The Application Process

Your vitae is done. You have given your job market talk. Now what?

Now you start to a apply for jobs.......

Most of the jobs that you will be applying for appear in Job Opportunities for Economists. Another really good source is the careers section of the Chronicle of Higher Education. The department also receives information over e-mail, which is forwarded to you, and by mail. Postings that come in over e-mail or via the US Mail are held in the Job Book which is stored near my desk in the main office.

--- Please read this thoroughly BEFORE you ask me questions. ---

What you do:

1. Read the job listings carefully. Determine what the jobs for which you are interested require. Put together a packet of that material and send it per the instructions in the ad. Many places prefer electronic submission. Generally, electronic submissions are a really good idea. Not only does it cut your costs, but you can be sure that your packet got to the recipient by the deadline. Be wary -- some places that want both electronic and postal submissions for your packet and/or letters. For those submissions send your stuff both ways.
2. Make sure that you note the due date if listed. Your materials must be either postmarked or at the institution to which you are applying to by the due date. This can be extremely inflexible.
3. Talk to your advisor about the places to which you are applying.
4. Give me the lists of the places to which you require references to be sent in the format I will outline below.
5. Mail your application packets.

Sample Cover Letters

What I do:

1. I will send the reference letters you request to the positions for which you are applying. (Please separate the electronic lists from the postal lists. On the electronic lists, please make sure you give me any codes or submission notations that are needed.)
2. As a part of this process, I will give you mailing labels for the packets you will be mailing.

How this Works

As the JOE comes on line, I print a copy and I enter the positions for which you are eligible that require postal applications into a large database. Jobs that come in via e-mail or the postal service also go into this database.

Each which requires a postal application will have a number. On the copies of the JOE provided at the links below, you will find a number next to the jobs for which you can apply. Jobs that are not in the JOE but have been sent to us via e-mail or the postal service, will appear in the master list to which there is also a link below.

I do ask that you submit your lists in the way that I request them. The results drive several processes. I can take care of your requests faster if I don't have to redo what you send me and....I am more likely to send errant lists back to you to redo!!!

Submitting the list in Excel is preferred.

For a list using numbers from the master list, submit the list like this....click here.

For a list using postal addresses not on the master list, submit the list like this....click here.

For a list for references to be sent electronically, please submit the list like this.....click here.

Once you have submitted a list (multiple lists are not only expected but encouraged....), I send it to the people who are writing your letters of reference. They will give me feedback on the lists. I will then process your reference letters.

For the lists from the numbers in the master list, I will return to you an expanded address list for use with your cover letters. I will also generate mailing labels for your packets from both types of postal lists.

DO NOT GIVE ME CUMULATIVE LISTS.

 

Links to the JOE		The Master List
August 2009 - Part 1 August 2009 - Part 2 September 2009 - Part 1 September 2009 - Part 2 October 2009 - Part 1 October 2009 - Part 2 October 2009 - Part 3 October 2009 - Part 4 November 2009 - Part 1 November 2009 - Part 2 November 2009 - Part 3 November 2009 - Part 4 November 2009 - Part 5		The Current Master List

 

A word to the wise.......

• Be organized.
• Work Ahead if you can.
• Be mindful of how long things take to do.
• Read and follow directions.