Kelli Coleman and Kellyn Johnson, graduate students in the Theater and Dance department, received funding from the Graduate Division (see article) to bring alumni Dr. Anne García-Romero back to campus for a day of professional development.
Anne García-Romero graduated from UCSB in 2009 with a Ph.D. in Theater Studies. She spent six years at UCSB as a student and adjunct faculty member before receiving a Moreau Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Notre Dame. Dr. García-Romero is now an Assistant Professor in the Film, Television, and Theater Department at the University of Notre Dame.
Kelli and Kellyn organized a full day of professional development for their Theater and Dance colleagues. The day started with a packed morning session where Dr. García-Romero described her experience applying to faculty positions, writing a CV and teaching philosophy, preparing for phone/Skype interviews, participating in campus visits, and applying to post-docs. The afternoon sessions included interview workshops, mock interviews, and faculty feedback with Theater and Dance faculty members Dr. Leo Cabranes-Grant and Dr. Suk-Young Kim.
I had the opportunity to sit in on the morning session and learn from Dr. García-Romero and the Theater and Dance graduate students. Here is what I learned:
Applying to Jobs
Start applying to jobs when you are ABD. Many universities want you to have your dissertation finished before they hire you. However, applying early is a useful exercise because you will get to learn the steps of the process and you will have a chance to revise and prepare the materials you submit.
Cover Letters
Cover letters are the first thing employers read. According to Dr. García-Romero, it is “critical that cover letters are detailed and that they fully reflect who you are.” Outline your teaching philosophy, CV, and experience in your cover letter. It can be helpful to make a modulate cover letter with all of your experiences and use the modules (paragraphs) that apply to each particular job.
The cover letter is a formal business letter (no indentations, address at top), but this does not mean you have to be boring. Be enthusiastic, positive, confident, clear, and express a strong interest in the position. Also, don’t just focus on the past, look to the future and what you hope to accomplish with your research or in the position. If ABD, include how many chapters of the dissertation you’ve completed; and, if applicable, mention that your research is groundbreaking.
Teaching Philosophy
Many university positions require that you submit a Teaching Philosophy when you apply. This document should include your overall view of how learning works and what you are like as a teacher (how you organize your ideas in a classroom, how you engage students in learning). Depending on your field, you may want to include practical examples of teaching exercises you do with your students, your theory about pedagogy/epistemology, or both.
Online Portfolio
Dr. García-Romero recommends that students build a website to promote their work and have a central place for information. You can use your website to let people know what you do. You can highlight research, projects, publications, and teaching experience. Make sure to include your online portfolio URL on your cover letter and CV.
CVs
Make sure to update and maintain your CV throughout your graduate career. Dr. García-Romero handed out a copy of her CV (based on a model CV she received from her classmate at UCSB, Dr. Judy Bauerlein, Assistant Professor of Theater at Cal State San Marcos) and recommended the following:
Current Position
- Include your current position (TA, adjunct, lecturer, Ph.D. Candidate, ABD) at the top of your CV.
Education
- List your degree and emphasis
- Instead of writing “Ph.D. Student,” consider writing “ABD Doctoral Candidate” because writing “Ph.D. in xyz … anticipated graduation date” or “Ph.D. student” may make it appear as though you already have your Ph.D.
- Include classes you’ve taken to show classes that you could potentially teach.
- Include the faculty you have studied with for your Ph.D. and M.A./M.S.
- Areas of specialization
Teaching Experience
- Where you taught, course name, when you taught, and how long (1 quarter, 2 semesters)
- It is OK to include a Readership position, but try to rephrase what you did to highlight your teaching experience.
Publications
- Include academic and non-academic works (book/show review, blogging, writing for a website, plays)
Fellowships, Grants & Awards
Professional Experience
- List your practice in this section
Invited Lectures/Workshops
- If you are asked to speak somewhere, include that event in this section.
Conferences
- Include conferences you’ve attended and whether you participated on a panel, presented, or had any other relevant experience.
Professional Activities & Services
- Include any panels or selection committees you’ve sat on or peer-reviewing experience you have for a journal.
Membership & Organizations
- List all organizations you have been or are currently a member of.
References & Contact Information
Keep your CV clean and easy to read (use indentations). Be consistent with font types and sizes. Adding some white space helps. Also, it can be helpful to create a CV with everything and then cut out the sections that are not relevant to the job you are applying to. You may need to rearrange your CV based on where you apply (if you are applying to a Tier 1 research university, you may want to move the Publications section toward the top).
Letters of Recommendation
You will need at least three letters of recommendation. One should be from your dissertation advisor. The two other letters should be from people who can speak to your work in a specific way (faculty, professional colleagues, a professor you’ve taught with). Make sure to ask for your letter of recommendation a few months in advance. Follow up with the individuals you ask to make sure they will have the letters done when you need them. Also, consider using the Career Services Reference Letter Service or Interfolio to collect and maintain your letters of recommendation. You will need to keep a current letter in your file every year so you can either ask your recommenders to add/revise your entire letter or you can ask that they just change the date at the top of the letter.
Overall Process
Apply to all the positions you are qualified for. Network with your colleagues and share information. Be persistent. Be patient. Trust in the process. Breathe.