How to Get an Academic Job

“Here’s everything you need to know about finding a tenure-track position.”

“The end of the graduate-school gauntlet is in sight. You’ve completed your coursework, passed your comprehensive exams, gotten your dissertation proposal approved, and already written several chapters. But now comes one more hurdle, which might feel more daunting than all the others: the academic job market.

If you’re not sure where to begin or are feeling overwhelmed, you’re not alone. We have written this guide to help you navigate these choppy waters, and we hope you will return to it as a resource throughout your search this year and in searches to come. Going on the academic job market requires a team of people who will support you, personally and professionally, and we hope to be part of yours.”

Chapters:

  • The Job Search: Before You Apply
  • The Job Search: CVs, Cover Letters, and Other Application Documents
  • The Job Search: How to Manage Your Applications
  • The Job Search: The Interview Stage
  • The Job Search: Negotiating an Offer and Starting to Work

Read more in How to Get an Academic Job in the Chronicle of Higher Education by Jennifer S. Furlong and Stacy M. Hartman

And remember, Harvard students have access to all of the Chronicle of Higher Education‘s articles and other resources. Access Harvard’s site license through HOLLIS.

Cartoon graphic of a student standing on a giant book looking across campus at a university building.
By Laura Stark
Laura Stark Associate Director: Academic Careers & Pursuing the PhD