What is an academic job search portfolio?
It is a concise but comprehensive summary of your professional growth that highlights your professional training, goals and work philosophy. It contains a collection of documents intended to showcase your potential to garner extramural grant support, lead a comprehensive and innovative research program and demonstrate your commitment to excellence in teaching. Your academic job search portfolio should tell prospective employers that you meet all expected requirements for the advertised position and in general, it will fulfill the requested documents needed for the initial application.
There are several components to an academic job search portfolio. Each has its own unique role and each provides information that is critical to getting the position that you desire. The five major components of an academic job search portfolio are as follows:
Cover Letter
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Research Statement
Teaching Philosophy Statement
References
Cover Letter
The cover letter is probably the most important part of your academic job search portfolio. It is the component that can literally "get your foot in the door." How? Think about how you shop for a book while waiting to catch a flight. Think about what persuades you to buy a particular book. You probably initiate your search for a novel by looking for books by authors whose work you have previously read and enjoyed (name recognition).
Then the next step in the decision making process involves reading the blurb on the back cover of the book that highlights the contents or storyline. The synopsis for a book is most likely the catalyst that “sells” you on the purchase of a particular book or novel. This brief synopsis to sell a book is the underlying principle behind the cover letter.
So in regards to name recognition, if you maintain an active presence at scientific meetings by presenting your work in poster and especially oral formats, if you participate in workshops and attend small conferences, if you are an active member in your professional societies like the APS that provide wonderful opportunities to actively network with senior and other investigators, and if you have established a strong publication record in your field, your name may be known to the department that is potentially recruiting you. Thus, “name recognition” may greatly facilitate “notice” of your application.
However, your cover letter should serve as the catalyst (aka the blurb on the back cover) that will make prospective employers want to look at other components of your portfolio. Therefore, it is important to consider what constitutes a strong cover letter? The answer is the content and packaging.
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