Finding and Interviewing for Jobs

Marion G. Sobol


Management Information Sciences
Cox School of Business
Southern Methodist University
Dallas, Texas

 


I. Preparing a Vita

Format

1. Education and Honors

2. Teaching Experience

3. Research Presentations

4. Papers Accepted

5. Papers in Process

6. Previous Job Experience


II. Searching for Job Openings

Ads from Associations

STAT, OR, MIS INFORMS
OR, MIS, STAT DSI
MIS ICIS

Chronicle of Higher Education

Speak to Your Professors

Maybe they can call their friends about job openings

Maybe they know of jobs

Speak to Previous Grads That You Know

Their school may have a job


III. Send Letter to Each One

For each job that looks interesting send a letter of application with your vita and list of references (3-5).


IV. What to Do With Especially Interesting Job Openings

1. Call ahead of conference and arrange an interview.

2. Use E-Mail

3. If all else fails try to find the person listed in the ad as a contact at the conference.

4. Research schools - ask your professors and consult books such as Petersons.

5. Look at Web Sites to find out about schools, depts., jobs.


V. What to Do at the Conference Interview

(Usually 15 minutes - 30 minute interviews)

1. Recent work and studies

2. Teaching experience

3. Research area - topics

4. When will your dissertation be done - be realistic

5. When you will be available


Be prepared to answer

What to ask (you may not have time for all of these)

1. Does school offer MBA, PhD

2. Teaching load, class size

3. Research support, assistants

4. Number of students in BBA, MBA, PhD

5. Areas of excellence in your Department of Business School

6. What do they want you to teach

7. What are their publishing expectations


VI. Hints for the School Visit

School visit - Usually a school will invite and pay all expenses for the top 3 to 5 candidates.

Don't take interview if not interested, wastes your time and their time.

You might at this point ask about job opportunities for your spouse. Maybe the school can arrange for job interviews for your spouse that coincide with yours, with employer in the area.

a. Present well rounded image - like teaching and research

b. Pleasant - looking for a colleague - be friendly

c. Presentation -very important - use thesis topic or area where you are very secure. Usually lasts 40-50 minutes - use overheads or write on board.


PRESENTATION

1. Title page

2. Outline - handout to audience

3. Topics to cover in talk

a. What is problem?

b. Why you are doing this?

c. Previous work in this area (briefly)

d. Your contribution

e. Techniques used

f. What do you find?

g. Conclusions

h. Further work -how close to completion

i. Possible papers from this work

Note that overheads should not have too much on each sheet

(Like this one)


d. One on one interviews with dept. members, dept chairs and deans - very important.

Some topics you might want to Cover: with dept. members:


Your fellow faculty members are choosing a colleague, department chair is choosing a colleague and hopefully a willing worker. The Dean is choosing all of these and someone who will represent the school well. So.... wear professional clothing, shine your shoes, smile and choose your words carefully.

Discuss possible job opportunities for your spouse. Get names of persons and companies to contact if they haven't arranged anything.

Before you leave try to find out when they might be able to make a decision or contact you.


VII. After the School Visit

1. Send a thank you note to chairman and Dean

2. Be sure that your references send their letters to the chairman as soon as possible, if they haven't already done so.

3. If you haven't heard from them at the appointed time wait a few days and call to see how things are going.


VIII. If They Make You An Offer

1. Get annual salary

2. See if they provide summer support for the first few years. Many schools offer 1/10 - 1/8 salary for a 1-3 year period.

3. What will rank be?

4. What is the course load?

5. Graduate vs undergrad courses?

6. Moving allowance?

7. What is deadline for acceptance?

8. What is the tenure clock? When does it start?

9. Discuss job possibilities for wife or husband, if this hasn't been covered before.




Go back to 1997 INFORMS Doctoral Colloquium Home Page