Advice to would be scholars

May 26, 2012

Frequently I am asked what the academic life is like. First, I have no idea what this is or when it starts. For me I would say it really started in a basement hallway of Reasoner Hall at Asbury College when I skipped a class to talk to a prof about Beowulf. As to the nature of this life, all jokes aside, it is a good life for those who can live it. Anyhow, I have been unreasonably blessed with good friends and mentors in my field. Below is a bit of advice from one of my best friends. Will keep his identity covert save to say he has made his own way, now occupies a major continental chair, and previously held prestigious posts at Princeton, Oxford, and in London. He is also an even better person than scholar.

In general, planning a career in academia according to reputation of institutions etc. is probably the last thing you should do. I did allmy studies up to PhD in one (rather unknown place in Germany). If you are seriously planning to become an academic some essential things are necessary:

1) quality, originality and precision in research

2) command of foreign languages, cultural tolerance and networking worldwide

3) ability to work hard in any context/institution

4) presence at conferences and contributions to conferences

5) versatility in interests

6) enthusiasm and discipline in teaching

7) emotional intelligence, dignity, politeness and generosity in interpersonal behaviour, willingness to share ideas and materials

As for the situation with job interviews, I think that about one third depends on your quality as a scholar, one third on how well other people know you, one third is luck (i.e. being qualified for something in the right place at the right time). In any case, academics can almost never choose where they would like to be, but some of the best academics do not have jobs, because they never cared to be active enough about seizing certain opportunities.

2:49am | URL: http://tmblr.co/ZmxX6yM8m8Nw

(Notes: 12)