201
votes
Accepted
Gender transition as a starting faculty member: a terrible idea?
How infeasible is transitioning as an early-career faculty member?
I transitioned as a postdoc back in 2013, so I did it. Whether or not it's a terrible idea depends on many factors, and just plain ...
- 9,911
150
votes
What should I do if I discover the job posted at the institution for which I had submitted my CV but they didn't contact me?
You are assuming a degree of organization that most institutions just do not have. You lose nothing by formally applying to the new position.
- 5,238
92
votes
Accepted
My interview went well but at the end the interviewer said "All the best for your future endeavours". What does it mean?
It doesn't mean anything, it's just a pleasant remark.
When you are accepted or rejected for the job, you will be notified formally, not by vague remarks at the end of an interview. In the meantime, ...
- 132k
91
votes
Any good way to tell a faculty candidate "We don't want you"?
Getting a rejection sucks. There is not much you can do about it. My wife and I have talked about this a lot and as candidates the only thing we wanted to know was how close we were and how we stacked ...
- 104k
70
votes
Accepted
Include a mistake that cost extra when asking for reimbursement after faculty interview?
Assuming they liked your presentation, and consider putting you on the shortlist, but are not sure at which position compared to some other candidate; now, reflect, which impression this makes.
You ...
- 46.6k
69
votes
How to answer 'Is your research going to be in biology text books one day?' question during faculty interview?
The question is clearly not please accurately predict whether your research will be mentioned in standard graduate texts for biology students in the year 2050.
Rather, the question is presumably I am ...
- 9,048
67
votes
Accepted
Backing down from a faculty position. Future career problems?
I suggest contacting the department that hired you (the department chair and/or a few colleagues you trust) and explaining the problem. If it is a good university in a developed country, it is almost ...
- 184k
67
votes
Accepted
Writing a letter of recommendation for a faculty colleague I cannot highly recommend
There is quite a bit going on here.
First things first: you seem to suggest that it is a code of honor among academics to never write a weak or negative recommendation letter or to omit all weak ...
- 130k
62
votes
Accepted
How to politely turn down an on-site faculty interview offer
Dear [name of person you were communicating with],
I have an update about my job search. Since we last talked I‘ve received a tenure track job offer from another institution, and have accepted it. ...
- 184k
59
votes
How to deal with unavoidable failure in my first year of tenure-track applications?
I suggest dealing with the situation by revising your (misguided, IMO) definition of “failure”. Even if it is, as you say, “ineluctable”, that you will fail to land a tenure-track position this year, ...
- 184k
56
votes
Accepted
What should I do if I discover the job posted at the institution for which I had submitted my CV but they didn't contact me?
Apply!
“We will save your CV in case of new openings” is mostly meaningless HR phraseology meant to reduce the sting of rejection, not only at universities but across industries. In general, employers ...
- 135k
56
votes
Is it appropriate to ask an interviewing institution to reimburse nonrefundable hotel costs after flight cancellation?
I think it is your responsibility to try to get any possible refund for the hotel (that is, contact the hotel and discuss your circumstances, even if their cancellation policy would seem to not allow ...
- 104k
51
votes
Gender transition as a starting faculty member: a terrible idea?
Rebecca Stones has already given a great answer that got my upvote. But allow me to offer some personal perspective based on my experience here in US.
I transitioned about 20 years ago. The world ...
- 30.9k
51
votes
Should I apply to an academic tenure-track job even if I am not a 100% fit?
Not applying is suboptimal and self defeating. It is the university that you apply to that makes the determination of your "fit". They know things that you don't and there may be factors ...
- 344k
49
votes
How should I approach job materials for a lateral move entirely for two-body reasons?
I would tell it like it is: You have a two-body problem and a 2.5-hour commute that you need to solve. As soon as you say those words, everyone will understand.
- 30.9k
48
votes
Backing out of a signed tenure track offer due to changing legislation that alters tenure and abolishes DEI
I'd guess that the administration will sympathize with you. There should be no problems withdrawing, especially if you point out your reasons. A tenure track position is supposed to lead to tenure and ...
- 344k
44
votes
How to answer the diversity question during faculty interview
It's not "delivering a winning answer", any more than "delivering a winning answer" would make sense when talking about teaching and/or research and/or mentoring.
That is, the question should be ...
- 86.4k
42
votes
How to handle sexist questions toward a faculty job candidate by other undergraduates?
There are two issues at play here depending on if you are formally part of the hiring process.
If you are formally part of the hiring processing asking questions about the family life of a job ...
- 104k
42
votes
How to answer the diversity question during faculty interview
If you do not toe the line, you will not be admitted. Understand that the above question is to weed-out individuals who do not lean as those in power lean.
Students and faculty who do not "see" the ...
- 695
40
votes
Can I back out a tenure track faculty offer?
There's no way to do this gracefully. You call school A and tell them that you will not be joining them after all. Afterwards you deal with the fallout.
Before doing so you may want to estimate ...
- 5,335
39
votes
Answer to "Will you be able to provide proof of your identity and employment eligibility if you are hired"?
Unless you're already eligible to work in the US (e.g. as a permanent resident), you'll have to answer the second question with a "no."
The three aspects of US employment/immigration law that you ...
- 36.5k
38
votes
Is TA-ing worth the opportunity cost (of having more time for research)?
Most people who TA don't have an option as it is what pays the bills and allows them to study. It is less valuable if you can pay your own way.
But it isn't entirely without value. I once held a ...
- 344k
38
votes
Upon my request prior to a faculty application in France, I was invited to give a talk. Should I travel at their expense or better give it online?
I see no reason not to travel, ahead of making a decision, to a place where you might decide to live and work for decades.
An on-site visit will reveal so much more about the collegiality of the work ...
- 26.9k
37
votes
Accepted
Asking if the position is tenure-track.
In many cases, they might think it is clear from the job title. In the US, job titles with the words "Lecturer", "Instructor", "Adjunct", "Visiting", "Clinical" are almost always non-tenure-track.
...
- 132k
37
votes
Is it appropriate for a PI to appoint someone who is a family member?
The rules differ from country to country, university to university, and department to department.
On a practical note, I would not want to be in a supervisory role towards a family member. In that ...
- 41.8k
36
votes
Should I use equations in a research statement for faculty positions?
You are asking the wrong question. The right question you should be asking yourself is "How do I best explain what I want to say, to the audience I have identified for the thing I'm writing"....
- 90.4k
34
votes
Accepted
Is it bad to apply for a job immediately after it was posted?
I don't know how mathjob distributes candidates' applications to schools, but I doubt anyone cares. I put all applications I get for my job postings into a folder in no particular order and never look ...
- 48.6k
34
votes
Accepted
How to screen out candidates for faculty jobs who don't know the subject
Presumably your interview is doing a good job screening out the individuals who you feel "don't know the subject" and you are trying to screen them out prior to the interview. I think a reasonable ...
- 104k
34
votes
How to answer the diversity question during faculty interview
On several occasions of my first-round faculty interview, I was asked about the diversity questions, such as:
"How do you work with diverse students?"
"How do you contribute to the ...
- 5,616
34
votes
Can I back out a tenure track faculty offer?
I would tread very lightly here, and perhaps consult a lawyer.
If this is in the US then many states have “At Will” employment clauses - you can’t be forced to take a job you don’t want, and an ...
- 27.1k
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