by sean@higheredcareercoach.com | Sep 30, 2010 | Podcast, Student Affairs
This week’s incident at the University of Texas at Austin probably hit a nerve for many of us who work in student affairs, because we are often called to assist in responding to the practical and emotional impacts of violence on campus.
Every time something like this happens, I respond in two ways:
- Go into an autopilot sort of mode while responding to what everyone else needs.
- Push aside thinking about it as much as possible, until I crash.
The first way is clearly healthier than the second, but for me at least, both are entirely necessary for maintaining focus. And generally, I have done this well.
During my career in Residence Life, I was called on to respond to a few high-profile emergencies:
- Incidents in the halls in response to the first so-called ArtsFest Riot
- A completed suicide and the follow-up around it
- The aftermath of an on-campus shooting
Dissecting this event is inevitable, and the supposed warning signs that people will parse over and second guess have already begun. I’m not sure what all the answers are, but I’d like to create an opportunity to talk about this, share experiences and process.
So I want to open up the conversation a bit to our readers and listeners. This Friday’s edition of my BlogTalkRadio podcast will be dedicated to discussing Violence on Campus, how to be prepared, how to respond, and how to work through it when you have to push your needs aside and take care of others.
Listen to internet radio with Sean Cook on Blog Talk Radio
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by sean@higheredcareercoach.com | Sep 28, 2010 | Coaching
Are you planning to job search this year? Placement may seem a long way off, but the truth is that the most prepared candidates start early, get a lot of feedback, expand their networks continually, and devote themselves to the search as a job, in and of itself.
Since last spring, I have offered a few small group experiences, including a job seekers group, and a self-paced “hybrid” program that featured both online activities and 1-on-1 coaching, including personalized resume and cover letter assistance, mock interviews, and personal coaching throughout the process.
Both my free and paid offerings seemed to help job seekers, but the “hybrid” program seems to have been the most helpful to the clients who participated. Four persons enrolled in my “8 Weeks to August” coaching program, which was aimed toward seekers who found themselves “stuck” after the conference season ended, and summer began.
Of the participants in the last program:
- One dropped out without doing any of the activities.
- One got a job, and
- The other two have been consistently getting interviews, and will hopefully be employed soon. I believe wholeheartedly that they will, because they have made great strides and interviews keep coming in.
Since my goal was to have both of these people employed by the end of this week, I e-mailed them Monday to see if they wanted their money back, because I believe in guarantees. I couldn’t guarantee these clients a job. But I did guarantee them satisfaction with their progress, and I am only as good as my word.
Since I’ve had an opportunity to evaluate the different programs, I am going to revise some of the content and format, and offer a new program that will last from now until May. I’m calling it the “Placement Partner” Coaching Program. At the end of May or beginning of June, I will again offer a program more geared toward the needs of job seekers who find themselves “stuck” without a job after the Spring 2011 recruitment period ends.
Right now, I am gathering information on persons who might be interested in this type of program, so I can tailor a couple of levels of participation, and create programs at different price points. My goal is to have programs that will meet the needs of job seekers at different levels, and to offer a value that far exceeds the cost of entry.
Sign up using the form below to be notified when more details become available. It’s free and you will also receive our regular e-mail newsletter. There is no obligation, and you can opt-out at any time.
I look forward to helping student affairs job seekers this year. Sign up below and forward to others who might be interested.Thanks!
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by sean@higheredcareercoach.com | Sep 23, 2010 | Podcast
Hey everyone, it’s late September, and Friday morning, I am back for a new season of my BlogTalkRadio podcast after a hiatus since early August. I didn’t really plan on being away that long, but August and September have been full of busy. Since most readers of this blog work in higher ed, or aspire to, you know what the first month or so of the academic year can do to you, and how quickly your best laid plans, and best intentions, can get swept away along with your usually productive routine.
I’ll let you know what I’ve been up to lately, and I would love to hear from you about how Fall is starting off in your neck of the woods. Do you have some great stories to tell? Some gripes to vent about? Some advice you critically need? Call in, and maybe I can help you with your Fall kick-start. I bet some listeners can also offer you some great advice. So call in to 1 (347) 989-0055 or via the Skype click-to-talk logo once the show is on the air.
We’ll talk about how August and September can consume you, getting back in the saddle, and the transition issues that higher ed professionals, college students, and their families go through during fall. This show will be a stream-of-conscience free-for-all, hopefully with callers. It’s just been too long. I had to get back on the horse. So tune in for insights, rants, weak attempts at comedy and maybe a few special offers. I’ll be winging it!
Listen to internet radio with Sean Cook on Blog Talk Radio
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by sean@higheredcareercoach.com | Sep 20, 2010 | Career Skills, life purpose
In the business world, people talk about leaders endowed with the “vision thing.” These are people who can envision the future for their industry and their company in concrete terms, and explain it in ways that encourage others to buy in to that vision, and focus their efforts around it as well.
Job seekers would do well to follow this example, and spend some time envisioning a clear picture of their career as it will be. With a clear endgame in mind, you can track backwards to those steps you should be taking now, and to recognize the logical next steps when they present themselves.
Do you have a vision for your career? Are you using it to inform your choices now? And will it stand up to the tests of time and experience?
If you don’t, spend some time with your future. Think it through. Let it be real for you, and you’ll see more clearly what you should be doing now, and where it might take you next.
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by sean@higheredcareercoach.com | Sep 16, 2010 | Career Skills
I recently signed up for DimDim’s webinar service and will be offering periodic webinars for higher ed job seekers, college students and their parents. I’ll also be making custom presentations and meetings available to college departments, companies and other groups. A
My first DimDim webinar that is open to the public will be “Mastering the Job Interview” from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm September 23 (Next Thursday). Tickets go “on sale” tomorrow, Friday September 17. The first 50 tickets will be free, and sales for free tickets will end at 11:55 pm this Sunday. On Monday, (or after the first 50 tickets go, whichever comes first) the remaining seats will go on sale for $10 each.
Please register for the webinar! I’m looking forward to doing it, and getting feedback from those who attend about what I can do to offer more webinars and workshops on topics of interest.
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