Standing Out in the Academic LIS Job Market: An Interactive Panel Not Just for Doctoral Students

This proposal builds on the previous successes of the interactive panels sponsored by the ASIS&T Special Interest Group on Education (SIG ED) at the 2017, 2015, 2013, 2012, and 2011 annual meetings. The all-new 2020 panel features faculty in various stages of their academic careers, including a relatively new assistant professor, one who has just completed the tenure process, two associate professors, a full professor, and a professor emerita. The panelists are prepared to address audience questions on topics such as the traditional academic job market, alternative career paths including post-doctoral opportunities, development of personal research agendas, challenges of online instruction (Sithole et al., International Journal of Online Pedagogy and Course Design, 2019, 9, 62–77), as well as the challenges and disruption caused in higher education due to the COVID-19 situation (Amour, Coronavirus News Roundup for April 21, 2020). The panel discussion will focus around the academic job market and how applicants can present themselves in the best light depending upon the type of position sought. Doctoral students will gain valuable insights on finishing their dissertation, weighing postdoctoral opportunities, and preparing for their first academic position. The panel will be useful not only to doctoral students but also to postdocs, adjuncts, and assistant-to- associate-to-full professors, as the panelists share their insights and experience through various career stages