Comments | academics_anon: References for job apps

mummybeare in academics_anon

References for job apps

Mar 22, 2009 21:57

Hi folks ( Read more... )

Comments 8

doctorex March 22 2009, 22:48:22 UTC

Do you have training in socio-cultural theory? Courses in the field? If so, play it up. That's the best thing you can do for that.

new_kid16 March 22 2009, 23:03:42 UTC

I think it would be better to have 3 references from the same place who all know you and can speak well about your work, than to scramble to find someone else just because they're from a different place, who probably can't speak as well about your work.

As for the specialization, I would play up any experience that's relevant to the class(es) you'd actually be teaching, maybe?

Good luck!

mummybeare March 23 2009, 19:06:12 UTC

Thank you. That is definitely helpful.

(The comment has been removed)

mummybeare March 23 2009, 19:06:39 UTC

Thanks! Glad to know that other people have been through the same.

feministyogini March 23 2009, 04:26:09 UTC

Agreed on #1 - references that can speak to different parts of you (i.e. a teaching referenc, a research reference, etc) is probably better than trying to get people from different institutions

tyopsqueene March 23 2009, 13:34:15 UTC

1. Your PhD external examiner can be a reference; they're probably one of the few people who will ever read your PhD, after all!

2. If they've asked for outlines then the implication seems to be that these would be new courses (otherwise, why do they need a new outline from you if you're just filling in) and obviously you'd point out in your cover letter any current courses which you could teach or co-teach. But frankly, I'd ask them to clarify.

new_kid16 March 23 2009, 15:07:06 UTC

Well, in the US schools frequently want to see syllabi for courses that *are* already on the books; there is usually no set curriculum, so each instructor chooses how to teach the big intro survey or whatever. So they may well want to see how *you* will teach (whatever class it is you'd be filling in for). If the ad mentions specific courses you would teach, then I would send outlines (syllabi? are these the same thing?) for those courses. If it says something like "courses in specialty," then they might want to see new courses, or some of each.

mummybeare March 23 2009, 19:08:16 UTC

I haven't submitted my thesis yet - hopefully in the next few months though. The posting says that they'll consider ABD candidates, and by the time the job starts, I'll be done, just not graduated yet. But, at the moment there's no external to draw on.

I think I will ask them for clarification. Thanks for suggesting it.