Ahh January: the time of little sunlight, lots of resolutions, and of course, back to school for a new semester! But before we get caught up in taking and teaching new classes, studying for exams, and writing dissertations, this can also be a great time of year to implement some new practices that make the inevitable job search easier. So shove over all those big plans to gobble up less reality TV and swap out your beer intake for water, and let’s talk career planning!

 1. Get into the habit of updating your C.V./ resume every semester. This may feel like an unnecessary extra thing to worry about if you’re still a year or two away from finishing school, but if you wait, chances are you’ll forget some accomplishments or experiences that may help differentiate you down the road.

2. Make an electronic and/or hard-copy file of favorable classroom observations you receive. Trying to rally the administration of colleges where you’ve taught to stop everything they’re doing and provide you copies of your observation from three years ago may prove, well, impossible.

3. Seek out and check in with former professors and supervisors with whom you have a positive rapport (if you can’t think of any, then forget every other item on this list: your new year’s resolution is to devote some time to improving your relationships)! It’s important to stay on people’s radar, especially if you think they may be providing you a reference or have helpful connections. Even a casual coffee or chat during office hours can remind a former professor or supervisor of your strengths and help maintain the relationship.

4. Create a dossier of syllabi, assignments, and other teaching materials that you’re particularly proud of. If a potential employer asks for examples of your work as an instructor, you don’t want to have to put the interview process on hold while you furiously flip through dusty binders and outdated USB sticks!

5. Create a file that includes the best academic work you’ve done: papers, proposals, PowerPoints, whatever, as long as it showcases your insights and ingenuity as a student. You don’t want to send over the B+ paper you wrote the night before and in the middle of a break-up because it’s the only thing you can locate. Keep your best work handy! One easy way to start this process: create your CUNY Academic Commons profile (it’s free!) and upload work you’d like to keep accessible.

 Happy First Day of The Semester!

 – Jackie Kelly