The text explains the difference between tenure-track and tenured positions in academia. Tenure-track is a probationary period (typically 5-7 years) where faculty demonstrate their abilities in teaching, research, and service to earn tenure. Tenure is a permanent position providing job security and academic freedom, allowing professors to pursue their work without fear of dismissal for unpopular views. Both are crucial for maintaining academic excellence and protecting intellectual freedom, but differ significantly in job security and pressure levels. The text details the expectations, review processes, and benefits associated with each position.

AcademicJobs.com presents its 'Academic Rankings' initiative, a system evaluating academics beyond conventional metrics. The ranking employs a proprietary algorithm considering factors such as publications, teaching performance, and public profile. Eight key metrics contribute to the overall score, encompassing purpose, experience, publications, ambition, engagement, student feedback, affiliate influence, and public engagement. Recent publications and the impact of past work are both evaluated, alongside professional contributions like collaborations and mentorship. The system also factors in student feedback and the influence of peers and institutions. Ultimately, the ranking aims to promote and celebrate those actively contributing to excellence in higher education.

‘Celebrating and promoting those who have and continue to create excellence, impact and energy in higher education’

The Academic Rankings initiative is a multifaceted system that goes beyond traditional metrics like publications and citations. It aims to capture a broader picture of an academic’s engagement, impact, and contributions to higher education by incorporating elements like collaborative activities, teaching performance (when relevant), and public profile. The proprietary algorithm and the variety of metrics are designed to create a specific type of ranking system that emphasizes engagement and outward focus as much as pure academic success.

The Academic Ranking is algorithmically generated. Eight key metrics contribute to the overall ranking score:

· Current Purpose & Motivation

· Experience in your field

· Publications – recent output & past impact

· Academic Ambition

· Current Academic Engagement

· Student Feedback (if applicable)

· Affiliate Influence – ranking s of peers / collaborating institutions

· Willingness to engage publicly

The Academic Rankings’ Metrics:

· Current Purpose & Motivation: How yousee yourself as an academic and what drives you. An honest reflection of where you are andwhat you want to achieve. This reflectionis vital in creating a successful academic roadmap forward.

· Experience in your field and awards: Thelength of time an individual has been an academic is a factor. This suggeststhat experience in the field contributes to a higher ranking. There is an opportunity for junior academicsto identify why ‘achievement’ should outweigh years of experience in their case.

Publications – recent output & past impact:The number of papers published in the last two years is a core component,reflecting "recent academic engagement." This emphasizes theimportance of active scholarship. Theranking also considers "your most successful / cited academicpaper/s." This acknowledges notjust quantity but also the influence of research.

Affiliate Influence – rankings of peers andcollaborating institutions: The ranking takes into account who your collegiateinfluences are and where you are currently working. This acknowledges theimpact of positive professional and institutional linkages.

· Willingness to engage publicly: The academic'swillingness to promote yourself publically, so you can be accessible to youracademic community. This emphasises theimportance of outreach and visibility.

Boosting Higher Ed Job Site Google Rankings - by AcademicJobs.com

Is your job page getting enough traffic from Google?

Does your job page need a boost on Google?

Do you need to compete with the bigger universities on Google?

Find out the secrets of AcademicJobs.com as to how they got positioned on Google with a Harvard Job Search, and attracting Harvard jobs seekers to their website.

Search engine optimisation is a tricky business, and Google have recently changed their algorithms shift things up again for you.

AcademicJobs.com is the fastest rising higher ed platform on Google, and here’s how.

- They understand top key words in higher education employment search

- They know how to create meaningful Meta Titles and Meta Descriptions on each webpage

- They utilise best ‘Header 1’ practice for job boards in higher ed

- they create meaningful content on it’s site for its users and Google celebrates that. Ask them what content would be best on your career pages.

- they create profile pages that are informative, interesting and lead viewers to where they want to go.

- they follow all Google guidelines of the day to nurture their current Google rankings.

There is a lot to it. Reach out if you think your careers and job pages could perform better on Google.

Check out the link here to see our Google Ranking for Harvard University Jobs, and click to see our Harvard University Profile listing for ideas as to how to create your profile on your website and on AcademicJobs.com

Winning Cover Letters - the best way to get that interview and job

This guide from AcademicJobs.com's CEO offers advice on crafting a compelling cover letter.

Top Cover Letters Tips:

Cover letters are essential: "Our recruitment team agree sending a cover letter is almost always the best decision, even if the job application doesn’t ask for one. Plus, if they don’t need a cover letter, sending one will demonstrate you’re a motivated candidate. So ultimately, you can’t go wrong!" The source strongly advises submitting a cover letter with every application, framing it as an opportunity to show extra initiative.

Personalisation is key: A generic cover letter is unlikely to make a strong impression. The source stresses the importance of personalisation in several aspects:

Addressing the right person: "Address the letter directly to the person named in the job ad. If there’s no name, you can use LinkedIn to research and find the name of the relevant person, or go the classic route and call to find out." This highlights the value of effort and attention to detail.

Expressing interest in the specific company: "Mention where you learned about the role, and let us know why you want to work for Aurecon. Is it our projects? Our values? Our Principles?" The goal is to demonstrate genuine interest and understanding of the company's mission.

The cover letter should complement the CV/resume, not replicate it: "Think of your cover letter as the entrée to your resume. It shouldn’t be so detailed that it replicates what’s contained in your resume, but should give your recruiter an understanding of the skills you may be able to bring to a position." This advice stresses the strategic role of the cover letter in previewing key skills and enticing recruiters to delve deeper into the resume.

Highlight relevant skills and experience: "The next step is to summarise your main skills and experience; specify the most significant and relevant parts which you believe match the job description. Each paragraph should focus on a different aspect." The letter should be tailored to the specific job requirements, emphasizing relevant expertise and capabilities. General skills, such as "communication and interpersonal skills, problem-solving abilities and organisational strengths" are also worth highlighting.

Proofread meticulously: "After you have written your cover letter – proofread it. And then proofread again. A cover letter with grammatical errors and spelling mistakes can lead to your application being rejected." The importance of perfect grammar and spelling cannot be overstated, as errors undermine credibility.

Use strong, active language: "Use dynamic verbs such as ‘collaborated’, ‘motivated’, ‘managed’ and ‘analysed’ to help convey your points." Strong verbs convey action and achievement, making your contributions sound more impactful.

Keep it concise: "Make sure to edit your cover letter so it’s only one-page long." Brevity and focus are important as the recruiter's time is precious.

End with a positive call to action: "Finally, finish the cover letter by suggesting opportunities for further interaction: for example, indicate your willingness to meet and discuss your experience in more detail. Always finish on a positive note." The final paragraph should express enthusiasm and a desire to move to the next stage of the application process.

Actionable Advice (based on the source):

Always write a cover letter: Even if not required, it shows initiative.

Research: Find the name of the hiring manager.

Tailor each cover letter: Align the content with the specific job description and company.

Showcase relevant skills: Use concrete examples and strong verbs.

Proofread carefully: Eliminate all grammatical and spelling errors.

Keep it to one page: Be concise and focused.

End on a positive note: Express interest in further discussion.

Find academic careers and tips on www.AcademicJobs.com

Rate Your Professor: A New Platform for Academic Appreciation

AcademicJobs.com has launched "Rate Your Professor", a platform allowing students to thank and rate their professors. This initiative, spearheaded by CEO Jarrod Kanizay, aims to recognise professors' contributions, improve their career prospects, and create a university ranking system focused on student engagement, learning, and outcomes, rather than solely research output. Student feedback helps build comprehensive professor profiles and informs a more student-centric ranking system.

Acknowledgement of Professor's Work: The platform is founded on the principle that professors work diligently for their students and that acknowledging their efforts is vital. As Jarrod Kanizay, CEO of AcademicJobs.com, states: "Professors work tirelessly for their students. Any acknowledgement and praise is greatly received by them. Any time is a good time to say a simple thanks".

Student Gratitude: "Rate Your Professor" offers students a structured way to express their appreciation to their educators, moving beyond simple, verbal thanks and providing tangible feedback.

Impact on Professor's Career: Positive ratings and comments from students contribute to a professor’s academic ranking, potentially enhancing their career prospects. "Your positive rating and comments contribute greatly to their growth and future success, and you will feel great in giving such positive feedback and gratitude."

Platform Features and Functionality

• Multiple Avenues for Gratitude: Beyond simply rating professors, students can send thank-you emails or letters, highlighting specific instances of positive impact.

• Emphasis on Specific Examples: The platform encourages students to highlight “specific instances where their guidance or teaching impacted you positively, using sincere language and addressing them with the proper academic title."

Jarrod Kanizay’s Stated Objectives

Kanizay outlines three main reasons for creating the "Rate Your Professor" platform:

• Accolades for Effective Educators: The first objective is “to give accolades to those professors who help us learn and shine.” This reinforces the initial point about acknowledging hard work and positive impact on students.
• Student Reflection: The platform encourages students to actively consider the professors who have had a positive influence: “Secondly, for students to reflect on who it is who impact on their lives.”
• Development of a New Academic Ranking System: This is a key objective and perhaps the most innovative aspect of the platform. Kanizay critiques traditional academic rankings which focus primarily on research output and institutional reputation, stating, "You see all university and academic rankings out there focus largely on research output and citations, as well as global impact and institutional reputation rated by stuffy old academics. This ranking serves very few students." He seeks to create a ranking system that is more relevant to students.
• Data-Driven Insights: This new ranking system is meant to utilise the data gathered from student feedback in order to provide useful insights for prospective students and their families.

Empowering Student Voice: The platform aims to give students a voice in assessing the quality of teaching and the impact of educators.

• Reimagining Academic Rankings: By collecting student feedback, the "Rate Your Professor" platform aims to fundamentally challenge traditional methods of ranking universities and academics, moving the focus to the student experience.
• Win-Win Scenario: Students feel good about expressing gratitude and providing positive feedback while their input directly enhances the career prospects of professors and also has potential to change the way higher education is understood and assessed: “So when you rate your professors, you and helping you, them and the future of higher education and learning.”

Call to Action: Go to academicJobs.com now to Rate Your Professor

The Path to Professor - an AcademicJobs.com Podcast

This podcast from AcademicJobs.com's CEO outlines the path to becoming a senior, or full, professor. Key steps include earning a PhD, conducting postdoctoral research, securing a faculty position, and publishing extensively in reputable journals. Crucial elements also involve demonstrating strong teaching skills, taking on leadership roles, and securing grant funding. Ultimately, consistent excellence in research, teaching, and service, coupled with meeting individual university promotion criteria, are vital for advancement. The importance of quality research and continuous self-improvement is emphasised throughout.

Source: "How to Become a Senior Professor" by Jarrod Kanizay, AcademicJobs.com

Main Themes:

The guide clearly delineates the path to senior professorship as a progressive journey requiring consistent excellence in three core areas: research, teaching, and service. It's not a single leap but rather a carefully navigated climb through the academic ranks. The journey is presented as follows:

Foundation:

• PhD as a Prerequisite: The journey begins with the acquisition of a doctoral degree (PhD) in the relevant field. As stated, "Most senior professor positions require a doctorate in your field of study."
• Postdoctoral Research: Following the PhD, a postdoctoral research fellowship is strongly advised to further develop research skills and build a strong publication record. This is described as a means to "further develop your research skills and establish a strong publication record."

Establishing an Academic Career:

• Faculty Position: Securing a faculty position (lecturer or assistant professor) marks the start of the career-long climb. At this point, the focus is on building a strong research portfolio and achieving effective teaching.
• Emphasis on Publication: Consistent publication in high-impact journals is crucial to prove research output. The guide stresses the need to "Consistently produce high-quality research and publish in prestigious journals within your field."
• Teaching Excellence: Demonstrating strong teaching abilities, with student engagement, positive feedback and innovative methods, is a vital component. These qualities are noted as important requirements: "Actively engage students in your courses, receive positive teaching evaluations, and develop innovative teaching methods."

Building Reputation and Leadership:

• Service and Leadership: The path involves active participation in departmental committees, editorial boards and mentorship programs. The guidance is, "Participate in departmental committees, serve on editorial boards, mentor junior faculty, and take on administrative responsibilities within your field."
• Securing Grant Funding: The ability to secure external funding is considered key in the journey to professorship, demonstrating research capability. According to Kanizay, it is vital to "Actively apply for research grants to support your research endeavors and demonstrate your ability to secure external funding."
• Networking and Engagement: Active involvement in the academic community is critical through conference attendance and participation in professional bodies. The guide highlights the need to "Network with other scholars, present your research at conferences, and actively participate in professional organizations."

Progression and Promotion:

• Promotion to Associate Professor: After a substantial period of demonstrating excellence in research and teaching, the next step is to seek promotion to Associate Professor. This is noted as a milestone: "Once you have a substantial record of research accomplishments and teaching excellence, apply for promotion to associate professor."
• Final Step to Full Professor: Continued dedication to research and service to the academic community is necessary to be considered for promotion to full professor.

Find Professor Jobs at top Universities and Colleges locally and globally at www.AcademicJobs.com