0.5 Negotiating an academic job offer: what, when, how  (Page 2/3)

Space

How do you know if space will work?

• Look at the total square feet
• How is it laid out? Can you imagine/plan your work in that space?
• How close is the space to colleagues of interest to you? To requisite shared equipment?
• Is it near your proposed office? Far away? Which do you want (people vary a lot)?
• Think about what you envision doing and then put yourself and your research group in the proposed space

Questions to ask

Space may be “start-up” with the potential to expand when your group expands (it may also not be expandable)

• Ask if additional space will be possible when your group reaches critical mass
• Ask if “shared” space is feasible when you expand beyond current assigned space

Questions to ask

• Does your teaching assignment matter to you?
  • Within what limits?
  • What courses would you like to teach?
  • What would you be willing to teach?
• Will you have a teaching “break” as you start your research program? How long?
• Will you have TA support?

Salary

SALARY SCALES VARY A LOT BY DISCIPLINE

How do you know if the salary is in the appropriate range?

• Hard to get salary figures from privates
• Can get national “averages,” but may not be informative
• Talk with faculty in your department to get a sense of the starting range in your field
• Think about what you need to live with some level of comfort in the community
  • Salaries vary considerably depending on local cost-of-living

Can i ask for more?

Salary is the most sensitive of the issues in some ways

• The department wants you to come, so they’ll work hard to offer a good salary
• Your salary impacts the salary ladder in the department/school/institution
• Providing a salary higher than previously hired assistant professors (or worse still, associate professors/professors) creates long-standing resentments and problems
• If you ask for more, do it with good information and no expectations

State vs. Private institutions

• State institutions have greater “rule-based” limitations
  • Salary grades may be set and harder to negotiate
  • Less flexibility in fund management
• Private institutions are generally smaller
  • Stepping out of “salary lineup” has greater consequences

Appointment terms

Initial term of appointment is set by institutional policies

• 3 year, 4 year with renewal is common
  • Renewal is determined by a review process
• Tenure decision at 6-8 years is common
  • Tenure is determined by internal/external review process
• Definition of academic year/summer also may vary with institutions

When to talk about start-up

• You can inquire generally about research start-up during the interview process.
• If a faculty member (or the Chair) asks you about equipment needs, answer them clearly and concisely
• If the Chair initiates a discussion of start-up needs, provide detailed and clear information, keeping the option to give more information later
• Ascertain whether the information sought is for equipment/supplies (usual) or everything

Form of information

• If the request is verbal, provide verbal answers and inquire if more detailed information would be useful
• If more detailed information is requested, give written information
  • Excel sheet is easy to manage (can give hard copy and also send via email)

  • Make sure that all information is correct and pricing is current

    • Use catalog prices or quotations