Academy of Management Doctoral Student Liaison Committee

A. Submission processes vary from journal to journal and from conference to conference. Therefore, once you have decided upon the appropriate outlet for your paper, visit the journal’s/conference’s website and search for submission guidelines. In addition, most journals publish their submission requirements once or twice a year. Similarly, if you are a member of the association sponsoring the conference, you will generally get information in the mail about this. Be sure to follow these guidelines precisely, since most journals and conferences will not accept any papers that do not follow their idiosyncratic format.

Q. What are the chances my research will be accepted for publication in an academic journal or for presentation at a professional conference?

A. Acceptance rates for journals vary and are a function of the journal’s prestige, the quality/rigor of the content, etc. That being the case, most acceptance rates for top tier journals are less than 10%. And, that is only for the first submission. In fact, reviewers almost always require at least one revision. Furthermore, the acceptance rate for revisions is generally around 50%, resulting in an aggregate acceptance rate of less than 5%. However, since most peer-reviewed journals are reviewed “blind,” all that matters is the quality of your work and the degree to which it matches the format of the journal, and not who you are.

Although acceptance rates for conferences also vary, they tend to be much higher than for journals, some as high as 30%. Furthermore, most prominent conferences use blind, peer-reviews so that you will receive the same high quality feedback you would from a journal submission. Bottom line, the success of any paper is a function of its quality and its match with the session theme.

Q. What conference sessions/events offer the best opportunities for networking?

A. While the standard paper presentation conference sessions may be quite informative regarding the newest topics of interest in the field, they are generally very passive. For a more interactive experience, consider attending any professional development workshops or socials hosted by those divisions in which you are interested. These events often provide the opportunity to meet other doctoral students as well as high profile faculty members. Such connections may not only yield greater insight into the field, but also provide you with collaborators for co-authorship and/or critical reviewing of your research.

Q. Where can I find information about upcoming conferences in my field?

A. Ask the faculty members at your university that do research in your field and/or go to the websites of the conferences in which you are interested. Also, associations that sponsor conferences generally send information in the mail to their members, so consider becoming a member of any associations that interest you if you have not already done so.

Q. How can I obtain financial assistance for professional conferences?

A. Most conferences offer at the very least discounted rates for students and some offer full reimbursement of registration fees and lodging in exchange for some level of service at the meeting. So, check with the association sponsoring the conference – visit the conference website and/or scour any materials sent in the mail to see what types of funding are available. In addition, check with the faculty and support staff at your university. Some departments offer financial assistance for students attending professional conferences, especially those presenting papers. Lastly, check with those associations (if applicable) from whom you are receiving financial aid for your schooling. Oftentimes, these agencies also provide money to attend professional meetings.

Dissertation

Q. How do I select a dissertation committee?

A. There are three critical elements to consider when selecting members of your dissertation committee. First, try to select members that have some expertise and interest in your topic area. The guidance that experts in the field can offer you will be invaluable as you inevitably struggle through the literature and search for appropriate methodological tools. Also, a keen interest on their part will ensure that you will receive such feedback in a timely fashion. Second, try to select members that have contacts at the types of organizations (academic or industry) you hope to work for when you complete your studies. A good recommendation will go a long way toward getting you in the door when you go on the job market. Third, try to select members that get along with each other and with whom you have worked well in the past. All of you will be working very closely with one another for the next few years and it can be extremely unpleasant if you don’t all get along or if they have serious reservations about your work for any reason.

Start by selecting your chair first, as this will be the person with whom you spend the most time and will provide you with the most feedback. In the event that this person does not possess all of the above attributes, try to then select committee members with characteristics that complement those of your chair. However, be sure to include your chair in the decision process, as his/her insights regarding the other potential committee members will be invaluable.

Q. How do I decide on a dissertation topic?

A. Try to select a topic that you’re truly interested in researching for the next few years, especially if you plan on getting a job in academia. Most new professors continue the stream of research they began in their dissertation, in fact, you will generally be hired under the assumption that you will publish in the same area as your dissertation topic. However, even if you do not plan on working in academia after completing your degree, selecting a topic that interests you will tend to keep you more motivated over the long haul than a topic that is dictated by your chair or one that is en vogue at the moment

Job Market

Q. At what point in my doctoral program should I enter the job market?

A. Like several of the other questions about landing a job, this one depends on the kind of job you're seeking. If you want to work in business, consider applying early in your doctoral program. Some industrial employers and consulting firms hire provisionally. Such employers provide part-time on-site employment, say, during summers. They may also provide part-time work during the academic year that you can do at your computer without moving to their city or even spending much or any time in their local office. These jobs are often offered with the provision that after you complete your doctorate you will be offered a full-time professional position.

On the other hand, if academia is your target, consider the part-time teaching that you do during your doctoral program as a step into the job search and job market. Try to get part-time teaching not only at the school where you're earning your doctorate, but also at other schools. Breadth in your early part-time teaching jobs prior to earning your degree will broaden the range of likely prospects for your full-time, post-degree academic job. However, if you choose to engage in part-time teaching at other universities, be sure that it does not consume your study time and impede your ability to complete your degree in a timely fashion.

Q. When I do go on the job market, what kind of materials should I send to the hiring institution?

A. The answer depends on the kind of job and organization to which you're applying. For instance, academic employers, especially the more traditional ones, are likely to want to see copies of articles and books you've published and your dissertation abstract (possibly the complete dissertation if you've completed it). Among those academic employers who are seriously considering you, you can count on one or two people reading at least one or two of the things you send and asking you about them somewhere in the recruiting process. If you're applying to non-traditional universities and/or businesses, include copies of any professional videos you've made or training programs you've created that show off your unique capabilities and viewpoints. Also, if you're applying for a position in business that requires a great deal of writing, include a copy of your best-written paper even if it has not been published. Bottom line, be sure to customize the materials you send out to each potential employer and when in doubt, ask prospective employers what things they'd like to see and then be sure to provide them.

Q. Besides publications and conference presentations, what other scholarly achievements will be valuable when I go on the job market?

A. The answer to this question also varies greatly depending on the job market in which you place yourself. If you hope to land an academic job in a traditional university, the list of scholarly achievements you'll want to share should include (roughly in order of importance):
   - your publications in research journals,
   - books you've written (including your dissertation, if completed),
   - academic conference presentations,
   - publications in practitioner journals,
   - practitioner conference presentations,
   - research/writing underway (including dissertation, if not yet complete)
   - honors you've won for your research or articles,
   - university courses you've designed and taught, and
   - university courses you've taught that were designed by others.

However, if you hope to get an appointment at a non-traditional school, your research and publications might be valued less than your presentations to practitioner groups.

Employers outside academia might have altogether different interests and different definitions of scholarly achievement. It is critical that you be careful about assumptions you make about what employers want and that you do your best to honor their assumptions. So be sure to ask prospective employers what they'd like to see and then be sure to provide them.

Q. When I finally get a job offer, what elements of that offer are negotiable?

A. Technically speaking, everything is always negotiable. Obviously, asking for something that's outrageous in the eyes of the offering institution may take you out of the race. However, not asking will certainly result in your not getting what you want if it's the least bit outside the norm. It's important to keep in mind that when an employer makes you an offer, you may have more control or influence than you think. First of all, the offering institution wants you. Second, since you're new to the game, an offering institution might be more understanding and acceptant of a specific request from you than would be the case had the request been made by someone who is more familiar with the culture (and therefore the limits) of the organization. Another consideration is that doctoral students in many universities come to feel like second-class citizens when in their student role. This orientation can be just as destructive for you in the job market as it is in your doctoral program. We urge you to be assertive and ask for what you need and want, especially if you know that what you're asking for is within the range, or not too far outside the range, of what other employers offer to others. When in doubt, speak to your advisor, chair, or other faculty member about your negotiation strategy, as he/she will have had some experience in this area.

Miscellaneous

Disclaimer:

Please note that the information contained in this FAQ is a collection of opinions gathered by a variety of Doctoral students and does not represent an official statement of either the Academy of Management or the Doctoral Student Liaison Committee. Hopefully your will find the information provides some interesting perspectives.

Contact Information

If you would like to respond to this document with suggestions, ideas, criticism, or additional questions, please e-mail them to Scott Newbert