Preparing for an Academic Career

  • Make connections with other mathematicians – department faculty, other PhD students, visitors to our department, people you meet at conferences.
  • Give talks at departmental seminars and at conferences.
  • Learn mathematics outside of your own area. It will give you more flexibility in the future and you never know where new mathematical connections will be made.
  • Develop and document your teaching skills and credentials, e.g. Graduate Teacher Certificate, MS in the Teaching of Mathematics.

Application Materials

  • Research statement.
  • Teaching statement.
  • Curriculum Vitae (CV) - Update your CV at least once a year as you progress through graduate school.
  • Cover letters.
  • Letters of recommendation.
  • Webpage. While not formally part of your application, an informative webpage is an asset in the job search.
  • As you prepare for interviews and giving talks, read this advice on Tips for Preparation and Interviewing. Further advice here from our Departmental presentation.

Sources of Job Listings

Timeline

  • Throughout your graduate career:
    • Keep your CV up to date.
    • Collect teaching materials in a teaching portfolio.
    • Develop connections with other mathematicians.
    • Publish papers when possible – discuss where/when with your adviser.
  • The spring before your job search:
    • Talk with PhD students who are graduating, to learn about their job search experiences.
    • Talk with your adviser about whether you are ready to go on the job market next fall.
  • The summer before your job search:
    • Develop a personal website, possibly with the help of our departmental communications team.  Email math-web@illinois.edu for assistance.
    • Consider applying for the NSF Postdoc program and prepare your application (due mid-October).
    • Prepare first drafts of your teaching statement and research statement and ask some qualified people to read them and give you feedback.
    • Identify faculty members who might write letters of recommendation.
    • Update your CV. Ask people for feedback.
    • Apply to give a talk at the Joint Math Meetings next January and apply for AMS travel funding.
    • Think about your Fall semester schedule and set aside at least half a day per week for working on job applications.
  • Fall semester:
    • Early in the semester, ask for letters of recommendation.
    • Volunteer to give your “job talk” in a departmental research seminar. Ask for feedback. Even though you may prove more results by the time you give a talk at a campus visit, it will be great to have a first version already prepared.
    • Get more feedback on your CV and on your teaching and research statements and prepare final versions.
    • Finish up your webpage.
    • Prepare cover letters which can be modified as needed for each application.
    • Request departmental funding to attend the Joint Math Meetings.
    • Set up an organized system, whether on paper or electronically, to keep track of all your job applications.
    • On a weekly basis, check mathjobs.org and other sources; submit applications.
    • Tell everyone that you are on the job market. You never know where you’ll find a useful tip or a valuable connection.
    • Prepare for potential interviews.
  • Spring semester:
    • Continue checking for job postings and submitting applications.
    • Keep your adviser and the DGS informed about your situation.
    • When you have campus visits or offers, seek advice about your plan and about negotiating.

Other Resources