November 28, 2007
From the Archives: Preparing for the Job Register
By David Darlington
In little more than a month, hundreds of historians will descend on Washington, D.C. in search of the perfect job. For some, it will be that first, foot-in-the-door, tenure-track position. For others, it will be that position which represents the culmination of a career of teaching and researching. In any case, preparing for a job interview at the AHA annual meeting can be a stressful experience.
With the hopes of making preparations a little less worrisome, here are some articles that have appeared in Perspectives, the Annual Meeting Supplement, and other AHA publications in recent years, all of which provide helpful advice on how to prepare for the Job Register.
- “Successful Strategies for Interviews at the Annual Meeting,” by Lucy G. Barber and John Wood Sweet, from the December 1998 issue of Perspectives.
- “Advice on Surviving the Job Register: A Guide for the Bemused and Befuddled,” and “Reflections on Interviewing,” by Richard E. Bond. Rich Bond is a former AHA employee who has known the Job Register from both sides – as a candidate for a tenure-track teaching position and as co-manager of the Job Register, trying to make it run smoothly. In both articles Rich offers a winsome take on his Job Register experiences.
- “The Insider’s Guide to the Job Register,” by David M. Darlington. This article contains my own reflections and tips for surviving the Job Register, based on my experience of being the Job Register co-manager since the 2002 annual meeting.
- “Surviving a Job Register Interview,” by Melanie Gustafson is an excerpt from Gustafson’s popular book, Becoming a Historian: A Survival Manual.
- “Applying for Job at a Liberal Arts College,” by David Allen Harvey, includes a brief note about making a good impression at convention interviews. From the September 2003 issue of Perspectives.
And don’t forget the Job Register home page and the Professional Division’s advice for interviewers on how to treat job candidates appropriately.
