Professor's in the crowd!

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Han, Dec 20, 2002.

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  1. Han

    Han New Member

    I am happy to report that I am now looking to teaching a community college in the area. I fit the criteria, as well as have 10 years of industry experience. Two questions. One - There is an essay and resume with submittal, what would you concentrate on, professional or educational?

    Second, I have been told that there are 250 applicants for every position right now, does anyone have advise on how to make it through screening, to be differientated in the group of the applicant pools. My only chance is to get an interview, and they only taken 10-20 out of that pool.

    Any help would be most appreciated. I would like a professorship so bad that I can taste it.....
     
  2. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    I've taught at a few community colleges, and it's been my experience that they value practical experience far more than traditional colleges and universities. That's not to say that a Harvard Ph.D. won't blow away the competition for a CC teaching job, but if everything else is equal (or close), CC's seem to go with people who have real world experience as the tie-breaker.

    I'd emphasize whatever area that was stronger (academic or professional), but be sure to make it clear you have credentials in both. Best of luck!


    Bruce
     
  3. defii

    defii New Member

    I can feel you, Kristie. I'm looking too. I'm discovering that the competition is quite stiff though. I only want to do this on a part time basis. I've been relying on connections with people I know to help land a position. Good luck in your efforts.
     
  4. Ed Komoszewski

    Ed Komoszewski New Member

    This is very sound advice.

    When I first sought invitations to teach as an adjunct professor, I designed my own curriculum vita so that all of my educational credentials and most recent professional experience were visible on the first page. However, I chose to list my educational credentials first. While I graduated at the top of my class and won a few academic awards, I had done no classroom teaching aside from a guest lecture or two since receiving the degree. In my case, the thing to emphasize was obvious.

    In addition to my curriculum vita, I included a letter of recommendation from a widely recognized expert in my field of study. If you have worked closely with a teacher in your field or noted practitioner in your industry, a letter from that person might be worth its weight in gold.

    If you have published anything related to your field, you may wish to include that as a sample of your ability to organize and communicate content. If this will be your first teaching post, a publication record may help offset a lack of teaching experience and distinguish you from other applicants. I picked a short and recent article to send with my other materials.

    This final point might seem a bit trivial, but I placed all of my materials in a manila envelope so that the most important documents would be on top when the seal was broken and the materials were removed. One of the schools which I contacted receives countless inquiries, and department chairpersons grow impatient sifting through unknown materials from unknown people. Try to ensure the thing they see first is the thing you want them to see most. If that grabs their attention, they'll keep looking.

    Using the approach above, I received invitations to teach as a visiting professor in three departments at two different regionally accredited liberal arts colleges.

    Good luck!
     
  5. Monkey

    Monkey New Member

    Oh !! I should be quite lucky.

    I recall when I was invited to teach at a university on part-time basis, no one asked me for resume . After teaching for two weeks, the HR manager needed my resume - only for record purpose. Then, occassionally, I have been invited to teach in the industry under an academic institution. No one asked me for any resume before offering me the teaching post.

    I enjoy teaching on part-time basis.

    Monkey
     
  6. Leslie

    Leslie New Member

    The advice given is very good -- emphasize your strongest talent and send a curriculum vitae rather than a resume for a college teaching position. My vita is seven pages long and it is in webpage format with links to colleges, courses taught, published articles and books, online and onsite workshops, conference presentations and professional association memberships. Having designed and instructed online and onsite career search workshops, I can tell you that persistence, timing and marketing your talents confidently are the keys to receiving offers.

    Getting your foot in the door for an interview is accomplished through an outstanding CV and cover letter. The cover letter has to grab their interest so they progress to the CV and the CV has to grab their interest enough to call you for that interview. There are several very effective ways to highlight talents and downplay lack of experience in other areas on a CV. Remember that not all experience is "paid work" and transferable skills and experience can be a great "selling" factor in getting that first interview. After that, it's up to you in a face-to-face setting to "fill in the blanks."

    From base one, your cover letter (and CV) must be totally professional with absolutely NO grammar, spelling, or writing errors and must highlight your major talent. This will be the determining factor in whether or not they progress to reading your CV.

    When applying for teaching positions online (which is becoming standard practice more and more these days, even for on-campus teaching positions), sending an email or online application that includes the URL for your online CV will be advantageous for several reasons. First, it's a whole lot easier to click on a link than to open an email attachment. And second, having a professional online CV demonstrates technical knowledge and ability that is much desired in teaching in today's classrooms at all levels. Knowing how to use technology in classroom instruction is a MUST in all areas of education now and if you can demonstrate some technical ability and competence through the use of an online CV then you're one step ahead of the game.

    Just a few tips from someone who's been around the block a few times. My former clients had a 90% hit rate on CVs designed according to my specifications (a hit being an invitation to an interview based on the CV).

    Best wishes in your job search --

    -leslie
     
  7. defii

    defii New Member

    Leslie, should I take it from your post that you do consulting in terms of designing CVs? If so, would you please send me a private message or email? I would like to engage someone's help in doing my CV - and I'm willing to pay for it. This is my first time doing one and as I read, I get the sense that it is woefully inadequate. I'm not sure what to put in the thing. I'm looking for a part time teaching position. Thanks.
     
  8. Leslie

    Leslie New Member

    David, I would be happy to take a look at your CV and make some recommendations. I don't write CVs anymore because I just don't have time -- wish I did though cause I really enjoyed it!

    Send me an email -- I think you can do that from here. If not, send a private message and I'll email you.

    -leslie
     
  9. Han

    Han New Member

    Thank you all for the information. As I have researched the requirements in the application, they are exact about the information, with formats, in a particular order. They do allow a "Cover Page". I think I will use that as more than a page with my name, and exapand a bit.

    Thanks again to all. Will keep you posted.
     
  10. John Bear

    John Bear Senior Member

    defii: Leslie, should I take it from your post that you do consulting in terms of designing CVs?

    John: For whatever it may be worth: someone I know very well is thinking about making the move from the business world to the academic, because she learned about what would be, she believes, the perfect job opening for her.

    For guidance, she relied entirely on the resume-writing books of Don Asher (two of them are at www.tenspeed.com) + a consultation with Asher.

    There were more than 500 applications for this job. She is on the short list of 3. Face to face interviews in January
     
  11. defii

    defii New Member

    Thanks

    Thank you, Dr. Bear. I'll check on the books.
     
  12. Anthony Pina

    Anthony Pina Active Member

    Kristie,

    I have been both full-time and adjunct community college faculty and have sat on many hiring boards. We were in a very desirable area (Palm Springs, CA) and had many applicants for each position (nowhere near 250, though we had 90 applicants for an administration of justice position). Some disciplines (e.g. nursing) had far fewer applicants.

    C.V. rather than resume is good advice. Community colleges tend to emphasize teaching over research (but evidnce of scholarly work doesn't hurt). Documented practical expereince in industry (particularly in the area that you wish to teach) is a big plus. You need to demonstrate, however, that you are capable of transfering your knowledge to novices (something that many subject matter experts cannot do well).

    Best of luck

    Tony Piña
    School of Education, La Sierra University
    & School of Education, Cal State U., San Bernardino
     
  13. cogent

    cogent New Member

    Comm College Job Search

    Well, well... a topic I actually know something about! ha ha!

    I teach fulltime for Paradise Valley Community College in Phoenix, Arizona. I was also on a hiring committee for a fulltimer last summer.

    The competition for fulltime faculty slots IS intense. There are reasons. The pay is quite good. You can do what you love. It is teaching-centered (learning centered, actually). And the lifestyle is terrific. We had well over 400 candidates.

    Some misconceptions: A Ph.D./Ed.D. will often times HURT you with community colleges. The vast majority of folks get their doctorates AFTER being hired. I know the Ph.D.'s we had seemed to have their heads in research. Ahhhh, learn something about the mission of a community college versus a university, applicants!

    The vast majority of people who apply are indeed minimally qualified. What we looked for was somebody who would be a good "fit" in our culture. We were also looking for a dynamic instructor, so there will be a time to shine during the teaching demo phase, if chosen to interview.

    In addition, I wanted somebody who was comfortable with using technology in education and could show concrete examples of that.

    I was a parttime college faculty for TWENTY years before getting hired fulltime in August of 2000.

    Hope that helps some... just don't give up if it is what you want. If you want to do research, please go to a university. If you are interested in teaching/learning excellence, a community college is your best choice.
     
  14. Catherine

    Catherine New Member

    Community College Teaching Postions

    I've been reading your posts and thought I would add my two cents. First, I am a full-time, tenured, community college instructor. I had 10 years of corporate experience and 4 years of teaching adjunct at a variety of cc's. One tip I can offer, which I'm almost certain everyone already knows (but I didn't when getting hired) is to get a copy of the union contract to determine if your school is giving your proper experience on your pay scale.
    The reason that I feel its imperative to tell you is that my school's Human Resource Director skirted the issue with me and ended up giving me our contract on the 16th day of employment. Upon reading it, I found out I was entitled to a LOT more pay. My complaint went all the way to the board and there wasn't anything I could do about it. Essentially, the union should have demanded a contract and I didn't know (prior to my hire) that there was one.
     
  15. Han

    Han New Member

    Catherine, I have looked into that. Actually, there contract is online. The pay scales have steps and classes. I have figured out the classes - each step is in relation to the amount of schooling. You "graduate" from step 1 to 2 when completing a Master's, then 2 to 3 with 45 more gradutate units, etc.

    I can't figure out the steps. They are numbered, so I figure they are the years of experience. I am not sure how they calculate that. I have an e-mail into them abnout it. Thanks for the tip.
     
  16. Catherine

    Catherine New Member

    Kristi,
    Please e-mail me the link and I will be happy to check it out for you. Our union contract is tricky. Again, my advice, check your contract and your union official. Don't be shy. Don't make the mistakes I made. Feel free to e-mail me your contract link: [email protected]. I'd be happy to give you my two cents.
     
  17. Catherine

    Catherine New Member

    Kristie,
    One more thing, just out of curiousity. What is your discipline. Sorry if you've posted that earlier but I just joined up last night.
     
  18. cogent

    cogent New Member

    Initial Placement

    Oh, I had a similar problem... but we have a way of protesting initial placement on the pay scale up to one year after hire.... and I won. I've found with these clerks I have to be OVERLY clear in what I want and why I am entitled to it... quoting the handbook chapter and verse. Now, I know more about the process than about any faculty here! And I've made sure our newest faculty hire knows this upfront... and she is appreciative.
     
  19. Han

    Han New Member

    Business is the area, which makes the CV an interesting prospect. Business experience, as well as teahcing (I have done both ) needs to be juggled just right to show a strong applicant.
     
  20. Ian Anderson

    Ian Anderson Active Member

    This might be of interest to you (maybe your local CSU campus also offers this program):

    "Certificate in
    Community College Teaching

    WHO SHOULD ATTEND
    CSUDH offers a three-course Certificate in Community College Teaching for those who would like to explore the option of a career in community college instruction.
    THE CERTIFICATE
    The certificate program is designed to enhance the skills, and thereby the employability, of the potential community college instructor. Students must either be enrolled in a graduate program, possess a master's degree in a subject area taught at the community college level, or be currently employed as an instructor in a community college.
    LOCATION
    Beginning in spring 2002 GED 548 and GED 549 are taught online during the spring semester and on campus at CSUDH in Carson during the fall semester. Registrants for GED 549S will perform their internship at a local community college."

    For more info visit http://www.csudh.edu/extension/comcol.htm
     

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