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Finding a tenure‐track position in academia in North America: Development of an employability model for new assistant professors
Author(s) -
SaffieRobertson Ma. Carolina,
Fiset John
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
higher education quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.976
H-Index - 42
eISSN - 1468-2273
pISSN - 0951-5224
DOI - 10.1111/hequ.12278
Subject(s) - employability , context (archaeology) , position (finance) , human capital , higher education , dimension (graph theory) , identity (music) , sociology , medical education , public relations , pedagogy , psychology , management , political science , business , economics , economic growth , medicine , finance , law , paleontology , physics , mathematics , acoustics , pure mathematics , biology
Searching for an academic position is known to be a stressful and often ambiguous process for applicants. During this transition from doctoral students to assistant professors, applicants seek any additional means to increase their chances of securing an academic appointment. This research draws on data gathered from a sample of recently hired business school professors for tenure‐track positions in Canada and the United States to develop an inductive model of academic employability. The academic employability model derived from our data consists of four dimensions, three of which have been included in existing employability models (Career Identity, Personal Adaptability, and Social and Human Capital) as well as a fourth unique dimension to this model (Academic Professionalism). In addition to providing an analysis of this distinct and context‐rich job market environment, we offer practical advice for aspiring job candidates, doctoral programmes and academic supervisors seeking to improve academic employability of doctoral graduates.