Academic Job Search Documents
This resource provides essential guidance on creating effective teaching philosophies, research statements, and teaching portfolios to help you stand out during your academic job search.
A teaching philosophy (or teaching statement) is a written statement providing an overview and explanation of your pedagogy and approach to learning in the classroom. Your teaching philosophy should demonstrate reflection on your teaching experience, as well as share key elements of your teaching style and classroom environment.
Here are key questions to consider when writing your teaching philosophy:
- What are your goals for student learning?
- How will you enact those goals?
- How will you assess those goals?
- How will you create an inclusive environment?
- How does your teaching philosophy fit with the mission of the department and institution?
- What motivates you to learn about this subject?
- Why do you teach?
- How do you know you’ve taught successfully?
- What do you believe or value about teaching and learning?
- How do your research and disciplinary context influence your teaching?
- How do the identities and backgrounds of both you and your students affect teaching and learning in your classes?
- How do you account for different styles of learning?
statement should include key elements of your research and how it aligns with the goals of the department and/or institution.
Here are key questions to consider when writing your research statement:
- What question(s) are you trying to answer through your research?
- Why is this question important to your field?
- What existing research has your work built upon?
- How have your past and present research addressed that question? How will your future research address that
- question?
- What motivates you to study your topic?
- What techniques have you successfully used?
- How can you summarize your results?
- What challenges in your research have you overcome?
- How can you involve students in your research?
- How can your research attract grants or funding?
- What resources will you need to be successful? (Finances, equipment, etc.)
A research statement is designed to give the search committee an overview of your research—past, present, and future. Your
A teaching portfolio documents your experience as a teacher or instructor throughout your career. It provides concrete evidence of your effectiveness as a teacher and helps you track your progress as you improve and develop your skills as an instructor.
As the academic job market becomes more competitive, a teaching portfolio can help you stand out by showcasing the breadth and depth of your teaching abilities. It supports your teaching statement or philosophy and gives a search committee a clearer understanding of how you will “fit” with the department.
For more information about teaching portfolios, check out the Teaching Portfolio Workshop Series by the Center for Teaching Excellence.
Tips for Academic Search Documents
- Communicate clearly and concisely—most search committees will review these statements quickly!
- Your statements are personal reflections. Write in the first person, ensuring they genuinely reflect your work.
- Providing examples helps illustrate your teaching/research to the search committee in a more tangible way.
- Have multiple people review your statements, including those familiar with your field. Faculty mentors and peers can provide essential feedback about the style of your statements and expectations within the field.