So, What Do You Think of the Academic Job Market this Year in Operations Management, Management Science, and Operations Research?

On this blog, I write about research, education, networks, and the world, which also includes topics such as life in academia and how to get a faculty position, in the first place.

I have chaired the dissertations of 15 doctoral students, who have since received their PhDs, and all, except for two (who are very successful in the high technology and financial services industries), are now professors (with 3 having attained the highest rank of Full Professor). Besides obtaining faculty appointments in the US, my former PhD students are now faculty in Canada, Europe, and in Australia, all at wonderful universities and in great locations.

This year, I have another doctoral student in Management Science who will be defending her dissertation and who has been on the job market.

My Department of Finance and Operations Management at the Isenberg School of Management has also been heavily involved in recruiting new faculty members, since we have several openings.

Having said the above, and with my perspective, I find that, this year, the academic job market has been very fast-moving, with many top candidates having secured offers (and having accepted them) already (and this is only March 2). Clearly, the first movers have an advantage as well as those students who prepared their curriculum vitae and other documentation in a timely manner. Of course, I am speaking about the job market in Management Science/Operations Management/Operations Research, which is quite dynamic and healthy.

Interestingly, I am also seeing additional "movement" or desire to relocate coming from those who have been at a university for a few years, so those who are just working on completing their PhDs are in competition with those who already have their PhDs and a few years of solid teaching experience.

My doctoral student has received an offer and has accepted it, as well, but she continues to receive inquiries from schools, who started their searches later in the academic season (this can happen for various reasons, including school funding and approval issues). She also continues to receive invitations for on-campus interviews. Obviously, she has to decline these (although a trip to Florida certainly beckons at this time of the year in New England) because she is thrilled with the offer that she has accepted. As an Academic Mom, I could not be prouder and happier for her.

Nice to see the academic genealogical tree flowering and growing. Newton and Galileo must be watching from above. Yes, believe me, we can trace our academic lineage that far back!