AAA #2: More Thoughts for the Application Stage of the Academic Job Search

It's...been over two months since I last wrote a post?! Well, I suppose I can pretend like I'd been actually "working" that whole time...

As we get closer to the early-ish deadlines for humanities jobs, I realized that I hadn't written about two specific documents that are (often) a part of the application packet submitted for job calls: the cover letter and the teaching statement.

These are, as always, my personal opinions—so do disregard what seems inappropriate for you or the jobs for which you are applying. I'll have more thoughts later about phone interviews and campus visits—which you will be offered if you do your due diligence, present yourself as fitting the position, and also have a heavy sprinkle of luck!


Cover Letter

1. Spell check—Run that spell check (or rely on your good ol' self)! This includes our names—our university name, our (CORRECT) department name, and any faculty names you are referencing.
2. Cut—Your letter should be two single-spaced pages, max. I'm sure you have all sorts of wonderful things to say about yourself—but really, two pages with 1–1.5" margins should be more than enough. If we want to know more, we can hear more during your interview.
3. Be humble—As a part of a search committee, I evaluate letters not on how brilliant you make yourself sound, but rather how clearly you communicate your strengths and accomplishments as a teacher, scholar, and community member. I want strength, not highfalutinness.
4. Have some perspective—In considering our scholarship, we learn to place ourselves within a larger intellectual conversation. And we should know that, because we as individuals are unique, the scholarship we produce must also be unique. At the same time, whatever you're doing, someone else is also doing (or has done, or will do). Respect the community and the giants of the past, but also recognize that the goal is to contribute to, and become a part of, such a larger scholarly community—including the one at the department to which you are applying. 

If you convey in your letter that you are a grounded teacher and scholar who can make the department a richer place than you found it, then I would love to hear more about you!


Teaching Statement

1. Write and circulate—Like anything else, your teaching statement benefits from getting one or two pairs of eyes (aside from yours) to read it and comment on it. I hope that people have had a chance to use resources like Center for Teaching Development on their campus to write and revise their teaching statements. If you had to go it alone (like I did), then it's even more the case that sharing your work can yield a better document. Just be sure to return the favor of giving feedback!
2. Consider your philosophy—I read somewhere that the teaching statement is something that you write one of and use for all your applications, with only minor tweaks. That makes sense—it's not like your teaching philosophy changes just because you're applying to different departments. At the same time, the teaching philosophy that emerges in the process of writing the teaching statement might clue you in to the kinds of jobs you're interested in pursuing. Of course, your teaching statement should indicate that you're able to teach at many different types of institutions—research-oriented, teaching-oriented, small liberal arts, etc. At the same time, if you find that the teacher-scholar that emerges in your philosophy is suited more toward certain kinds of campuses, you might give yourself the option of targeting your applications toward jobs at such campuses. After all, if you find that you're leaning heavily toward certain types of institutions, your reviewers will also pick up on that too. 

(How strange that I didn't have any thoughts about the research statement... Hmm.)