• NOTE: these are things based on my one experience and may not generalize. The reason for writing this is to put them out there at least for early career faculty or faculty who are going to go through a similar journey. If something here seems ridiculous its because it could be my own personal experience and does not generalize. It's only meant to be helpful.



• Firstly, congratulations on a faculty job. It's not an easy market and having *any* faculty job is a hugely impressive achievement.
• This position is a very privileged position. Many people look up to you. keep that in mind. The position also comes with a lot of power, which might be new to you. Please be conscious of it.
• Always resist the impulse to punch down. Its very very easy to feel like students are stupid or admins are not doing their work, but try to not be an asshole. If possible, given your power, try to punch up.
• Take your time in settling down in the position. if you're on tenure track, 6 years is a LONG time. many people have different strategies on this but i think its not very optimal to start working on a ton of stuff until you get comfortable with the place, the rules, the bureaucracy etc.
• Be self aware and self critical (not too self critical of course). Academia is an ego game. Especially for faculty you will already have people who make you feel like you are important. be grounded.
• Come to the realization that you will not change the world. at least not easily. think of the small part you can make impact and define your work around it.
• Take time to reflect on your work and your progress and your goals on why you started this. its extremely important and happens more often than you think. its very easy to get carried away by the constant (almost always) self imposed deadlines, and other engagements etc and forget why youre doing it.
• if possible dont get PhD students immediately after you start. it'll help you and the students a lot for you to be settled down and have clarity before you get students. trust me. you'll realise this 2-3 years into the job.
• Quality is important than quantity. I know everyone says this but it appears like the opposite is the case but the reality is just that people dont have time to read many many things and associate you with 1 or two or 3 things at most. just try to go deeper in tese 2-3 areas.
• your students are not younger versions of you. there will be a huge heterogeneity in the quality and attitudes and style of work. be patient and kind like others have been to you.
• Try to work with people who appreciate your hard work. If you are leader (leading say a group or just a student), this is a basic quality you should posess, to encourage your group.
• try to help others. as much as you can. it always always comes back at you. this could just be doing your stuff the right way, for instance, publishing code/slides/drafts, etc. to mentoring other students/giving advice. just works
• Networking is important. dont under sell or oversell. in a lot of cases, quality of work speaks. most people are smart enough to see through if you are selling something you are not.
• Being in academia is a never ending struggle. there's almost never an end to `being competitive' and being relaxed (at least for 15 years in your career). Be aware and prepared on that.
• personally, i give a lot of importance to family. i never work on weekends or long hours. nothing will pay off like investments in personal relationships outside of work. if you have to choose between work and family choose family. deadlines will keep coming.
• Find some people you trust in the place you are in, who have been in there longer. Talk to them regularly. if they tell you things which are not intuitive (e.g. dont teach this course or dont recruit students), its better to trust them.
• Be a friendly colleague. even if its a place you are not likely to stay for long. Academia is a small community and people like to talk, especially about assholes.
• if you started a faculty job and you want to move to a new place, it is almost certain that word will leak out to your current employer. dont expect privacy in that aspect.
• Build your community. It's harder than you think. Pick an area where you are visible and where people know you.
• A friend once told me: Academia is not bounded by talent. its bounded by zeal. If you have the zeal in you, you can move up the academic ladder.
• END NOTE: Again, as you can see, a lot of these are my feelings captured at the time they happen and may not be relevant or applicable or valid for your situation. Not meant as advice.