The Academic Job Search: 

A Practical Timeline & Guide

For Graduate Students & Postdocs at Lehigh University

Center for Career & Professional Development
Graduate Life Office Academic Support Services
Postdoctoral Affairs Office


The academic job search is more than filling out applications — it’s a year-long process of preparation, connection, and showcasing your strengths in ways that resonate with a search committee. For graduate students and postdocs, knowing the timeline and what’s expected at each stage can make the process far less overwhelming. This guide walks you through every step, from building your record and finding the right opportunities to interviewing and negotiating, with Lehigh-specific resources to help you put your best foot forward.

1. Planning Ahead: 12+ Months Before Applying 

A strong application doesn’t happen overnight — it’s built through months (and often years) of research, teaching, networking, and professional development. Use this time to strengthen your CV, clarify your research narrative, and get comfortable talking about your work in different formats. Now is the time to think of every conference presentation, panel discussion, or poster session as a mini job talk.

Some key action steps to focus on:
  • Publish strategically — Aim for a balance of quality and quantity that reaches different audiences. Always prioritize high-quality publications, while considering how project type, size, and scope may shape your publication record.
  • Build your network — connect with others in your field through conferences and workshops, volunteer or advocacy work, committees, and leverage your existing connections like Lehigh Connects and LinkedIn (check out LinkedIn alumni filter tool to connect with others in the Lehigh community).
  • Line up strong references early — ask people who know your work well and can speak to your strengths, such as your dissertation advisor or postdoc advisor, faculty you’ve assisted as a TA, and other research collaborators. Reach out in the summer before your search, and share your updated CV along with a few key points you’d like them to emphasize.
  • Stay organized — track job ads, deadlines, and progress. Set up a spreadsheet similar to this one (from You’re on the Market) and tailor it to your needs.  Graduate students can also use the Lehigh Graduate Career Portfolio to manage your networking and application materials.
  • Create a professional online presence — Google Scholar, LinkedIn, and a simple personal website can go a long way and help with networking.
  • Consider applying for postdoctoral fellowships and grants — funding makes you a more competitive candidate.

2. Understanding the Hiring Cycle: 

Faculty hiring is often planned 12–18 months in advance and can be shaped by institutional strategy, funding, and even conference schedules. While tenure-track research roles tend to dominate the early postings, teaching-focused positions may appear later in the year. Although deferment of the start date for up to one year at larger or more research-focused institutions is common, knowing when and where jobs are posted — and having your materials ready — helps you move quickly when the right opportunity comes along. Smaller schools may advertise earlier to secure strong candidates before they are recruited by larger institutions.

Typical Timeline Table:

3. Finding & Evaluating Job Ads (Jul - Sept)

A job ad is more than a list of requirements — it’s a snapshot of what a department values and how they see the role fitting into their bigger picture. Read closely for clues about research priorities, teaching expectations, and collaborative opportunities. Don’t rule yourself out too early.  If you meet most of the criteria, it’s worth reaching out to the search committee chair about whether you should apply.

Consider what types of roles you are interested in — tenure-track faculty, teaching faculty, research faculty, postdoctoral positions, or visiting assistant professorships. Postdoctoral and visiting roles are typically temporary, short-term appointments, and while they may include “professor” in the title, they are not tenure-track. Take time to learn the differences between these paths, and connect with faculty at Lehigh who can share firsthand insight into what each role involves.

Think about where you’d like to work and what kind of institution would be the best fit — for example, a research-intensive university, a primarily undergraduate college, or a master’s-level institution. Tools like the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education can help you understand these categories and explore schools that match your interests. 

Where to look:

Major Job Boards

Networks & Communities

  • Department websites and professional listservs
  • Social media (including community-compiled spreadsheets of open job postings)
  • Your supervisor’s network

Lehigh-Specific Resources

  • Interstride for international or US-based global job search (all students, staff, faculty, and postdocs access Interstride using single sign on with Lehigh credentials)
  • Handshake for current graduate students

Set up job alerts on all relevant job boards to receive notifications.  Look out for the Faculty Job Search Workshop series hosted each summer by the Postdoc Office, advertised in the Perch, the Weekly Buzz, and the Postdoc Post.

4. Tailoring and Submitting Your Materials (Sept - Dec)

When putting together your materials, remember that search committees will include people outside your discipline. Your materials need to be clear, engaging, and easy to follow. Show how you fit the position and how you’ll contribute to the department’s mission (use key words from the job description). Wherever possible, highlight the intersections in your research, teaching, and service/outreach. This is your opportunity to tell your story and highlight why you would be a great fit, have a promising line of work for the future, and be a great colleague.

  • Read the job ads carefully for required materials, which vary by institution.  Most will ask for a CV, cover letter, research statement, teaching statement, references, and a diversity statement.
  • CV: Put the most relevant sections up front. Use bullet points for clarity where helpful.
  • Cover Letter: Make it specific — reference the department’s priorities or mission and give examples from your own work.
  • Research Statement: Show scholarly impact and potential for funding.
  • Teaching Statement: Highlight your teaching philosophy, student engagement strategies, and evidence of effectiveness.
  • Reach out for support early:

For examples and guidance for preparing your application materials, these resources can help:

5. Preparing for Interviews (Oct - Feb)

Interviews are as much about how you think and communicate as they are about your accomplishments. Your job talk and teaching demo should showcase your expertise, enthusiasm, and ability to connect with a range of audiences. 

Most interview invitations arrive between October and February, with many calls coming in January. Start preparing early so you can respond quickly when the invitation comes.

  • Learn from others. Meet with faculty in your department to discuss what to expect, and talk to peers who have recently secured faculty positions.
  • Do your research. Use higher education and professional association resources, such as How to Prepare Screening Interviews for Faculty Jobs and How to Stand Out in Your Interview and Job Talk.
  • Leverage AI tools. Gemini (Google) and ChatGPT Premium (via Lehigh’s DataLab DataCamp subscription) are free for Lehigh users. Use key elements from the job posting to generate common interview questions to practice. Check Lehigh’s AI tools guide and HubSpot’s article on writing AI prompts.
  • Practice your delivery.
    • Graduate students: Schedule a career coaching appointment on Handshake (one-hour mock interview on Zoom or in-person).
    • Graduate students and postdocs can schedule a consultation appointment with the Graduate Writers’ Studio via the consultation scheduler. Writers will meet individually with Dr. Lee to discuss their unique needs. We can focus on reading and reviewing application materials generally and in response to specific job postings, on developing a writing and submission schedule, on overcoming writer's block, time management issues, etc.
    • Everyone: Complete a mock interview on Big Interview specific to faculty careers. Use your Lehigh email and set up a passcode. Go to ‘Practice’ and choose ‘Practice sets.’ Then select ‘Industry’ and ‘Teaching Profession.’ Then choose ‘College Professor.’ After recording your interview, you can receive AI feedback with an action plan for improvement.
  • Prepare your own questions. Thoughtful, well-researched questions show you’re seriously considering the role and help you assess fit. Draw on what you’ve learned about the department and institution, check with your network, and review resources like The Inverse Interview for examples— especially about life in the area, the culture in the department/university, and tenure requirements.
  • Research the faculty you’ll meet with. Demonstrating that you’ve done your homework sets you apart and helps you find conversation and connection points during meetings.
  • Stay informed about opportunities to discuss interviewing. Watch for interview workshops hosted by the Postdoc Office, announced in the Postdoc Post.

6. Evaluating and Negotiating Offers (Dec - Mar)

Negotiating the Offer

When an offer comes in, it’s exciting — but it’s also a moment to pause and review the details. In many cases, the first offer will be verbal, which is common in academia. Treat this as the start of a conversation. There is often back-and-forth before you and the institution reach a final agreement.

Beyond the salary, look at the full package:

  • Start-up funding – What’s included, how long you have to use it, and whether it covers your essential research needs.
  • Research support – Lab space, equipment access, graduate/undergraduate assistants, and conference/travel funds.
  • Teaching load and expectations – Courses per semester, course development opportunities, course release possibility; available course materials and grading or TA support.
  • Service commitments – Committee work, advising, and other non-teaching responsibilities.
  • Mentoring & professional development – Is there a structured program for new faculty?
  • Dual careers/partner hires – If you have a partner who also needs a position, ask about institutional support for dual-career placements or spousal hiring programs. This is often part of the negotiation process and can be explored once an offer is on the table.
  • Relocation assistance – Moving costs or temporary housing.
  • Visa sponsorship – Will the institution assist you with immigration sponsorship?

Tips for approaching the negotiation:

  • Use salary and cost-of-living calculators to put numbers in context.
  • Identify your top priorities before starting the conversation.
  • Talk with a mentor, a trusted advisor, or important people in your life as you decide on your next steps. Graduate students can discuss offer evaluation/negotiation by scheduling a career coaching appointment.
  • Be professional and respectful — you’re starting a long-term relationship.
  • Check out LinkedIn Learning (free to graduate students, postdocs, and faculty/staff at Lehigh) to learn negotiation strategies. 

Building Resilience in the Job Search

It’s normal in academic job searches not to receive interviews — or to interview without receiving an offer. This doesn’t mean you’re unqualified; more often it reflects the competitiveness of the field, departmental priorities, or timing. Multi-year searches are common, and persistence is part of the process.

What to do:

  • Reassess and strengthen your application materials (CV, cover letter, research/teaching statements).
  • Seek feedback from mentors or, when possible, the search chair.
  • Reflect on interviews as practice that builds confidence and clarity for the next opportunity.
  • Stay active in your field through publishing, conferences, and networking.
  • Explore interim roles that keep you competitive:
    • Postdoctoral positions
    • Visiting assistant professorships
    • Short-term research fellowships
      These roles can help you continue publishing, teaching, and building connections, positioning you for the next hiring cycle.

Tools you can use to use for exploring career pathways:

Close the loop professionally: Always send a thank-you note to the search committee. Even if this role isn’t the right fit now, maintaining a positive connection can open doors later — positions can re-open, or you might cross paths with those faculty in another context.

Contact Information

Jenny Chao, MA
Program Manager
Postdoctoral Affairs Office
Email: jcc410@lehigh.edu | Phone: 610-758-2585
Website:postdoc.lehigh.edu

Ali Erk, MEd
Associate Director, Graduate Student Career Development
Center for Career & Professional Development
Email: alison.erk@lehigh.edu | Phone: 610-758-3710
Website: careercenter.lehigh.edu

Yvonne Lee, PhD
Director, Academic Support Services
Graduate Life Office
Email: yrl219@lehigh.edu | Phone: 610-758-2726
Website: grad.lehigh.edu