What was your experience searching for academic jobs for the first time? Were you able to obtain a tenure-track position? How many jobs did you apply to, where did you apply, and what was the hiring process like? Do certain disciplines have better or worse academic job prospects?
What advice do you have for emerging scholars who will start applying for academic jobs in the future?
It was tedious and difficult to secure academic job . I applied in several places until I was fortunate with where I am presently. The hiring process was based on merit and prospect of the job was bright . My candid advice is, one should not give up or relent. The future is extremely bright.
We have different experiences in the rudiments of job hunting with different challenges.
In my case, I was still a graduating student when the president's secretary called me and told me to submit my application for a teaching job. Without a doubt, I drafted my application, did some polishing, and submitted it to the president's office. The Guidance office called me and instructed me to take the psychological examination. I passed the preliminary shortlisting from 165 applicants down to 15. Out of 15, we were cut short to five of us were hired.
Apart from that, I did not experience any other job applications. There were several job offerings from government agencies and even abroad, but I did not find a reason to leave my work at SCC. I started my job as a junior high school instructor, and it lasted for 13 years. I was uprooted from my department to take over the Guidance center's directorship, which I declined for six months because I love teaching and the students. After 14 long years, I loved the job and again created my comfort zone until the president told me to prepare myself for the Vice President for Administration post.
Looking back to my academic job journey, I never aspired to have any of the senior ranks in the academe. My only purpose initially was to get a decent job with decent pay to support my family. For aspiring academic job seekers, simply love your work with all your mind, heart, and soul. Embrace every challenge that comes along and learn from it. Most importantly, take advantage of all the trials and improve by surpassing the more enormous challenges ahead by being innovative and creative and boosting yourself with the necessary soft skills for survival. Don't stop learning. Constant upskilling is a must in the post-modern era to be globally competitive.
Muyiwa Ogunniran Thank you, it's great that you could find a position and this is good advice indeed.
Maryjane B. Omandam It sounds like you were very fortunate in your job search and it's good that you had support from the president's secretary. It's great to hear that you found a position that allows you to follow your passion.
I got you @Muyima
I was nobody on campus. Coming from a remote area to a catholic private school was a complete alienation for me. But the school where I am employed now turned my life somewhat magical. It honed my skills and allowed me to discover my strengths and weaknesses to work on and improve from a timid and inferior student to a leader and volunteer for community engagement.
And yes, like you, I knew no one in the school, the only weapon I got with me was the grace of God that He provided me throughout. It was all about hard work.
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