Job Discussion Forums

[naturegirl321]

I've been going to conferences and noticed in the biodata that many of the speakers are academic consultants. Anyone have experience doing this? Or know how difficult it is to break into this field?

[Glenski]

There are occasional ads that pop up.

Otherwise, I would suspect it takes a strong publication record and some good contacts.

[Henry_Cowell]

An "academic consultant" to a publisher is often a much-published successful author of that publisher or a principal advisor/editor to a textbook publishing program.

On the other hand, such a relationship between "consultant" and "publisher" is frequently driven by the publisher's bottom line: the consultant is influential in textook adoption decisions or recommendations, and the publisher pays her/him to be an advisor, attend meetings, speak at conferences, travel around the country, and so on. I've known such mercenary situations first hand. The "consultant" becomes a celebrity, and the publisher sells books.

[Justin Trullinger]

Within Ecuador, there are a lot of "academic consultants" kicking around. What it usually means is support services to textbook sales.

For example, if I call our local distributor, and ask for information about a new textbook series, an academic consultant comes by, asks a lot of questions about our students, ages, levels, needs, resources, etc, and gives recommendations about applicable texts.

Also, if I'm using a particular text in our center, we get occasional calls from the publisher, offering us their academic consultants for teacher training. (Someone who can come by, for example, and give a workshop on integrating authentic materials into InsideOut.)

What these people usually are is experienced, well-trained teachers, with experience in using the particular texts in question. Usually with a background in teacher training.

In terms of how to break into it- I've had a few local distributors' offices approach me; Probably due to the fact that I know people who work in their offices. Personal connections count. So does local reputation. (Having worked in a well known, prestigious school, for example.) I'd call up local text book distributors, or publishers (if they have local offices- in a city the size of Lima, CUP, OUP, and Macmillan are all likely to.) and ask about openings, requirements, and how to apply.

From what I've heard, it's not a bad gig- not often full-time enough to let you quit your day job, unless you are willing to travel alot. (the last one to stop by here is a "academic consultant and sales representative" in 4 countries.) But a lot of the ones I've met locally are also working teachers, and find it to be a nice additional earner, especially if their teaching jobs are flexible enough to allow for it.


Best,
Justin

[Henry_Cowell]

[MELEE]

[naturegirl321]

Thanks for all the tips. I work in Lima, so even though I work at prestigious schools, there's lots of competition. I'll be going to some conferences next month. I'll try networking there to get my foot in the door. I'm an experienced teacher, but not a published author. Hope that won't work against me.

[Justin Trullinger]

[gaijinalways]

Hmm, they don't seem to have academic consultants in Japan, only reps who try to push everything . Some of the reps have never taught and know very little about the texts they represent.