Since the dissolution of ASBA in 2000, SMA Placement Services has offered a venue through which recruiters and job hunters can get together. This support is available through a process of collection, posting and dissemination of applicant information and institution position postings. A review area, an interview area, and copying service (fee per page) are provided by Placement. All are normally located either in or near Placement, depending on space availability. Due to decreased usage over the last three conferences, the message area will be discontinued this year. Cell phones have likely replaced the need.

Beginning with the 2001 SMA conference, a total of 156 positions and 174 applicants have been listed with Placement. A breakdown by year is provided in the table below. Since SMA often coordinates conference activities with other organizations, Placement support is offered to their membership as well.

While there are many variables that likely influence the numbers of both applicants and positions, the numbers can vary significantly over time. Generally, however, a larger number of applicants should encourage more position listings and vice versa. The state of the national economy is one of the primary factors influencing the submission of positions since many states will freeze or limit hiring of new faculty during the “hard times” and tough budgets. Conversely, during these same periods, the number of individuals beginning their doctoral studies may increase. However, the number of applicants often lags the general economy by several years due to the time involved in obtaining a doctorate. I’m sure the current status of economic recovery will be the topic of many discussions over the next few months. Judging by the number of positions currently being listed in the Chronicle of Higher Education, business faculty hiring may already be increasing for the 2010-2011 academic year. If this trend holds, then the number of applicants per open position should decrease due to the lag factor I just mentioned. As a point of reference, when I attended the Southern Management Conference for the first time in the fall of 2000, there were over 100 applicants and only 15 positions listed with Placement. The Chronicle of Higher Education headlines that week read something to the effect of "33 States Freeze Faculty Hiring.”  There are over 150 business positions currently listed in the Chronicle and September is usually their most active  month of the year. So recruiters, if you may need to hire business faculty, it may not be advisable to take a-wait-and-see stance! The pool of highly qualified applicants is always largest in the fall. FBD Placement (the conference for the Southwest Academy of Management) had very few management applicants last March and may not exceed ten in 2010.

Whether you are searching for a job or looking to fill one, the SMA Placement process begins by logging onto SMA’s  website and linking to the Placement webpage, downloading an Order Form which will include either a Position Form or an Applicant Form, completing these forms, and submitting them with the appropriate payment not later than the due date. The fees, due date, and address for submission are listed on the Order Form. Additionally, submissions are accepted at the conference. However, for obvious reasons, these can not be included in the pre-conference packets that are mailed approximately ten days before the conference.

Recipients of either a Position or an Applicant pre-conference packet are encouraged to get in touch with the contact person listed on the announcement to arrange an interview at the conference. Typically, a significant number of positions and some applications are added during the conference. However, there is an additional fee for submission at the conference. Regardless of when the forms are submitted, the Order Form provides for a post conference packet that is mailed about two weeks following the conference. Again, contact is encouraged. Please note that Placement Services is available only during the fall of each year from about mid-August through mid-November. There is no web site listing of the positions or applicants – that service is provided by the Academy of Management.

Finally, the time has come for our Associate Director to step down. Her services have been greatly appreciated since 1998 by many of us. She brought Placement its first web page and has served us well. We will all miss her. Marylin’s replacement as the Associate Director in Asheville will be Lee Grubb from East Carolina University. Patricia Lanier from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette will be the Co-Director for 2009 and is planned to assume the Director role in 2010. We welcome them aboard and thank them for volunteering. Stop by Placement and say “Hi.”