Job Search Frequently Asked Questions

Do this ahead of time! Know the salary expectations before you even start looking. That will help you narrow searches, understand application questions, and negotiate once you receive an offer. Check out tools that show you job specific pay data like the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, Glass Door, and talk to people in the field who are hiring or were recently hired. The best way to gather data and connections is through talking to people in your field as much as possible. 

If you are moving to a new place, also compare that data with the cost of living since everywhere is different. Use the Cost of Living calculator to do that!

National data shows that hiring has slowed and the number of open new positions becoming available is slim. Additionally, the academic job market has more competition for fewer positions each year.

When postings are limited, effective strategies include expanding location scope and focusing on transferable skills for roles you may not have looked at before rather than looking for specific job titles. Additionally, whether you land a dream job, or you have job to just pay your rent for the next few months make sure to keep networking and doing informational interviews to access opportunities not widely advertised. 

Check out some self-assessment tools as a first step! Then dive deeper on your own within the tool or meet with a career advisor to discuss your results. 

For graduate students in the humanities, social sciences, and some departments within the School of the Arts such as Theatre, Film & Media Studies, and Visual Art Education use:  www.imaginephd.com.

For graduate students in the natural sciences and math, we recommend Science Careers MyIDP, developed by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

For graduate students in chemistry, we recommend ChemIDP developed by the American Chemical Society. 

Career Leader is a career exploration and self-assessment tool developed for those pursuing degrees in business. Explore the exploration and self-assessment tool here

Fully remote jobs have declined substantially since their peak during the COVID 19 pandemic. Less than 10 percent of new job postings in 2024 were fully remote.

Employers are increasingly favoring hybrid or location restricted remote roles due to tax compliance, management oversight, and an increase in return to office policies. While they still exist, you should expect these unicorn "live and work from anywhere at any time" to be highly competitive and rare. 

Most employers use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to manage applications. These systems often do not make hiring decisions, but they organize and rank resumes based on keywords and required qualifications before a human sees them.

This means a poorly formatted resume or one that is not tailored to the specific job description may reduce your chances of being seen by a human reviewer depending on the number of applications and the organization or company. Ensure you have an ATS friendly resume by using our resume template HERE.  

Networking is the most important job search strategy. Many academic and professional roles are filled through referrals, informal outreach, and professional connections before or alongside public postings. Building relationships with faculty, alumni, collaborators, and peers significantly increases access to opportunities and context that job ads alone do not provide. Check out KU Mentoring + to Connect with Alumni from your field in industries you are interested in. 

Sign up for targeted listservs that post job openings in your field.

Ask your faculty or professionals in your network about the networks and associations they use, many offer job boards with smaller applicant pools, helping you focus your search.

For academic roles (lecturer, visiting professor, postdoc, tenure-track), consult your faculty about where jobs are typically posted in your discipline.

Use broad sites like Indeed and LinkedIn as supplements, not starting points.
Try typing in Job board for (Your field or degree) 

In a difficult job market, success does not have to mean landing your ideal role right away. A successful outcome can be securing a position that meets your financial needs while allowing you to build experience, skills, and professional connections, especially if this is your first full time role.

Even if a job is not a long-term fit, it can help clarify what you want next and strengthen your profile for future opportunities. When evaluating roles, consider not only the job itself but also lifestyle factors such as location, commute, flexibility, benefits, and personal responsibilities.

Career paths are rarely linear, and short-term roles can still meaningfully support long term goals.

You should begin preparing as soon as you know you want to pursue the academic job market. Job ads in your field can help you understand expectations and assess how many positions typically exist in a given year. Your CV should be a living document that you update throughout your academic career to capture teaching, research, service, and professional activities as they happen. This helps ensure nothing is overlooked when you are ready to apply. If you need a starting point, use the CV template developed specifically for KU graduate students.

Begin active preparation 12 to 18 months before applying. This helps you figure out which types of institutions you are targeting, develop additional application materials such as your cover letter, research statement, and teaching statement, and seek feedback from faculty and advisors. It also gives you time to strengthen areas that search committees value like publications, teaching experience, and conference participation.