Job Placement Services
The goal of most students acquiring a PhD in Literature, Rhetoric, or English Language and Linguistics is a college or university teaching career. The Department of English has an active Job Placement Committee ready to advise and mentor graduate students as they prepare to compete successfully on the academic job market. The Job Placement Committee assists students in the preparation of all materials--such as the CV, dissertation abstract, a writing sample, and a teaching portfolio--necessary for applying for academic positions. In addition to one-on-one counseling and advising, the Committee arranges “mock” interviews in order to prepare students for the kinds of questions they will face from potential employers. As the job search process moves into the on-campus interview phase, students are given the opportunity to try out job lectures and pedagogical presentations before a friendly audience of fellow graduate students and faculty.
All PhDs and faculty in the English Department have access to the on-line MLA Job Information List that appears on the ADE website (www.ade.org) (password available from the Graduate Administrator). For a full list of recent PhD job placements, please consult our PhD Job Placement Record.
The work of the Placement Committee complements other departmental activities designed to “professionalize” graduate students. These events include brown bag discussions about attending professional conferences; publishing opportunities; issues in pedagogy; and navigating the transition from graduate school to your first job.
Further inquiries regarding placement should be directed to the Director of Graduate Studies or to the co-chairs of the Job Placement Committee.
Kellie Robertson and Morris Young
Co-chairs, Job Placement Committee
Department of English
7195 Helen C. White
600 N. Park St.
Madison, WI 53706
608-263-3761
fax: 608-263-3709