Additional Info:
A growing number of people completing or holding graduate degrees now seek non-faculty positions—also called alternative academic, or “alt-ac” positions—at different stages in their careers. While an increasing number of people with doctoral degrees are hunting for a diminishing pool of tenure-track faculty jobs, most degree-granting institutions do not adequately prepare their graduate students to enter the new reality of the alt-ac job market. Yet the administrative ranks in higher education institutions are growing, as colleges and universities are creating a diverse range of positions that support teaching and learning efforts.

Focusing on the range of potential alternative career choices, this highly practical book offers tools and prompts for readers who are:

-Considering whether to choose an alt-ac career path
-Seeking specific alt-ac positions
-Advising graduate students or mentoring recent professional graduates
-Encountering alt-ac career challenges

The authors offer case stories—their own and those of colleagues across North America in alt-ac roles—with concrete examples designed to help readers pursue, obtain, and excel in a wide variety of alt-ac positions. The book can equally be used as a resource for graduate courses on professional development and job-market preparation. (From the Publisher)

Table Of Content:
Forward (Joshua Kim)

Preface

Acknowledgments

Part One: An Introduction to Going Alt-Ac
Ch 1. Why Go Alt-Ac?
Ch 2. Who Considers Alt-Ac Careers?

Part Two: Exploring Alt-Ac Careers
Ch 3. Do You Want to Work in Higher Ed?
Ch 4. Alt-Ac Opportunities Outside Academia
Ch 5. Being Aware of Emotions When Making Career Decisions
Ch 6. Mapping an Alt-Ac Career Trajectory
Ch 7. Learning More About Alt-Ac Fields

Part Three: Getting Started in Alt-Ac
Ch 8. Preparing for an Alt-Ac Career While Still in Grad School
Ch 9. Getting Your Partner or Family on Board With the Decision to go Alt-Ac
Ch 10. Communicating About Alt-Ac Careers With Graduate Advisors
Ch 11. Job Hunting
Ch 12. Preparing Alt-Ac Job Materials
Ch 13. Interviewing

Part Four: Addressing Common Alt-Ac Challenges
Ch 14. Addressing the Two-Body Problem
Ch 15. Finding a Niche and an Appropriate Audience
Ch 16. Communicating How Disciplinary Knowledge and
Skills Support Work in Specific Alt-Ac Roles
Ch 17. Making Good Use of a Dissertation After Graduation
Ch 18. Establishing Credibility When Getting Started
Ch 19. Having Effective Conversations

Part Five: Growing in the Alt-Ac Space
Ch 20. Doing Consulting Work
Ch 21. Working Up Internally or Moving Up by Moving On
Ch 22. Writing and Publishing
Ch 23. Joining and Participating in Professional Organizations

Part Six: Building Your Alt-Ac Presence
Ch 24. Getting Experience
Ch 25. Building a Portfolio Over Time and With Intentionality
Ch 26. Finding a Sponsor or Mentoring Group to Help
Ch 27. Creating and Growing a Personal Brand

Part Seven: The Alt-Ac Career Life Cycle
Ch 28. From Alt-Ac to Faculty Roles
Ch 29. From Faculty to Alt-Ac Roles
Ch 30. Part-Time Alt-Ac Roles
Ch 31. Be an Alt-Ac Mentor

Conclusion

References

About the Authors

Index