Finding Your Dream Job

Lana YaroshUniversity of Minnesota

Jaeyeon JungMicrosoft Research

CRA-W Programs inspire and increase the success ofwomen & minorities in computing

600+ students & PhD researchers every year

from 250 U.S. institutions

What does CRA-W do?Individual & Group Research Mentoring

Undergrads: Undergraduate Research ExperiencesUndergrads: Distinguished lecture role models Grad Cohort: group mentoring of graduate studentsGrad Students: Discipline Specific Research workshops PhD Researchers: group mentoring early & mid career @ CMW, CAPP, Grace Hopper & Tapia

Graduate StudentsUndergraduates

Academic careers

Industry/government labs

600+ students & PhDs a year

More information on programs available at table right outside

and CRA-W booth in exhibit hall

About Lana

About Jaeyeon

2006.06

2006.07

2007.06

2007.07

2009.02

2011.07

2006.01

2011.04

What About You?What do you value?

Teaching?

Research?Salary?

Work-life balance?Something else?

Community outreach?

Turing awards?

Life style?

What Do Employers Value?

Teaching CollegePapers in conferencesTeaching experience/enthusiasm

Research University & Industry LabsPapers in top conferencesGreat lettersSpark

Advanced R&D in Software CompaniesCoding skills; relevant experience & skillsAlgorithmic understanding

The Application Process

Distribution Statement “A” (Approved for Public Release, Distribution Unlimited)

Typical Academic Timeline Job!

Early fall Prepare materials

Recruit letter writers

Sept-Dec

Apply

Jan-April

Interview

Negotiate offers

#1. Find Job Postings

www.cra.org/jobs

www.chronicle.com/jobs

Other Specialized Lists

ACM Jobs and SIGCSE mailing lists

Department Websites

Use Your Network

#2. Send Out Applications

Compile an Application Packet

What’s in a job packet?•Research statement•Teaching statement•Cover letters•Recommendation letters

How do I know if I’m doing it right?•Get examples•Serve as a student rep on a search committee•Have experts and non-experts read your materials

Polish Your Web Presence•Professional Webpage / Blog•Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn•Google Scholar Profile

Manage the Process

Distribution Statement “A” (Approved for Public Release, Distribution Unlimited)

The only part that’s in my control

What Can You Do?

Take care of yourself! Sleep, eat, exercise

Get social support, give social support

Be prepared to feel uneasy•There will be times when you feel nervous, anxious, and

scared. It’s normal.•Avoid comparisons and gossiping with your peers. You won’t

feel any better. Seriously.

Focus on what you CAN control

Distribution Statement “A” (Approved for Public Release, Distribution Unlimited)

Congrats! You Got an Interview!

Distribution Statement “A” (Approved for Public Release, Distribution Unlimited)

#3. Rock Interviews

The Interview Process

Phone interview

Site visit: individual interactio

ns

Site visit:Presentati

ons

Before, during, after: all the other

stuff

Distribution Statement “A” (Approved for Public Release, Distribution Unlimited)

One person or a groupUse a landline!

Faculty of varying ranks

AdministratorsStudents

HR

MealsThank you notesInteractions w/ staff

Research talkTeaching demo

maybe

The TalkConvince the audience you are smart and a good teacher/researcher

•Assume a smart but general audience but don’t dumb down the talk

•Clearly state problem and your contributions•Show that you have ideas about what you will do when

you step foot in the door•If necessary, tailor for the particular job call

Practice, practice, practice

Distribution Statement “A” (Approved for Public Release, Distribution Unlimited)

One-on-One:A two-way evaluation

•Show interviewers that you’d be the kind of person they’d want down the hall.

•Don’t let them do all the talking. THEY NEED TO REMEMBER YOU.

Prior investigation on interviewers is helpful•Read/skim their papers•Check out their websites•Look up recent NSF awards •Note one possible topic of conversation if there’s a lull

Distribution Statement “A” (Approved for Public Release, Distribution Unlimited)

Questions to Ask About Teaching

How Much• What's the pre/post tenure teaching load?• What courses would I teach?• Do faculty ever “buy out” of courses?

Freedom and Flexibility• How much control would I have over course content?• Can I create new courses?

Support and Evaluation• In what cases would I have TA support?• What resources are available for improving teaching skills?• How is teaching evaluated?

Distribution Statement “A” (Approved for Public Release, Distribution Unlimited)

Questions to Ask About Research

Tenure•What are the expectations for tenure?•How many people were denied/granted tenure in recent years?

Research Culture •What does it take to be successful here?•Who do you work with in the department?•Do you work with other university faculty?

Grants•What are the expectations about grant submission? •What types of funding to faculty typically seek? •What assistance is available for grant submission?•How are research assistants supported within the department?

Distribution Statement “A” (Approved for Public Release, Distribution Unlimited)

Offer!

Distribution Statement “A” (Approved for Public Release, Distribution Unlimited)

#4. Negotiate the Offer

NegotiationsStarting date & time till tenure• A January start may buy you extra time on the tenure clock• Pre-tenure sabbatical?

Teaching & service• Course releases• Which courses• Committee service expectations• Other commitments, e.g., advising undergrads

Money• Salary (and summer support)• Travel allotments, consulting, startup, etc.

Get EVERYTHING in writing

Money: Salary

AmountPay raisesSummer salaryBenefitsSubsidized housing

Distribution Statement “A” (Approved for Public Release, Distribution Unlimited)

Money: Funding

Startup and ongoing• Research equipment• Travel• Students• Books and memberships• Class/lab equipment

Intellectual property rights

Distribution Statement “A” (Approved for Public Release, Distribution Unlimited)

Negotiation Rules

If you never hear “no”, you're not asking for enough.

But know when not to apply this rule.

Distribution Statement “A” (Approved for Public Release, Distribution Unlimited)

Other Research Job Opportunities

Distribution Statement “A” (Approved for Public Release, Distribution Unlimited)

Postdocs

Find job postings• Additionally contact individual professors that you want to work

with

Apply• Email professors & industry labs

Interview

Negotiate offers• Probably not much wriggle room

Research Faculty

Find job postings• At the discretion of each department since it’s a soft money position

Apply• Often same as tenure track positions

Interview• Find more about grant opportunities

Negotiate offers• Some departments offer to pick up first N years of salary until you bring

grant $

Researchers at Industry Labs

Find job postings• Most labs have a standard “career” section on their web page

Apply• Online to their system and let your contact know

Interview

Negotiate offers• Typically a lot more wriggle room (sign on bonus, stocks, etc.)

Other Tips

Two body opportunity• If they like you, they will try to help your partner at least

get an interview

Interview at many places (even if you have an offer already)

• Opportunities to meet great people, to advertise your work, and to get free airline mileage

• Put you in an advantageous position to negotiate

Private Foundation

Unversity Departments

www.cra-w.org

Thank you to our sponsors