid

Avoid this course of action and don't let news of this harebrained scheme get out in your department.

[systeme_d_]

Oh my, I wholeheartedly agree with BPN.

A first-semester grad student should absolutely not be adjuncting.  It is likely that your fellowship specifically prohibits this, in fact.  Mine sure did.

If your fellowship does not prohibit outside employment, wait at the very least until you are finished with coursework. Preferably comps.

And teaching inside the department at your own university, as BPN notes, would be a much preferable way to begin teaching -- in a few years.  You'll have some oversight from your department then.  Do not try to inflict yourself on the local CC until you have some experience.

[neutralname]

I was going to say that you are not ready to be teaching yet, but then I thought back and realized that some grad students do teach in their first year.  It seems like a bad idea to me now, but some places do do it.  Send out your CV and see what responses you get.  Don't send it to mine -- we require our adjuncts to have master's degrees.

[madhatter]

I was going to say that you are not ready to be teaching yet, but then I thought back and realized that some grad students do teach in their first year. 

<shrug> I can beat that. I was a TA when I was a senior. It was a special circumstance, though.

[sibyl]

While there are exceptions, as people have noted, on the whole first-year grad students do not get adjunct gigs.  In part this is because such jobs are very competitive -- there are hundreds of people looking for adjunct positions, most of whom will have more experience and training than you.  In part this is because it hurts your development as a scholar and teacher; teaching takes far more time than anyone anticipates, especially at the beginning.  In general, first-year students don't know enough to teach and don't know how to make sense of the learning experiences (i.e. mistakes) that they make early on.  Also, you won't have good mentoring. 

Most graduate programs provide teaching experiences in the form of TAships and the like, which are not only easier to manage but also come with mentoring built in.

You have nothing to lose by applying, I suppose, but you probably won't get it.  Honestly, you will have plenty of opportunities to teach later on.  Good luck.

[seniorscholar]

All of our graduate students are required to register for a once-a-week workshop on teaching during their first year as a TA. Generally, our fellowship students have at least one year of TA experience built into the  their fellowship funding. Those who have high-prestige outside fellowships arrange with the DGS and their supervisor to teach at least one semester, and to attend the workshop at the same time. See, for people who are going to be working as a teacher and researcher, we feel it's important to have (1) some teaching experience and (2) some experienced and qualified help from faculty and fellow grad students about what works in the classroom, how to deal with problems, and so forth.

As others have said, talk to your DGS about the appropriate way to get teaching experience.

[higherandhigher]

If you're on fellowship, your program is almost certainly expecting you not to take on outside employment (whether or not you signed anything to that nature). There are sometimes exceptions for unique circumstances, but it is not good if your Advisor/DGS/Chair/Dean finds out about an "unauthorized" adjunct gig after-the-fact. Don't burn bridges at this stage in your program, so ask first. This is not a case where you want to beg for forgiveness after-the-fact.

[atalanta]

I was going to say that you are not ready to be teaching yet, but then I thought back and realized that some grad students do teach in their first year. 

<shrug> I can beat that. I was a TA when I was a senior. It was a special circumstance, though.

The OP wants to TEACH, as instructor of record. Not serve as a teaching assistant (which any grad student, and many advanced undergrads, can do).

And I do agree with the advice given by others above. If you have a fellowship, be a full-time grad student for at least a year. Wait until you are sure you understand your departmental culture (not to mention the rules and regulations that govern your fellowship) before you decide to try anything that appears to be unusual in your department.

[tinyboss]

I have decided to back off from this course of action, and consider whether to ask the DGS first or to abandon the idea completely.  Thanks for all the helpful posts, including the blunt ones.

[madhatter]

I was going to say that you are not ready to be teaching yet, but then I thought back and realized that some grad students do teach in their first year. 

<shrug> I can beat that. I was a TA when I was a senior. It was a special circumstance, though.

The OP wants to TEACH, as instructor of record. Not serve as a teaching assistant (which any grad student, and many advanced undergrads, can do).

Granted, but the TA title can cover a multitude of roles. I had my own course section to teach, lead discussions, and grade.

[bread_pirate_naan]

I was going to say that you are not ready to be teaching yet, but then I thought back and realized that some grad students do teach in their first year. 

<shrug> I can beat that. I was a TA when I was a senior. It was a special circumstance, though.

The OP wants to TEACH, as instructor of record. Not serve as a teaching assistant (which any grad student, and many advanced undergrads, can do).

Granted, but the TA title can cover a multitude of roles. I had my own course section to teach, lead discussions, and grade.

So did the OP of a thread so wrecky it produced three or four HOF postings.