The department of English at the University of Virginia has an excellent placement record—click HERE to see a list of schools where our alumni have gained tenure track assistant professorships in recent years. We are committed to helping our graduate students to present themselves as effectively as possible in their quest for employment.
Graduate students preparing to enter the academic job market (whether they’re interested in tenure track positions, administrative positions or post-doctoral fellowships) should touch base with the faculty member serving as Director of Placement during the year before they expect to finish their dissertations. The Director of Placement assists students in preparing their job application materials and guides them through the process of the job search, from initial applications to interviews, campus visits, and negotiating terms after receiving a job offer. Students are welcome to consult the Director of Placement at any point in their studies. Applicants are strongly advised to take advantage of his or her help and to read all his/her postings on the jobseekers’ mailing list.
A special fund is available to help applicants who have been offered at least one interview at the MLA conference with some of their travel expenses: see Randy Swift in the Graduate English Office to get the appropriate application form.
The University has a special branch of its own careers counseling services especially for graduate students in Arts and Sciences who have decided not to enter the academic job market.
The current Placement Director is Clare Kinney.