ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the academic life in detail—applying for faculty positions and then doing well in those positions. It discusses some other destinations as well. Academia is not the only destination of consumer psychologists. While the world of academia is fairly straightforward for consumer psychologists with a defined path of entering a Ph.D., conducting research, and joining an academic institution, the paths outside of academia are much more varied. Consumer psychologists can be found in many domains, but most are in academia. For a successful academic career, finding the right balance between one’s strengths and the focus of a school is important. In many ways, the process of applying for faculty positions is similar to that of applying for graduate school. Schools vary in terms of their focus. Balanced schools tend to prioritize both research and teaching, though the expectations for both will be somewhat more reasonable.
