Transcript Mentoring Workshop Job Market Research Productivity Marcelle Chauvet

Mentoring Workshop
Job Market
Research Productivity
Marcelle Chauvet
Department of Economics
University of California, Riverside
Job Market
Job Market Paper
Decisions on topic
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Individual interest on the question
Advisor’s interest on the question
Assessment of future demand for the topic
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Top journals (field and general) in the last
2-3 years
Google Scholar (papers and citation)
http://biblio.repec.org/
http://www.nber.org/papersbyprog/
www.ssrn.com
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Job Market Paper
Has anyone worked (or is working) on
this question?
 Is the paper feasible (given time
constraint, existing methodologies)?
Is the question addressed relevant and
interesting (for at least a subgroup of
researchers?)
Are the assumptions made sounded? Are
there any basic inconsistencies (model
derivation, adequate methodology, etc.)

Job Market Paper
Should you target your paper to
academia, government, or
industry jobs?
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If you are sure about which kind
of job you would like to have

If you are not sure – target
academia
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Theoretical and empirical papers
Job Market Paper
A well structured paper is
crucial
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Introduction should include a
clear question and motivation
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English should be carefully
revised

Research Project and
Introduction
Step 1: Opening paragraph -discussion
of the issue.

Step 2: what is done in the paper

Step 3: Why it is interesting motivation and what others have done in
the past that is related to this paper)

Step 4: How will the paper improve on
previous work, i.e. the contribution.

Research Project and
Introduction (cont.)
Step 5: How the question is going to be
answered – methodology

(Step 6: Description of the data, priors
or calibration)
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Step 7 – Preview of results
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Step 8 – Structure of the paper
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Job Market Strategies
Applying to Academic and NonAcademic Institutions:
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Package: cover letter, Job Market
paper, abstracts of other papers, CV

Number of applications

Advisor and committee’s role: letters
of recommendation and personal
recommendations

Job Market Strategies Interviews
Dress Code

Prepare, Prepare, and Prepare
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Warm-up
Presentation: 1-2 minutes rule
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Answering questions

Asking questions (do your homework!)

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Illegal questions
Follow up – show interest

Job Market Strategies: Fly-out
Contacting other schools

One-to-one Interviews
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Presentation
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Structure
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Answering questions
Clarification questions
Off-base questions
Difficult technical questions

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Testy vs. light sense of humor
Job Market Strategies:
Negotiating Offer

If you may have another offer

If you have another offer
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If you do not have another offer
Summing up
Understand the rules of the game
Be bold
Be assertive
Be prepared

Research Productivity
Research Productivity

Motivation to do the paper

Write a research project and Plan

Divide tasks with co-author (if any)
Establish deadlines (conference
submission, presentations, etc.)

Research Productivity
Never enough time, and tasks always take
much longer than planned

Procrastination – result of bad planning,
and of being overwhelmed.

What to do?
 Revise plan often, adjusting for more
realistic goals and timing

Research Productivity
Plan amount of time allocated in each task
beforehand

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research, correcting exams, writing referee
reports, answering emails, personal tasks
Revise plan
Divide tasks in small steps
Plan your day the day before
Revise plan again – give yourself some
small awards
Keep track of time and meeting goals
established

Balance of Tasks: Research,
Teaching, Service
Research Payoff

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Tenure
Motivation/interest
Academic standing
Opportunity cost of doing anything else
than research
Payoff generally not immediate for
young economists, large as time passes
by
Hurdle – referee reports and rejections
Teaching Payoff

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Tenure
Motivation/interest
Working with students
Teaching - Time on teaching is more
predictable
Cost and benefit of saying yes or no
to extra teaching
Service Payoff

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Tenure
Motivation/interest
Time on service is not predictable
Types of Service: committees,
editorial board of journals, etc.
Cost and benefit of saying yes or no
to Service
Opportunity cost
Balance: Personal and
Professional Life
Strategies
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Prioritize
Plan ahead
Allow time for unpredictable personal
events
Need for more productivity, and more
efficient use of time
Learn how to say no to service, extra
teaching, and other demands on your time
with low payoff
Strategies
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Do not put your family in second plan

Be more productive and strategic
with your time instead!
Strategies for women
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Children, job market, and tenure
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Timing
Count even more on unpredictable
time allocation
More than ever, need for clear
plans, productivity strategies
Have projects set up, ready to go