How Hard Is It to Get a Job at a Liberal Arts College
Because I am a kinesthesia member at a pocket-sized liberal arts college—specifically, Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts—I was surprised to get an invitation to give a presentation at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute'due south Janelia Farm Research Campus in Ashburn, Virginia, an elite, prestigious inquiry establishment where no formal classroom instruction occurs. I was invited to talk alongside more senior liberal arts faculty about life at a liberal arts science department and how to get hired at an institution like mine. Patently, some early-career scientists at Janelia Farm are interested in work beyond science's near prestigious (and research-focused) institutions. During my visit, many people expressed curiosity about jobs where the focus falls squarely on educating undergraduates, and where research is performed in a very different environment than they're used to.
Many of the Janelia Farm scientists who joined united states of america for a roundtable discussion probably were surprised to learn that their preparation isn't unsuitable for jobs like mine. Search committees at institutions like mine are quite interested in candidates with high-powered research programs—as long equally they make the case that they can translate that research to an undergraduate environment. In fact, high-quality research is being done at small liberal arts colleges, and the importance of undergraduate research experiences in preparing hereafter scientists is widely recognized.
Search committees at institutions similar mine are quite interested in candidates with high-powered enquiry programs—equally long every bit they make the case that they can translate that research to an undergraduate surroundings.
Here's some of what I said at Janelia Farm about getting hired at a liberal arts college (LAC). Much of the advice should apply to those seeking jobs at other types of undergraduate-serving institutions as well.
Know the job you're applying to, and don't apply for a job that you don't want.
Succeeding at an LAC means balancing teaching and research, and different LACs weigh teaching and research differently. Some value research opportunities for students more others, and if y'all are most comfy doing envelope-pushing enquiry with the best gadgets and resources, then y'all may not exist comfortable with the limitations inherent to LACs.
That's not to say that you can't exercise thoughtful, artistic, and potentially of import research at an LAC; you can. Only be certain to recalibrate your expectations and look at the state of affairs with clear eyes. Working closely with undergraduates requires meaning patience, both as a teacher and a research mentor. If you have difficulties with this, or if y'all don't bask and value small victories, then you lot probably volition have a hard time adjusting to the speed and calibration of research and rewards at an LAC.
And then attempt to answer these questions honestly: Practice you relish teaching? Do you like designing courses? Do you lot enjoy doing experiments yourself? Practise you enjoy it plenty that you're willing to do information technology without graduate students and postdocs? Do you value mentoring the next generation of scientists at a formative phase of their development?
If you're unsure most your answers, you should sort that all out before you apply. If your application or interview betrays ambivalence or naiveté—if information technology seems yous don't know what you're getting into—you probably won't become an offer, no affair how impressive your research credentials are.
Tailor your application to the job.
If the committee members can't see why you're a skillful fit for the task—for that particular position—they won't hire you; it'due south as simple every bit that. And so make your application a specific response to the job posting.
Do your homework. Study the departmental ecosystem. Figure out who works there. Look at the section's website and go a sense for what research is being done. Read some of the kinesthesia members' papers, focusing on those well-nigh relevant to what you program to do there. Find what classes they teach—or don't teach; are in that location holes you tin can fill? Generally, consider how you would fit in with that department.
The cover letter you lot write for a inquiry-focused university or a research institute will not get you a chore at an LAC. Yous accept to show the hiring committee that you lot know what the job entails and that you are committed to teaching and doing inquiry in that environs. LAC hiring committees like to run across that the candidate has some knowledge of the LAC life and is prepared for the specific challenges associated with such a job, and then highlight any relevant experience.
While a focus on education is the characteristic that sets an LAC apart from other institutions, don't assume the committee wants to encounter a lopsided treatise on your excellence as a instructor. People get better as teachers, and many committees are not expecting excellence straight out of the gate; they just want to see plenty of potential. You need to brand an equally compelling case for the research plan you would bring. The hiring committee wants to run across that you lot can striking the basis running with a smart, attractive research program that appeals to undergraduate students and tin thrive with them as a driving forcefulness.
In your enquiry statement, highlight your past accomplishments and your current enquiry interests. Present a concise vision of your specific goals for your futurity lab. Show that you have skilful ideas that you are capable of executing—at that institution, with their students. Describe the work undergraduates would perform in your lab and how your expectations would vary with the level of experience of the student: Undergraduate students range from absolute beginners to sophisticated, smart, independent researchers with good lab skills. Y'all need to take a plan to go on all of them busy, doing meaningful work in the lab.
Be prepared for phone interviews.
Small colleges accept limited recruitment budgets, so oftentimes a shortlist of candidates is interviewed over the phone or through video-conferencing to narrow the pool before in-person invitations are issued. All interviews are difficult, but phone or video interviews pose additional, technical challenges. If you lot can't hear a question clearly, enquire the committee to echo it. Don't exist shy about it; you tin't give practiced answers, if you don't sympathize the questions. A practiced headset can reduce echoes, but if y'all're doing a video interview, avoid using a headset that covers up your face. If there's latency—a significant delay over the line—practice and become used to it.
Be set to depict why you desire this particular task, and to speak clearly well-nigh your research program. If you feel like your application or candidacy has item flaws or soft spots, be prepared to address them. There's no need to be defensive. There's no such affair equally a perfect candidate, and if they're talking to you, they're already impressed.
Ace the job talk.
The job talk is what will make or break your campus visit, so exist certain that you've apposite it and know the timing and transitions precisely. Practice—a lot. You absolutely need to run through this talk several times, ideally with your mentor at to the lowest degree once—and with a handful of trusted colleagues, preferably from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines. Don't dismiss criticism from people exterior your field if they say an explanation was unclear or that "you kind of lost me when … ." In small departments similar the ones you'll find at an LAC, virtually of the people you'll exist talking to—including the members of the hiring commission—will bring like nonspecialist perspectives. So, if those generalist critics indicate to flaws, ready them.
Structure the context, background, and analysis in your talk in a way that invites your audition in—not just the kinesthesia in omnipresence but also (and especially) the undergraduate students you'll be working with. This does NOT mean that you should "impaired-downwards" your talk. The hiring committee will be on the watch for precisely that mental attitude, not only during your talk but also during private meetings and chats. After all, if yous presume the students are not capable of comprehending your work in a deep and interesting way, why would the department hire y'all to mentor those students on their journey to get scientists themselves? And why would those students want to work with you lot?
Banish negativity.
To be effective at institutions similar mine, it's not enough to be a good researcher and a competent instructor. You as well need to exist able to capture students' imaginations, harness their energies, and inspire them. Consequently, visible anxiety and self-doubt can be especially harmful to your chances of getting hired. Then do your all-time to banish them. Do whatever you lot can to ease your negativity and show upwards to the interview total of enthusiasm. Engage with friends, family unit, pets, practice, yoga, meditation, video games—whatever helps to salvage stress. Focus on the positives, focus on your science and the students, have fun, and let the committee see you at your all-time.
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Source: https://www.science.org/content/article/getting-hired-liberal-arts-college
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