Teaching preparation and placement in “non-top-tier” Ph.D. programs

In a recent article, Jacobson (2015) provides an invaluable economics job market guide for economics Ph.D. candidates from “non-top-tier” programs in the United States. Her treatment is detailed and, to a large extent, thorough. However, Jacobson fails to discuss the development of effective lead teaching experience in graduate school as a (potentially central) aspect of job market preparation. In the present comment, we develop and summarize a job posting and placement data set that focuses on Ph.D. candidates from non-top-tier programs. The data strongly suggests that the development of lead teaching experience in graduate school, rather than an optional line on one’s vita, is an often pivotal element of realized job placement for Ph.D. candidates of non-top-tier programs. These findings corroborate with List’s (2000) finding that, “a candidate’s teaching portfolio was highly influential in the academic market” (p. 197). We also discuss the acquisition of lead teaching experience and benefits of early teaching experience that may extend beyond first job placement.