I don't have much time to post at the moment, but I was asked today whether I would be willing to stand for election to the editorial board of one of the bigger journals in my sub-sub-discipline. As a junior faculty member just about to start my second year, my first inclination is to say "I need more work like I need fewer fingers, thanks but no thanks." On the other hand, it would look good for tenure, etc. Still, I think it can wait a couple of years. So, dear readers, thoughts?
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From what people tell me, this is the kind of offer you should not refuse. It will increase your visibility to important tenure letter writer folks, and having this on your packet will help give the people who they ask to write letters for you (but who have never heard of you before) a frame of reference for whether you ARE a leader in your field or not.If it was me, I would do it.
Arlenna's right. Unless you have reason to believe it's a truly unreasonable amount of work, do it.
I was in a similar position, I took the gig and it has negatively affected my ability to review for other journals, as I've had to pass on some requests to review from editors who are very well known in my field (and who might be asked to write evaluations of me at tenure time...). I also passed on a subsequent offer to join an e-board. In the end, it's a multiyear commitment, and just one line on the CV. It feels worth it for me -- I love the journal and am very dedicated to its associated professional society -- but it's not without detraction, and I've seen many successful faculty members pass on e-boards until they have tenure. In fact, you can tell them "ask me again post-tenure."
It'll be like growing an enormous pair of muttonchops: everyone will know and notice and think you're more important that you think you are. And that can only be good at conferences and the like.
Editorial boards vary greatly in the amount of work they require. There are some journals where being on the editorial board entails a tremendous amount of work (such as actually finding people to review papers) and others where it is very little work (such as just being willing to review when they ask you). If it's the former, you need to seriously think about whether you have time. If it's the latter, take it no question.Do you have a friend who has been on this board before? It's totally reasonable to send them a quick message asking how much work it's been. Then you can judge whether you have the time.Generally, it's a pretty big honor to be named to an editorial board, particularly for a junior prof. Definitely looks good in tenure packets.
Go for it, with the caveat about work load (for that do ask someone who has done it and is not the one asking you to stand). In my subfield you would not ask editors you've done reviewing for to write tenure letters - you have to know your own field on that score. If you do stand for election, and don't get it, it's still good to let your chair know that you are being asked to run (it's not something you can put on your CV - I ran and lost - but it is something your chair can point out in a dept letter. "PLS is so well-respected that he was asked to stand for election for the editorial board of JOZ - losing to a Nobel laureate." or some such!
After talking to one or two people who have served on this particular EB, it doesn't sound like much work. I was concerned about having to take on some Associate Editor duties. By the sound of it, there's none of that involved. I'm on the ballot.
If being on the board seems like too much and a long haul, you can always ask to be involved with shorter-term gigs like special issues, symposia, conference proceedings. jc
Good for you, Prof-like! Good for tenure, too.