Post on 20-Dec-2015
transcript
A RecentCandidateA RecentCandidate
Noah A. Smith{cs,clsp}.jhu.edu {lti,mld}.scs.cmu.edu
Noah A. Smith{cs,clsp}.jhu.edu {lti,mld}.scs.cmu.edu
Outline, Per InstructionsOutline, Per Instructions
• Background & Career History• Advice I Found Helpful• What I Wish I Knew Last Fall• Surprises• Industry and Academia
• Background & Career History• Advice I Found Helpful• What I Wish I Knew Last Fall• Surprises• Industry and Academia
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
B.A.(Ling.)
B.S.(CS)
M.S.E.(CS)
Ph.D.(CS)
core NLP
unsupervised learning
statistical MT
NLP algorithms
w c c j
c c w c
cc w
c c
linguistics t
U. of MarylandU. of Maryland Johns Hopkins UniversityJohns Hopkins University CMUCMU
U. of U. of
EdinburghEdinburgh
New York U.
New York U.
MSRMSR
2007
degrees
institutions
interests and publicationst
t
w
AdviceAdvice
• Don’t plan on getting much else done (except maybe in January)
• Apply as broadly as you can. • Strong recommendation letters
are crucial.• Use a dossier service.• Spend time on your application
materials (C.V., statements).
• Don’t plan on getting much else done (except maybe in January)
• Apply as broadly as you can. • Strong recommendation letters
are crucial.• Use a dossier service.• Spend time on your application
materials (C.V., statements).
AdviceAdvice
Job Talk AdviceJob Talk AdvicePractice lots with your advisor(You can learn to talk like Eisner!)When at work, down the pub, in your
housePractice for your parentsAnd practice for your spouse!You’ll be sick of your talk, I expectBut practice is the wayTo improve, to perfect.
Practice lots with your advisor(You can learn to talk like Eisner!)When at work, down the pub, in your
housePractice for your parentsAnd practice for your spouse!You’ll be sick of your talk, I expectBut practice is the wayTo improve, to perfect.
What I Wish I’d KnownWhat I Wish I’d Known• The market is
unpredictable.• Departments aren’t
synchronized, but you can usually beg for time.
• Job talk advice does not unify.
• Life is not fair.
• The market is unpredictable.
• Departments aren’t synchronized, but you can usually beg for time.
• Job talk advice does not unify.
• Life is not fair.
SurprisesSurprises• Others on the market are not the enemy.
• Me: lots of email/chat with 5+ competitors.• You’re an adult now!
• People default to respecting you (mostly)• People will challenge you• People assume you already know How It Works
(until you ask)• You must play ambassador for NLP!
• And your lab, department, school …
• Others on the market are not the enemy.• Me: lots of email/chat with 5+ competitors.
• You’re an adult now!• People default to respecting you (mostly)• People will challenge you• People assume you already know How It Works
(until you ask)• You must play ambassador for NLP!
• And your lab, department, school …
Differences between Industry and AcademiaDifferences between
Industry and Academia
Interviews for research positions vary little (talk + 2 days of one-on-one meetings).
And they’ll offer similar (starting) salaries.
Interviews for research positions vary little (talk + 2 days of one-on-one meetings).
And they’ll offer similar (starting) salaries.
Parting ShotsParting Shots
• Skip the wine at interview dinners.
• Get plenty of rest.
• Gmail yourself notes every night.
• Join frequent flier programs.
• If you buy me a drink, I’ll tell you
about getting married during my
job search and the two body
problem.
• Good luck!
• Skip the wine at interview dinners.
• Get plenty of rest.
• Gmail yourself notes every night.
• Join frequent flier programs.
• If you buy me a drink, I’ll tell you
about getting married during my
job search and the two body
problem.
• Good luck!