Approaching the Job Market
Are you getting ready to go on the academic job market? The CTL offers a number of ways to help graduate students effectively develop their teaching and provide evidence of their teaching experience in applications and interviews. As you get ready to go on the market, take advantage of programming and services to refine your teaching portfolio, teaching statement, diversity statement, syllabi, public speaking, and presentation skills.
On this page:
Stay Connected
Sign up for the CTL email list so you’re always in the loop about professional development opportunities.
Transcript certification
Teaching Development Program
CTL’s Teaching Development Program (TDP) allows Columbia doctoral students to cultivate, document, and articulate their teaching development across the arc of their graduate school career. Graduate students can participate in the TDP program on either of two tracks: Foundational or Advanced. Completion of a TDP track earns a letter outlining track competencies and certifying completion from the CTL, and is noted on Columbia transcripts for doctoral students in Arts and Sciences as well as SEAS departments. Advanced Track participants build digital teaching portfolios on a WordPress platform supported by CTL and hosted at Columbia. Learn more.
Academic Year offerings
Writing a Teaching Statement
Are you drafting a teaching statement for the academic job market? In this workshop, you will have a hands-on opportunity to gather ideas and draft effective components of your teaching statement. Learn the elements of a strong teaching statement and engage in activities to kick-start the writing process. Check for upcoming workshops.
After you have worked on your teaching statement, come receive feedback during our monthly Teaching Materials Peer Review Sessions (see below).
Writing a Diversity Statement
Diversity statements are becoming increasingly common in the academic job application process, but what are they and how do you write one? In this workshop, learn about the components of a reflective and thoughtful diversity statement, see sample statements, and brainstorm your first draft. Check for upcoming workshops.
After you have worked on your diversity statement draft, come receive feedback during our monthly Teaching Materials Peer Review Sessions (see below).
Building Your Portfolio
What counts as evidence of your teaching practice and how can you best organize it for the job market? In this workshop, you will learn about the content and purpose of a teaching portfolio on the academic job market, reflect on your own teaching experience, and take inventory of the evidence you already have. Get a start on assembling your portfolio and polishing your teaching materials and reflections through peer review. Check for upcoming workshops.
After you have worked on your teaching portfolio, come receive feedback during our monthly Teaching Materials Peer Review Sessions (see below).
Syllabus from Scratch
Drafting a syllabus for the first time? This two-part series will introduce you to the key elements of an effective syllabus and help you define learning goals and assessment methods that will promote student learning in your course. Check for upcoming workshops.
After you have drafted your syllabus, come receive feedback during our monthly Teaching Materials Peer Review Sessions (see below).
Teaching Materials Peer Review Sessions
Looking for a supportive, informal environment to refine course materials (syllabi, lesson plans) or job market materials (teaching statements, diversity statements, teaching portfolio)? Drop by with a draft, and work with other graduate students to give and receive feedback using a lightly structured peer-review process developed by CTL. CTL staff will be on hand to offer advice and pertinent resources to all participants — as well as coffee and light snacks. Participants are asked to bring draft material (however preliminary) to be able to exchange and discuss. Check for upcoming sessions.
Summer offerings
Teaching Statement Online
The CTL is pleased to offer a new, online opportunity to learn about, write, and revise a teaching statement in order to enter the academic job market successfully. The Teaching Statement Online workshop (TSO) is designed to let you work from home or wherever you do your best writing. Working 2-3 hours per week, this four-week program moves participants step-by-step through the writing process. Participants who complete the program leave with a completed draft of their teaching statement and receive multiple rounds of feedback from CTL staff and their peers. This program will run in Summer 2020. Learn more.
Representing Your Teaching Summer Intensives
Wondering how to present your teaching on the academic job market? In July CTL hosts a week of events where graduate students can learn about and begin drafting teaching-related documents with feedback and guidance from CTL. During RYTSI, you will focus on representing your teaching in different parts of your academic job application: teaching statements, teaching portfolios, syllabi, diversity statements, and presenting your teaching in interviews and on the market. Learn more.
Services
Individual Consultations
Sign up for a teaching consultation to receive individualized feedback from CTL staff on your teaching portfolio; teaching, diversity, and research statements; syllabi; and any other teaching materials as you prepare for the job market. Learn more.
Teaching Observations
Teaching observations give you an opportunity to receive direct feedback on your classroom instruction by a fellow trained graduate student. Through this service, you will gain better insight into what it’s like to be a student in your class, how you were successful as an instructor, and new approaches you might try in your teaching. Learn more.
Looking Forward
Not yet on the academic job market, but wondering how to prepare for a faculty position? It’s never too early to attend any of these programs and services! Sign up for the CTL email list to receive updates on other opportunities to dive deeper into your teaching.
The CTL is here for graduate students.
The Columbia Center for Teaching and Learning provides an array of support for graduate students in both their current and future teaching responsibilities.