References

[angstyaugust]

Can anyone tell me what form academic references typically take these days for a standard lecturing post ?

Is it a generic, box-ticking ... 'is the candidate punctual/has integrity/conscientious, etc?'
(I seem to remember that universities

Or do they want something more prose-like commenting on suitability for the specific post duties?

What questions might they ask?

I'm thinking of applying for a university post and need to give my current team manager as a reference but my present job isn't in academia.

sometimes the reference goes only to HR and not the actual HoD or other decision maker. in that case it is just a tickbox.

but you need to assume the reference will go to the HoD and needs to be a detailed letter that explains why the applicant is a great person & a good fit for the job.

The referee will typically be given the job description & asked to write about why the candidate is good. For a lectureship, I typically write a para on their science and a para on their teaching / admin, with an extra para on any other great things the candidate has done (e.g. public engagement / collaboration / getting grants) if relelvant.

but you need to assume the reference will go to the HoD and needs to be a detailed letter that explains why the applicant is a great person & a good fit for the job.

This is how it works where I work, and in other universities I have experience of. References are quite lengthy and detailed letters, often spanning two pages (we recently had a five-page missive!)

Hmmm, so the reference goes to the HoD and not the person you name as referee (who is a Programme Leader but not HoD)? That's really odd.

One of my referees is not an academic but in another organisation. Surely it won't go to her service manager who wouldn't actually know me?

No, the reference is read by the appointing HoD (rather than HR). And they are used to receiving pretty lengthy reference letters.

Ahh I see. That makes sense.