Transparency is one of the essential elements of career success. Pick up any modern book on career planning, small business development, marketing, or social media, and you’ll probably find a section devoted to the idea of transparency, and how essential it is to establishing the three foundational elements of successful relationships: people know you, like you and trust you.
It Should Be Easy, Right?
But it’s not easy to be “transparent.” Each of us struggles with something, but no one wants to be defined by their problems. Especially if you are looking for a job, looking for customers, or trying to establish yourself as an “authority” within some niche. If you’re truly transparent, people identify with your humanity, because your successes and your struggles are both familiar, and they root for you.
So What’s the Problem?
Herein lies the rub: the more risks you take in your career or with your business, the greater the potential reward…or potential loss. So you stay within your comfort zone, and try to figure your way through, on your own. And sometimes, it’s neither practical (nor healthy) to do so. But, “issues” put aside are eventually recognized for what they are…problems. And when you have a problem, it’s supposed to be okay to ask for help. As educators and supervisors, we know this. We preach this to our students. We evangelize for this to our young professionals. And yet we resist holding ourselves to the same standard, even though we know–genuinely know–that those who ask for help are usually met with kindness, understanding, and support.
So What’s My Problem?
I’ve arrived at a point with this site and with my business where it would be folly to continue without more help. As I expanded the local aspect of my business, I’ve been getting more clients for résumé writing and LinkedIn profiles, and many of these are from outside of academia, and have varied experiences that are hard to tie together into a coherent package.
I’ve always been good at writing résumés, and I enjoy challenges, but it requires a very different type of energy and focus than writing blog posts and sharing perspectives. And I find it hard sometimes to shift gears and keep moving. For the past couple of months, the result has been writer’s block, and I’ve had to devote more time to the writing I am paid for (the résumés) than to my sites.
What Kind of Help Do I Need?
I have some ideas that need to be implemented, and resources that need to be developed, and not enough time and energy to do them all. And I would like to revive my second site, Higher Ed Life Coach, and continue development on a local career resource site, AthensGACareerCoach.Com. So I am looking for an intern to help in content development, and social media, and also for high-quality, relevant guest posts. I will post something later this week about guest posting opportunities. In the meantime, here’s a description of what I am looking for in an intern.
The Internship
The Career Content Development Intern will compile career resources and develop new content for websites (primarily HigherEdCareerCoach.Com and AthensGACareerCoach.Com, but possibly including other sites currently published or under development by Cook Coaching and Consulting); may appear as a guest or co-host on podcasts; schedule guests for podcast, interview educators, job-seekers, coaches and others for site and podcast features; co-host webinars and twitter chats, assist with social media publishing (Twitter, Facebook) and assist with site management, search engine optimization and site design. Other duties will be negotiated, based on current site development needs and the intern’s interests.
Compensation
Anticipated compensation is $8/hour, for a maximum of 5 hours a week, and the duration of the internship will be 20 weeks or 100 hours. This is a part-time contract position, beginning in late November or early December, and ending in May 2012. The finalist will be required to submit appropriate documentation confirming eligibility to work in the United States of America, keep and submit accurate and timely records of hours worked, and your contract income will be reported to the IRS. Additionally, the intern will receive a profile page on HigherEdCareerCoach.Com, a HigherEdCareerCoach.Com e-mail account, and may be featured on podcasts and videos.
Qualifications
Minimum qualifications: Bachelor’s degree and at least one year of relevant experience in student affairs/higher education (undergraduate and graduate experience counts!). Excellent verbal and written communication skills, ability to research and compile information and resources quickly and accurately, experience using social media, blogging, podcasting, and producing internet video. Access to a working computer, internet connection and some form of telephone (landline, cellular or VOIP.)
Preferred qualifications: Current graduate student or recent graduate of a student affairs, higher education, college student personnel administration or related program. Ideally, the candidate will also be someone not employed full-time, who can use the internship to expand his or her career development portfolio. Experience using Mac computers, WordPress, iMovie, and Garageband to produce engaging content is a plus; Efficient and deadline-oriented, but flexible and good-humored, with an ability to deliver consistently accurate information; creative but organized, who will focus on helping our web sites reach their potential.
Application Process
Applications should consist of the following:
- A current résumé
- A cover letter, no longer than 2 pages, outlining your relevant experience and your most compelling arguments.
- Some explanation or evidence of your positive engagement in social media. This can be addressed in your cover letter, or through creative use of social media platforms (Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.) to demonstrate your experience, comfort level and engagement with these platforms.
- 3 professional references who can speak not only to your character and work ethic, but toward your ability and/or potential as a writer and content developer.
Deadline
Applications should be sent via e-mail to sean@higheredcareercoach.com with the subject “Career Content Development Intern” no later than 5 p.m. ET Friday November 18. For documents, .pdf format is preferred for all attachments. Interviews will be scheduled during the last two weeks of November, and will be conducted via a webmeeting/video chat interface. Start date will be sometime in late November or early December and will be negotiated with the successful candidate.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Cook Coaching and Consulting, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, national origin, or genetic condition. The company strives for compliance with all applicable labor laws outlined by the State of Georgia and the U.S. Department of Labor, including the Americans with Disabilities Act.
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