Workshops and Events

Fall 2025 Academic Job Market Workshops

The academic job market is more competitive than ever, and prospective candidates must think carefully about how they present themselves both in their written materials and in interview situations. In this six-part series, you will learn the secrets of how to prepare a CV, cover letter, and teaching statement that will get you noticed. You will also learn how to prepare for interviews, how to prepare a teaching demonstration, and how to prepare your “job talk” (the overview of your research required for most searches). This series of short, high-impact workshops will provide you with the resources and support you need as you prepare to apply for faculty positions. Graduate students in all stages are encouraged to participate; however, these workshops are most effective when taken in advance of the job search process, ideally at least a year before entering the academic job market. 

Please note that all academic job market workshops for graduate students will be held in the Fall semester this year. There will be no workshops offered in Spring 2026. 

Effective CV’s

Tuesday, October 7, 1:30 – 3:00 pm
Zoom

No matter what kind of job (or grant!) you apply for in academe, you will be expected to submit a CV. How do you make sure your CV communicates your accomplishments effectively and efficiently so that your application makes it into the “interview this person!” file? This isn’t an easy task, but there are strategies that can help you meet the challenge successfully. In this interactive workshop, you will learn the key principles of crafting an effective CV that will convince prospective employers that you have the skills and experience required for the job. You will have an opportunity to begin sketching out a plan for using those principles and be invited to work further on your CV with a CATLOE consultant. 

Register for Effective CV’s

Effective Cover Letters

Thursday, October 9, 10:30am – 12:00 noon
Zoom

What does your cover letter communicate to a search committee? Will they see you as a potential colleague or as a desperate graduate student? The cover letter is your first interaction with the search committee and will set the tone for future interactions (and may determine whether there are any!). In this interactive workshop, you will learn the key principles of writing an effective cover letter that will impress search committees. You will have an opportunity to begin sketching out a plan for using those principles and be invited to work further on your cover letter with a CATLOE consultant. 

Register for Effective Cover Letters

Effective Teaching Statements

Wednesday, October 15, 1:00 – 2:30 pm
Zoom

Whether you apply for positions at research-oriented universities or teaching-focused community colleges, or anywhere in between, you will be asked to communicate your approach to teaching. Teaching statements are notoriously difficult to write, but even if you have very little teaching experience, you can write a strong teaching statement! In this interactive workshop, you will learn the key principles of writing an effective teaching statement that will persuade the search committee that you will be an asset to their students. You will have an opportunity to begin sketching out a plan for using those principles and be invited to work further on your teaching statement with a CATLOE consultant. 

Register for Effective Teaching Statements

Making a Strong Impression in Interviews

Friday, October 17, 10:30 am – 12:00 noon
Zoom

If you’re getting ready for the academic job market or you’re on it, you need to get ready for interviews! In this interactive workshop, you’ll learn about the different purposes of interviews and the best ways to prepare for them. You’ll leave with a clearer sense of what to expect during interviews, how to avoid potential pitfalls, and how to come across as the calm, collected professional they are looking for. You’ll also get key tips on managing the Zoom platform during screening interviews. You will have an opportunity to begin planning for the interview and be invited to work further on your interview skills and strategies with a CATLOE consultant.

Register for Making a Strong Impression in Interviews

Powerful Teaching Demonstrations

Tuesday, October 21, 10:30 – 12:00 noon
Zoom

Whether you’re applying for a teaching-focused or a research-focused faculty position, you will be required to demonstrate your teaching ability during the on-campus or extended interview. Don’t wait to prepare! This interactive workshop will help you make good decisions based on the context of the demonstrations you may be asked to do and give you some ideas of how to best communicate your teaching skills in this high-pressure situation. You will have an opportunity to begin planning for the teaching demonstration and be invited to work further on the demonstration with a CATLOE consultant. 

Register for Powerful Teaching Demonstrations

Secrets of an Excellent Job Talk

Thursday, October 23, 3:00 – 4:30 pm
Zoom

Whether you are interviewing for a position that focuses on teaching or research, you are likely going to be asked to give the “job talk,” where you share your research with the search committee and other attendees. But what are you really being asked to do when you give the job talk? If you don’t know the secrets of the job talk, you risk confusing or boring your audience during this crucial part of the on-campus or extended interview. In this interactive workshop you’ll learn how to create a job talk that impresses the audience and communicates more than just your research. You will have an opportunity to begin planning for the job talk and be invited to work further on the job talk with a CATLOE consultant.

Register for Secrets of an Excellent Job Talk