The peak academic job search season is now underway, and many candidates who have been on the market already for one or more years may find themselves wondering what is lacking in their application materials, why they never get selected for an interview, or why they never get an offer.

When it comes to the initial application materials, here are some questions that job applicants need to consider:

1. Do I have enough publications?

Unfortunately, many applicants learn the hard way that one can send out hundreds of well-crafted applications, but if a CV does not have a typical number of publications for that field, it will be challenging to secure an interview. How do you know what is typical for your field? Look at the faculty pages of the recent hires at the institution and department that you are applying to, or the pages of recent hires in comparable institutions. There are also ways to manage a lack of publications and other weaknesses in one's application, such as by emphasizing other strengths and/or mainly targeting teaching and service-oriented institutions.

2. Does my cover letter make a brilliant case for my fit for the job, and does it contain compelling anecdotes?

The cover letter is the one direct and out-of-the-box way that candidates can get their foot in the door. A cover letter should stand out from the rest -- a perfunctory and uninspiring cover letter will doom most applications. The first paragraph of the letter should offer an inspiring argument for what the candidate will bring to the position and why the candidate is a great fit. The following teaching, research, and grant/administrative work paragraphs should give the search committee striking examples of how the candidate is a stellar performer, researcher, mentor, and innovator. Dr. Jeremy M. Brown, a professor of biology at Louisiana State who has been on a number of search committees, says that "the most consistent thing that elevates a candidate's application, or makes their interview stand out, is their communication skills. A really well-written cover letter or statement will always cause reviewers to give an application a closer look, and it can set apart an applicant from others with similar qualifications."

3. Can I make a personal connection to the institution?

Perhaps the institution has a research center or a grant program that connects to the candidate's own work. Maybe the candidate identifies with some of the characteristics of the student body -- a large proportion of students may be first-generation college students, and that may also be the candidate's background.

Dr. Pamela R. McCauley, who recently accepted the position of dean of the school of engineering at Widener University, had the following to say about her job search: "Based on the feedback that I've received from [this and] other successful searches that I participated in, I believe the strategies that led to my success included a demonstrated and detailed knowledge of the opportunity and the institution. This, coupled with an ability to tie my capabilities to specific areas of opportunity related to the institution and the academic discipline, demonstrates that effort has been put into seeking this opportunity. It is essentially 'telling a story' -- an aspirational and visionary story of how your background can uniquely tie in with the existing strengths and opportunities for the institution to take it to another level within a particular focus area such as innovation, research, aspirational teaching and/or global impact."

Crafting your story and preparing to share it isn't always simple. McCauley shares the following tips to use throughout your career to keep building your academic brand and further define your value as a candidate:

1. Keep a pulse on what's going on in the academic community on a regional, national, and global level for your field of study. This can be done by keeping up with national studies, National Academy publications, and international meetings associated with your field.
2. Be seen and heard: speak up and get out into your community. This can be done by participating in professional societies, presenting at conferences, and keeping an active social media presence individually, as well as for your department, college, and institution.
3. Maintain a positive and hopeful outlook even in the face of challenges that allow us to see the aspirational opportunities for our field of study and discipline.
4. Be a team player that supports a shared vision -- be willing to support others in your academic community, innovation ecosystem, and/or organization."

Just like an application to grad school, your materials should all fit together to form a powerful and coherent narrative about your candidacy and what you in particular have to offer students and the institution. Stay tuned for an upcoming article that shares best practices for first-round and campus interviews.

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