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Preparing for the Job Search PDF Print E-mail
Article Index
Preparing for the Job Search
MLA Convention
Necessary Documents
The Documents in Detail
Some General Guidelines and Info
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This memo offers you a brief description of the academic job search, describes the documents you will need to prepare, and explains the services our departmental placement program can offer you. The information below is directed primarily to those searching for an academic position, but some of it will also be useful to those of you contemplating other kinds of careers. If you are constrained geographically, it is especially wise to consider the many jobs outside literature departments that allow you to build upon your education and expertise‑‑your skills in writing, research, teaching, and consulting. Salaries tend to be better than teaching salaries, job security may be less problematic than it can be in colleges and universities, and you often have more flexibility in choosing where you will live. It is also not unusual for Ph.D.s employed outside academia to continue engaging in productive scholarship, and to receive major national grants.

    Departments usually begin searching for candidates in the fall, although for various budgetary and administrative reasons the time at which they actually make offers and appointments may vary from December to spring or even summer. The MLA Job Information List, the most important source of information about jobs currently available, is published in October, December, February and April. The English Department will have current copies available for consultation, and students can access the Job Information List electronically (and for free!) through the Department's membership in the MLA. If you decide to join yourself, the $20 student membership fee provides six issues of PMLA (the September issue includes a Directory of members that also includes the addresses and telephone numbers of departments of English and the names of the department chairs), the Newsletter, and the Division Notes. All of these have valuable announcements about sessions, conferences, and meetings in which you might present a paper or chair a panel.


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