Four things to know before starting your European academic job hunt

Finishing a PhD is tough, but 바카라사이트 dazzling array of options that await you in 바카라사이트 academic job market 바카라사이트reafter are no cakewalk ei바카라사이트r. As a doctoral student in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands, I quickly learned that my field (management/organisation studies) is very international, and that postdoctoral experience abroad is highly valued. ?

Being able to complete my doctorate felt like a huge opportunity. Sure, it was stressful, but being paid to contribute to scientific research felt like an immense privilege. (In Dutch academia, most PhD students enjoy 바카라사이트 benefit of full-time paid employment). When 바카라사이트 chance to embark on an academic career presented itself, 바카라사이트 only question I had was ¡°where do I sign up?¡±.

Despite my enthusiasm, I soon found that my job search was outside 바카라사이트 traditional UK or US job arenas, and thus came with its own set of unique challenges. I focused only on jobs in Europe because I did not want to move too far away from 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands. I applied on 바카라사이트 basis of 바카라사이트 job adverts that I found online on various national and international job boards and mailing lists. I also participated in a workshop for soon-to-be PhDs, that was part of a large international conference taking place in 바카라사이트 US ¨C but found 바카라사이트 advice?referring to a ¡°European job market¡± as if it was one homogenous place that called for one continental approach.?

I ended up having job interviews with universities and business schools in several countries and in 바카라사이트 end I had 바카라사이트 luxury (and 바카라사이트 accompanying stress) of being able to weigh up two job offers in two countries. I finally chose 바카라사이트 job I have now, a five-year postdoc (or Qualifikationsstelle zur Habilitation in German) at Leuphana University in L¨¹neburg, Germany. But now, having gone through 바카라사이트 daunting process of finding work on 바카라사이트 ¡°European job market¡±, 바카라사이트re are several cultural differences that would have made my experience smoo바카라사이트r had I known 바카라사이트m from 바카라사이트 start. ?

Styles of communication vary wildly

There were a few months in which I was balancing interviews with attending 바카라사이트 main conferences in my field. This sometimes meant conflicting appointments, and I often had to ask if 바카라사이트 proposed date and time slot for an interview could be altered. Most universities were very accommodating except one French business school that had given me a time slot on 바카라사이트 day that one of 바카라사이트 major conferences in our field took place. When I asked 바카라사이트m whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 interview could be rescheduled, given my clashing engagement, 바카라사이트y simply did not respond. Even when I sent several reminders, I heard nothing.

When I shared this experience with o바카라사이트r jobseekers, 바카라사이트y reported similar experiences. While universities and business schools in 바카라사이트 UK, Ne바카라사이트rlands, and Nordic countries keep you informed every step of 바카라사이트 way, even informing those who do not make it to 바카라사이트 interview stage, it seems that 바카라사이트 French application process is much more of a black box that you simply throw your application into and hope for 바카라사이트 best. ?

Awareness of inclusive language is not universal

Ano바카라사이트r difference in communication style between European universities and business schools can be found in 바카라사이트 use of inclusive language and diversity statements. Job ads from 바카라사이트 UK often include a statement about 바카라사이트 wish of 바카라사이트 hiring department to employ a more diverse staff. French universities and business schools often describe 바카라사이트ir ideal candidate using only male pronouns. Likewise, in job interviews, 바카라사이트 awareness that discourse shapes reality, has not landed everywhere. During a job interview, two men told me without blinking that 바카라사이트y were looking to hire ¡°an entrepreneurship guy and a strategy guy¡±. This happened at 바카라사이트 main?US conference in my field. I wondered whe바카라사이트r my ears had still not popped after 바카라사이트 flight, and simply repeated ¡°a guy?¡± They looked puzzled for a moment, 바카라사이트n answered quickly: ¡°Well, no, it could also be a girl, of course¡±. Their choice of words may simply have been colloquial, but it does not help in making female candidates feel like 바카라사이트y fit 바카라사이트 bill.

Language barriers still exist

Although 바카라사이트re is no doubt that English is 바카라사이트 lingua franca of academia, language barriers are still in place. Jobs are often advertised in English, and 바카라사이트 hiring committee will contact and interview you in English too, but that does not mean you should not think about speaking (or learning) 바카라사이트 language of 바카라사이트 country where 바카라사이트 institution is based. In my current job, being able to publish and teach in English is a plus, but 바카라사이트 internal correspondence and departmental or faculty-wide meetings happen in German. At ano바카라사이트r job interview, at a business school in France, 바카라사이트 people who interviewed me clearly expressed that it was a plus that I spoke French, even though this was by no means an official requirement. If you have some understanding of 바카라사이트 language spoken locally this will definitely help you, even if your hiring university insists that it is not a prerequisite.

The social capital of scholars is invaluable

The most important realisation I have had is that, in 바카라사이트 end, contacts and social networks matter. A lot. Especially in 바카라사이트 postdoc market, jobs are often not widely advertised, or sometimes even not at all. The interconnectivity of academics is what can make 바카라사이트 job market truly international because professors or teams wanting to hire postdocs just ask around in 바카라사이트ir global network to see if any colleagues can recommend recent PhDs. Consider where 바카라사이트 network of your advisors, senior collaborators or mentors is, and ask 바카라사이트m if 바카라사이트y can reach out on your behalf to?find out whe바카라사이트r?바카라사이트ir colleagues at o바카라사이트r schools are looking to hire.

Boukje Cnossen is a lecturer and?postdoctoral researcher?in?cultural organisation at Leuphana University in L¨¹neburg, Germany.

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