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Consumer Culture Theory and the AMA Job Market: Understanding the Challenges and Crafting Winning Strategies

Laurel Steinfield

Henri Weijo

Consumer Culture Theory

ISBN: 978-1-78560-323-5, eISBN: 978-1-78560-322-8

Publication date: 18 November 2015

Abstract

Purpose

This paper outlines the key discussion points and ideas generated at the job market roundtable at CCT Arkansas. The session was put together to discuss both immediate short-term solutions to improve PhD candidates’ hiring potential as well as longer-term institutional opportunities that could strengthen the reputation of CCT and foster more favorable job market conditions.

Methodology/approach

This is a conceptual paper primarily built on collaborative insights from the roundtable session’s participants.

Findings

We outline the current structure of hiring within marketing academia and offer insights and best practices for increasing an applicant’s chances of gaining a placement. We also identify long-term structural reforms and opportunities that could increase the recognition of CCT research, and help foster conditions more conducive to CCTers seeking academic placements. The recommendations for candidates and the CCT community highlight the importance of building non-CCT networks, effectively positioning and communicating research, and leveraging the benefits a CCT theoretical perspective can bring to marketing departments.

Originality/value

Most papers on academic hiring processes are descriptive in nature and concentrated on the job market’s structure. This paper adds to this conversation, straddling issues of structure and agency. It critically revisits the structure of hiring, and also discusses practices a candidate can employ to navigate the hiring process, and institutional tactics CCT could undertake to create a stronger brand and network structure. Though the emphasis in this work is on CCT candidates, we suspect such an analysis is also useful for PhD candidates elsewhere and nonmainstream marketing groups.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Susan Dobscha, Craig Thompson, and Eric Arnould for their shared insights, instructive feedback, and guidance on this manuscript, and other leaders of the roundtable discussion sessions including Amber Epp, Markus Giesler, Tom O’Guinn, Alexander Rose, Randy Rose, Robin Soster, Tandy Thomas, and Michelle Weinberger.

Citation

Steinfield, L. and Weijo, H. (2015), "Consumer Culture Theory and the AMA Job Market: Understanding the Challenges and Crafting Winning Strategies", Consumer Culture Theory (Research in Consumer Behavior, Vol. 17), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 63-75. https://doi.org/10.1108/S0885-211120150000017004

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited