How to Land a Job Teaching at a University

Becoming an instructor, professor, or teacher at a University can be byzantine and confusing without the right guidance. Knowing what degrees to earn, what universities to apply to, and how to approach the application process can quickly overwhelm you. In fact, many would-be educators are so intimidated by the process that they never apply in the first place. With some preparation, perseverance, and helpful information, you can soon be a teacher at the university level, influencing the next generation of educators and professionals.

Step 1

Earn a graduate degree. While many who enroll in universities cease their education after earning a Bachelor's degree, you will need to persevere and press on to your Master's, and preferably your Doctorate, degree. During this more advanced stage of your education you will acquire the skills, and more importantly, the professional contacts you will need later in your career.

Step 2

Cultivate professional contacts. As part of your graduate level education, you will be able to attend several conferences, symposiums, or other meetings of professionals in your chosen field. Take advantage of these meetings to introduce yourself to established professors, teachers, and administrators. Be prepared to discuss your specialization in great detail and ask their insight or feedback to establish yourself as a scholar in your field.

Step 3

Accept teaching assistant positions. When offered, you should definitely accept any invitations to become a teaching assistant. Much of what professors and university-level teachers learn about teaching, they learn from observation and practice; recitations, office hours, and interaction with students will lay the foundations of your later pedagogy. Additionally, the experience looks good on your Curriculum Vitae (resume).

Step 4

Build your Curriculum Vitae. Your Curriculum Vitae, or "CV," is your academic resume and should highlight your accomplishments, your distinguishing awards, and any publications or reviews you have done. This CV is the bare bones of your career distilled down into an easy-to-read format so that potential employers will be able to reference your skills against those of other applicants.Applying

Step 1

Use your contacts. During your graduate education, as well as conferences or symposiums, you should have made contacts in various institutions. Cal upon these to not only write letters of recommendation, but to make inquiries or phone calls on your behalf. If you've impressed these professionals with your knowledge and dedication, they can become indispensable allies in your attempt to secure a position.

Step 2

Write your cover letter with that institution in mind. If you are applying to a university which is research-focused, a so-called "research one," university, you will want to highlight your graduate level research, how that research meshes--or distinguished itself from--other research done in the department, and your plans for publishing. If you are applying to a university which focuses more on student-teacher interaction, a so-called "teaching first," university, you will want to emphasize your teaching experience and pedagogy.

Step 3

Follow up any interview. Even if it is at a university you are not terribly excited about, you should always follow up interviews and meet-and-greets with mailed thank you notes. Primarily, it distinguishes you from other candidates making you more desirable and possibly leading to several job offers. Also, it preserves your reputation among administrators; since many know each other on a collegial or even friendly basis, if you have a poor attitude at one university, word may get around that you are not an ideal candidate, thus sinking your chances of getting any position.

Step 4

Be prepared to move. Whether initially landing a teaching position at a community college and "moving up" to a university, or applying to a university in another state (or across the state), be prepared to move. This is especially important in non-tenured positions which can suddenly become dead-end jobs or dry up if budget constraints squeeze the department or institution you are teaching at. Once you've secured tenure, you can be assured that no move you make will be involuntary, but until then, be prepared to pack up and leave if a better opportunity presents itself.

Step 5

Understand the terms of your employment. If you are applying to a University with a Master's degree, or are a Doctoral Candidate, you will most likely be offered part-time work which typically carries no benefits and offers relatively low pay. Occasionally, some Universities hire those without a Doctorate as "Lecturers" who are full-time employees with better pay and more responsibilities, though these positions are limited.

Tenure is a term used to describe a permanent, full-time teacher with a Ph.D in their field who has entered into a permanent contract with the University. There are so-called "non-tenure track" positions held by teachers with a Ph.D which allow the teacher, or the University, to terminate the contract at any time. Almost half of new hires at Universities are offered "non-tenure track" positions which are viewed as a way for the teacher to prove themselves to the University, and vice-versa.