Keith writes:
I am about to embark on my doctoral coursework in economics. While spending the last six years as a corporate finance manager, I am excited about the opportunity to research and teach. However, I have not yet uncovered any resources to help new graduates find assistant professor positions. Surely, some school needs an economics professor somewhere. Is there anywhere I can go for help?
The Career Doctor responds:
The good news for anyone in a doctoral program or contemplating entering a doctoral program is that demand should be strong in many disciplines, especially as wave after wave of baby boom (and older) professors transition to part-time status or retirement.
And having the chance to teach, empower, and interact with some of the future leaders is one of the greatest benefits of being a college professor. Your corporate finance experience should be a plus — both in your teaching and in your research.
The academic job market is fairly different than the corporate market. While many universities do post job listings on their Websites and some also advertise jobs, many of the initial interviews for new assistant professors are actually conducted at academic conferences. I’ve also found a lot of the academic market is based on word-of-mouth and referrals.
Since you are just starting your studies, the best sources for information are the professors in your doctoral program. Talk with them about the most important conferences. While still a student, try to get one or more papers accepted at these conferences — or simply attend — so you can watch the process before you have to experience it as a job-seeker.
And you can start looking now at job postings to see the types of qualifications that universities are seeking in assistant professors of economics. And if you have a specific set of colleges in mind, you might start making connections, building your network.
