Because of the structured nature of academia and the academic job search, you may not have much flexibility in your time line. While the timing of a search may vary by discipline, a typical hiring cycle usually begins around October and concludes by April or May.
One major issue to consider is the timing of your search in relation to finishing your dissertation. In a tight labor market you may be competing against candidates who have finished their degrees, and perhaps even have some teaching or research experience. Thus you may be at a competitive disadvantage if you cannot give at least reasonable assurance that you will be finished by the time the job begins. In addition, you will need to think realistically about the time commitments required to finish the degree. In any case, you will want to be discussing your options with your advisors.
Below is a typical time line for an academic job search. Keep in mind that you may set up an appointment with a Career Center counselor to talk about these and other issues.
| Summer, Fifteen Months Prior to Job |
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Fall, Twelve Months Prior to Job |
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| Eight Months Prior to Job |
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Four to Six Months Prior to Job |
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