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Job-Market Reporting Thread (2025-26)
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Job-market editing services other than The Professor Is In?

In our new "how can we help you?" thread, a reader asks:

Does anyone know of any job material editing services *other* than Karen Kelsky's services at The Professor is In? I recently had a truly horrible experience with them being super rude to me and then ghosting me without completing the services (or refunding me!). I now find myself with partially reworked job documents that I'm not even sure are any better than what I had before, since I didn't receive any actual editing from them. So, I'd love to know of any (less hostile! and ideally less expensive) alternatives to TPII, particularly any services that are more well-versed in philosophy academia in particular. This isn't the main point of the post, and I don't want to sound too negative, but I also figured it wouldn't hurt to warn others about my experience with The Professor is In, since I imagine others on here may be considering their services.

I'm very sorry to hear that the OP had this experience. I used The Professor Is In myself many years ago. While I found them a bit gruff, their feedback on my materials was great and seemed to help me on the market–so in the past, I've recommended them to others. But ghosting people without completing services paid for (or refunding money) is beyond the pale. (update: see the OP’s comment below noting that they resolved things with TPII).

Do any readers have any tips on other options for the OP?

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6 responses to “Job-market editing services other than The Professor Is In?”

  1. OP

    OP here! Since I first posted this I did, thankfully, hear back from them and managed to get a refund processed.It was overall a very bad and time consuming experience, though, so the warning still stands. I am also still interested in any other editing service recommendations!

    Reply
  2. Shen-yi Liao

    A broader category that the OP might look under is “academic editing”. For example, here is someone I’ve consulted for developmental editing, who also seems to do job market stuff:
    https://www.goldenrodeditorial.com/services

    Reply
  3. whatever

    The best editor is a gracious friend (ideally from graduate school) who had success on the market and is willing to look at your materials and offer strong criticism. This is coming from someone who has received multiple offers, been in two positions, and who couldn’t care less what KK says. You don’t need that book.

    Reply
  4. Find copies

    What I would do in your position is find someone who seems as close to an intellectual clone as you as possible, but with a job. That includes pedigree, papers, AOS/AOC, etc. and then I’d probably reach out to them and ask how they did, if they’d be willing to share writing sample etc. it might not be temperamentally match you, but if you can do this with as many people, you’ll probably get a better sense of what your holes are or what’s holding you back. Don’t ask them to review your CV or material (that’s overkill). People I think by and large are always gonna be happy to talk about themselves and pay it forward esp if they themselves got help.
    You need to find the right clone though. Some successful people online have kindly uploaded their job market materials, but you already need to know what works to figure out what’s doing the trick for them (superstars can get away with a lot more).

    Reply
  5. Tim

    Don’t pay someone you haven’t personally had recommended. Many of these people are unsuccessful academics who know little about the current job market and even less about the English language

    Reply
  6. Benjamin Smart

    Hi there. Prof Benjamin Smart here. secondsupervisors.com might be for you. Founded by two philosophers. New company, but the people running it (myself included) have plenty of experience. Half the company’s profits go to funding underprivileged students in South Africa. Please email me

    Reply

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