Conduct An Effective Academic Job Search

Maximize your search for an academic position by developing effective job search skills and compelling job search documents for this competitive field. 

This section includes:                                                                         

• An overview of the academic job search process and links to job search resources such as manuals and video series 

• Information on creating a strong CV and cover letter 

• Materials on getting references and using dossier services  

• Resources to prepare for academic interviews 

• Tips on accepting a position  

Overview of Academic Job Search 

• An excellent series of short videos based on a presentation by Jan Nolan, Director of Faculty Renewal and Academic Leadership Initiatives, University of Victoria 

CVs  

• Consult our CVs for Graduate Students tip sheet with an outline on preparing a CV 

•  Academic CV Guidelines from Dr. Karen of the Professor is in 

Academic Cover Letters 

• A primer on academic cover letters 

• Sample Cover Letter For an Advertised Position from the Chronicle of Higher Education 

Academic References and Dossiers 

This section contains information on how to secure faculty/chair references when applying for academic-related work. Also, see previous sections on working with your supervisors and networking as references are based on relationship-building over the course of your graduate studies. 

• A great primer on academic reference letters and how to manage them 

• The basics on requesting a reference letter 

A dossier typically includes confidential materials such as letters of references and copies of transcripts, however, other ‘non-confidential’ material may also be required to augment your application package. Each school will have different requirements for their applications. Some will ask for a teaching dossier, which is a set of documents summarizing your teaching experiences and instructional accomplishments. Some institutions may ask for a research prospectus or a research dossier. If it is unclear what the search committee requires, ask your faculty mentors and referees or seek clarification with the search committee contact. 

Academic Interviews 

• Article on academic job interviews with an expert on academic job search 

• Preparing for Academic  Interviews: screening, conference and on-campus from University of Pennsylvania 

• University of Toronto’s Academic Administrative Procedures Manual. This is a guide for departments hiring for academic positions. Gain insights into how hiring is done at U of T and possibly other universities.  

• How to prepare for an interview at a teaching university  

Accepting an Offer 

• For information on salaries, see section on Labour Market Information under “Salaries” 

• An article on the process of accepting a position 

Non-Academic Job Search 

• Careers Outside of Academia