No One in Hong Kong Knows My Name
After two years of applying from the United States, one client’s search changed within a month of a short trip. Here’s why committees ask whether you’ll actually come.
Insider strategies for academics
Reflections from more than three decades inside competitive research universities on the moments that shape an academic career: the job market, grants, tenure and promotion, and stepping into leadership.
See my latest posts below.
“Am I Missing Something?”
There is no secret list of academic jobs. But some candidates have a head start, and it comes from steady, unglamorous work.
Do Scholars in Your Field Know Why Your Work Matters?
Strong publications, solid teaching and good service may not be enough for tenure. External reviewers also want to see that your work matters beyond your own department.
Why I Became an Academic Career Strategist
Why a former department head and RGC panel member now works as a career strategist for academics, and why every scholar needs someone on their team.
Time Served Is Not a Strategy
Promotion to full professor asks a different question from tenure. Why steady productivity is rarely enough, and what committees look for at mid-career.
What Search Committees Are Really Asking
A postdoc with a strong record went two cycles without an offer. What changed when his application started answering the questions search committees ask behind closed doors.
Academia Runs on Unwritten Rules
Every stage of an academic career, from PhD admissions to tenure, runs on criteria nobody writes down. A former department head reflects on learning them the hard way.
I’ve Sat on the Committees. Now I’m Sitting Next to You.
After three decades reading tenure files, grant proposals and job applications, Kathleen Ahrens, PhD, now helps scholars prepare for the moments that shape their careers.
Professor Kathleen Ahrens, PhD, provides strategic advice for scholars at make-or-break moments in their academic careers: Academic Job Searches | Grant Applications | Tenure Applications | Promotion to Full Professorship | Leadership Transitions
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Strategy notes for your academic career
Practical advice on jobs, grants, tenure and promotion, plus tools to support your work. One email a week.
