My 4-year-old son Brendan is obsessed of late with Star Wars. We have a Wii and Lego Star Wars is his favorite game. If you are a parent and have passed through this age, you know that kids can really get obsessive about their favorite things. He loves that silly game, and talks about it all the time. Non-sequiturs abound. We’ll be reading books at bedtime, and he’ll tell me about wanting to be a red-hat guy who goes up the side of a building using the hooks, or how he likes Yoda, but doesn’t like being Yoda in the game, because he’s too slow, unless he’s using the force. He likes light sabers. And I can’t get that damn Mos Eisley Cantina music out of my head, no matter how hard I try.
So lately, I have had science fiction invade my mind, my dreams, and my thoughts. It’s starting to bleed into my workday, and so I thought I’d share some lessons from popular science fiction that you can apply to your job search and your career.
“The answer is out there, Neo. It’s looking for you. And, it will find you. If you want it to.”–Morpheus to Neo in The Matrix.
Morpheus is really outlining Neo’s epic quest with this line, and it may strike some as high-and-mighty to think of their job search in such terms. But is this really a bad thing? You are the hero in your life story, and if you aren’t going to be the champion in your job search, maybe it’s time to look within. Are you looking for answers, or are they right out there, looking for you?
“When you can’t do something smart, do something right.” Jayne Cobb in Serenity.
Jayne is a crusty, cynical and rough guy, driven by base desires…usually money. So it makes sense that he would dwell on the practical and dismiss the need for intellectually driven solutions. Adjusting to the reality that this results-driven approach is favored by many managers can be frustrating to job-seekers coming right out of school, especially when they work in a field like student affairs, a touchy-feel-ey, theory-driven sector of the workforce. We don’t like metrics, and we are often terrible at quantifying our accomplishments and proving our points. And the reality is that many student situations need quick responses that may not be compatible with extended periods of brainstorming, processing and building consensus. Sometimes you just have to do what you have to do. The thinking and processing can come later, and may be seen by some constituent parties (supervisors, parents, and students) as beside the point. So at times, it’s best to dwell on getting things done, rather than obsessing over whether the solution was the best in all worlds, or just the best solution, given the circumstances.
“I find your lack of faith disturbing.” Darth Vader in Star Wars.
Nobody wants to be around someone who is a negative Nelly all the time. It gets old quickly. So believe in yourself, or no one else will. Have faith that there will be positive outcomes for your search and in your long-term career development, and if you don’t feel this way now, try to act like you do until things settle out. If you just can’t find that faith in your abilities, maybe it’s time to get some career coaching or talk to a trusted colleague, mentor, member of the clergy, or professional counselor. Depression and other psychological issues can really set you back in your career, if you don’t take steps to address them.
“The 9000 series is the most reliable computer ever made. No 9000 computer has ever made a mistake or distorted information. We are all, by any practical definition of the words, foolproof and incapable of error.” HAL 9000 in 2001: A Space Odyssey
HAL was a really impressive machine, and capable of many things, but the incapacity to admit errors was, in the end, an error in and of itself. Like HAL, some co-workers, supervisors, or supervisees you come across will insist on their infallibility, and at times, they will lock you and others out. You’ll find it terribly annoying and even possibly dangerous to your well-being.
There are actually a few lessons here. First, be aware of who these people are, and be wary of them.
Second, in your job search, pay attention to signs of inflexibility in your potential co-workers and supervisors. It will help you steer clear of potentially bad situations, or at least go into them knowing some of what to expect.
Third, and this is possibly the most important…don’t be a HAL. Nobody wants to work with a HAL. They can picture being locked out of the pod bay door, screaming. And in space, no one can hear you scream. Show any sign of arrogance or inflexibility in your interviews, and the hiring committee will likely pull your plug.
“Admiral, if we go by the book, like Lieutenant Saavik, hours could seem like days.” Spock, to Kirk in Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan.
If institutions are known for anything, it’s love of policies and protocols. My uncle used to work for the government (Department of Energy) and we never really understood what he did, but to sum it up the best I understood it, he made rules about how to make rules.
When you come out of graduate school and into your first job, you’ll likely have a lot of enthusiasm for student development theory and spend a lot of time talking about how we “challenge and support” our students, and you’ll suggest responses to situations that are “developmentally appropriate” and holistic.
Then, soon enough, someone will shut you down with “that’s not how we do it around here” or “this is our protocol, and you need to follow it.”
In the movie, though, Spock’s comment to Kirk was actually his way of telling Kirk that the logical thing to do would be to interpret the rules in their own way, to get things done. This ability will come to you once you understand not just the written policies and protocols, but the institutional culture, and the “code-speak” that goes along with it. Then you will know how to play by the rules, and when to creatively interpret them with an eye toward obeying the spirit, if not the letter, of your institution’s protocols.
“If money is all that you love, then that’s what you’ll receive.” Princess Leia to Han Solo in Star Wars.
Let’s not kid ourselves. We all need money, and most of us love having it. But if that is all you come to work for, then that is all you’ll get. Make sure that you have other reasons to come to work, that light you up. Times are tough and many people are out of work, so it’s understandable if you find yourself in the position of taking a less-than-ideal job, out of the necessity to survive. But don’t stop looking for sources of fulfillment other than money. It’ll empty you out, and leave you spent.
“Ooh. Ah. That’s how it starts. Then comes the running and the screaming.” Dr. Ian Malcolm in The Lost World: Jurassic Park.
On some level, the kid inside you probably thinks that it would be cool to walk around a park full of dinosaurs. We spend time thinking about working for big-name schools, working with people who are recognized authorities, studying with the leading scholars of this-or-that. But this is an awfully rosy view and it will not sustain itself over time. Sooner or later, the dinosaurs get hungry, the experts show their sharp teeth when people disagree with them, and the scholars come at people with their claws out, roaring this or that about their latest research and how it should change how you do something or another. It can be confusing, and kind of scary. So before you go into the dinosaur park, see it for what it is. In the workplace, you need to see things as the really are, not only as you wish them to be. (Or you’ll be somebody’s lunch someday.)
“A man is defined by his actions, not his memories.” Kuato to Quaid, in Total Recall
It’s best to live in the present and work toward the life and career you want, rather than dwell on how things once were. The good old days weren’t all good, but they are definitely old. Try to cultivate a sense of mindfulness, and understand how things are, in the present moment. Then work from there, to connect the dots, and act accordingly. The best way to get to the future you want is to work through the present moment, rather than living in the past.
“Okay, princess. That’s it. The fairy tale is over. Welcome to real life!”–Lone Star in Space Balls
Your life and your career exist here, in reality, and dwelling on the ideal can leave you stuck in a fantasy world. Hard work can make some of your dreams come true, so keep plugging away at the things that matter most to you, cultivate the skills you will need, and stay connected to the people and the opportunities that will get you where you are going.
I designed this great logo when I worked at Penn State!
If you are a regular reader, you know that I spent just over 14 years at Penn State, mostly working for Residence Life. So when I thought about doing a series on what to expect at different types of institutions and for different Student Affairs roles, it made sense to me to start with what I know best.
So I invited Cecie Eastman, Coordinator of Planning and Special Projects for the Office of Residence Life at Penn State, to talk with me for my BlogTalkRadio show about the typical interview experience at Penn State.
I had a teleconference call with her and recorded it, mixed it down using Garageband, and uploaded segments to my BTR account. It’s taken a little longer than I had hoped to find time to complete the segments and get them up, so as I write this, I am waiting for my show window to open up so I can basically run the switchboard and play the pre-recorded segments. You should be able to listen to the show using the BTR player widget on this blog, or on my BTR page.
The show is 30 minutes and the interview is split into two segments. It should give candidates going through the job search some ideas about what goes into the interview process for Residence Life positions at a large university, including conference interviews, phone interviews, and the all-important campus interview. Cecie also shares some good advice on following up after the interview, thank you notes, and basic interview and post-interview etiquette.
She was also gracious enough to send along some outlines of a typical campus interview agenda, and samples of communications sent to candidates during the process. For more about Residence Life at Penn State, visit their home page
Yesterday’s #sachat(s) on the student affairs job search and placement were very informative and it was great to see so many people eager to help all the job seekers out there. I was especially excited, because, well…this is one of my “things.” I like helping people with their job searches. It really gives me a sense of satisfaction to talk with people, or to help them with their resumes, cover letters and graduate school apps/statements of purpose. In the same spirit, this edition of Take 5 features 5 great resources on the web to assist job seekers with their searches.
First, #sachat and the Student Affairs Collaborative Blog. This is a great community as well as being a source of information on Student Affairs, Higher Education and Collaborative Learning. #sachats happen each Thursdayt at 1 pm EST and 7 pm EST, and anyone with a Twitter account can join in by hash-tagging their tweets with #sachat. You can use Twitter Search, TweetGrid, or any popular Twitter client that supports hashtag searches.
One of my favorite career sites is Career Adventure by Kristi Daeda. She always has great advice and resources, like the section of the site on Resumes and Porfolios. There are several good articles in there about CVs vs. Resumes, including When a Resume Just Won’t Do: Writing Your CV
The Author in Residence Articles on HigherEdJobs.Com is a great new series that everyone should check out.
BusinessCard 2.0 is a pretty sweet site that lets you create a business card with some interactive features. You can put in a bio, share your social networking sites and links and more, including embedding it on your blog or web page. Visitors can interact with the widget, flip through the mini-pages, send you a message, or download your vCard, all without leaving your web site. You can view my BusinessCard 2.0 here. I will be embedding in my sites soon.
And lastly, a plug for something I am offering a Free Group for Student Affairs Job Seekers. This will be limited to 10 or so people and the group will meet each week via teleconference call to share questions, advice and support as they move through their job searches. To register, go to the event registration form here. The small size of the group should allow for good conversation and sharing. I am offering it for free so I can get some practice with coaching groups, and yes, I am offering it for free. In the interest of full diclosure, I will share information about my individual coaching services wiht participants, but I have promised also to not “hard sell” anyone, because a) I hate that crap, and b) if I am helpful as a coach, that pretty much speaks for itself, and will hopefully lead to referrals and eventually, to paid clients. This whole business thing is new to me, so please bear with me as I figure out how to do all this business stuff the right way.
Thanks for reading. Please come back soon for more articles and resources, including the periodic contributions of guest bloggers Bryan Koval (on his doctoral program experience) and Shannon Healy, on her search for her first full-time position in Student Affairs.
If you are interested in guest blogging about a subject related to Higher Ed/Student Affairs careers, please contact me at sean@higheredcareercoach.com or via tweet to hiedcareercoach.
My goal for HigherEdCareerCoach.com is to create a useful resource for today’s higher education professionals, as they design their careers and pursue the balanced and fulfilling lives they deserve. I envision a site that becomes more interactive and community-based, and I need feedback from you to identify some of the needs this site can fill, and to prioritize what changes should come first.
Content Survey
Toward this end, I have created a brief (5 question) survey about possible additions to the site’s content and features. The survey should take you 5 to 10 minutes, unless you write out long comments (which you certainly may, as each question has a comment field.) The survey is being hosted at http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e2pej262g565i9vl/start Please take a few minutes to give me feedback and send along the URL to any colleagues who might have ideas and be interested.
Group Coaching for Student Affairs Placement Season
I recently put out a tweet on Twitter asking if candidates taking part in placement this season would be interested in taking part in a coaching group, and the initial response has been good. Depending on the number of participants, I may offer different groups for new and experienced professionals. If you are interested, please tweet me @hiedcareercoach or e-mail me at sean@higheredcareercoach.com
#saplacement Hashtag on Twitter!
If you use Twitter and want to keep up with questions or comments about Placement, hashtag your tweet with #saplacement and people can follow it in the public timeline. I created this hashtag and blogged about it on this site and on the Student Affairs Collaborative Blog last week and conversations are already starting to happen between candidates and experienced professionals. NASPA re-tweeted the suggestion, so hopefully it will catch on even more as we get closer to the conferences.
Speaking of Placement…
I thought that it might be interesting and useful to have a student graduating from a Master’s program blog about the Placement Experience and job searching in Student Affairs. Shannon Healy, an Assistant Living Center Director at Grand Valley State University, will be blogging periodically about her job search, impressions of the placement experience, and all the ups and downs that go along with it. Shannon has tentatively agreed to do a couple of posts a week as time allows. You can follow her on Twitter @slhealy as well. I am looking forward to her posts and hope you will follow along as she looks for an opportunity that is a good fit for her talents and interests.
Other Columns and Features in the Works
I am currently reading a few interesting books on career and college topics and will be publishing reviews and possibly some interviews on the blog, and interviewing some authors on my BlogTalkRadio Show. I am also talking with colleagues in the field about guest blogging opportunities and regular columns. Hopefully, we’ll soon have articles and perspectives on the graduate application process in student affairs, getting an assistantship, choosing a master’s program or doctoral program, and overviews of career opportunities in different specialties (Student Activities, Advising, Judicial Affairs, etc.) If you are interested in being a guest columnist or regular contributor, please contact me directly for details.
In my last post, I gave somewhat of an overview of major placement conferences for candidates in Student Affairs. In this post, I hope to share a few tips for all you Higher Education/Student Affairs job searchers out there who are attending a placement conference this season.
During my 15-year career in Student Affairs, I was on both sides of the interview table at placement conferences and can offer you some perspectives that will hopefully set you at ease and help you be more confident and more prepared.
Save your money now. These things can get expensive!
Ask your employer if professional development funds can be spent to attend a placement conference. For many institutions, the answer will be “no,” and you shouldn’t be surprised or offended by this. It’s just where many employers draw the line in the sand. Institutions give PD money to help their employees learn new skills and enhance their skill sets, but it’s not realistic to expect your current employer to help you find a new or better job.
Find a roommate (or two or three) to share lodging expenses. The nightly rates at convention hotels are usually pretty moderate. (For example, nightly rates at preferred hotels for this year’s ACPA convention range from $199/night for a single room to $259 a night for a quad.) And don’t forget about parking, which will probably be in the $35/$40 per night range, or taxis and shuttle service to and from the airport if you are not driving in.
If you have your own transportation and can find a less expensive non-conference hotel near public transit, then drive, or take the bus, and save some money.
Take advantage of free in-room coffee and free continental breakfasts (if your hotel has them). It’s also easier than you might think to find yourself skipping breakfasts or unwilling to fight the teeming throngs trying to get breakfast at the same time. It’s also a good idea to bring snacks to your room, in case you are pressed for time and need to eat and run.
Bring a water bottle and refill it when you can rather than buying drinks at hotel/convention center prices.
Have all your ducks in a row before you get there.
Make sure your resume is impeccably written, targeted toward the positions you hope to apply for, grammatically correct, well laid-out, and easy to read. Placement centers will give you a candidate number. Make sure it is on your resume and that all pages stay together. Staples are fine at a placement center. Take a stapler and use it. When an interviewer has a huge pile of resumes and interview forms and brochures and giveaways to deal with, the last thing they want to do is spend their time searching a pile of loose papers for one errant page of your resume that got separated from the rest, because your paper clip slipped off.
Speaking of candidate numbers, many candidates these days make a personalized message to employer forms that give a brief statement of interest and leave room for the candidate to write in the employer number and the posting number on the form. If you do make your own, consider using colored paper. It stands out. As a conference interviewer, I always liked these, as long as messages were brief and concise. They also helped me find a candidate’s packet more easily.
Make contact ahead of time with potential employers about listings posted before the conference. Ask to pre-arrange an interview for your position of interest. Many employers pre-arrange a significant number of their interviews when possible.
Make sure all your references have been prepped about your goals for the placement exchange, any positions you are planning to apply for, and your reasons for applying for certain types of positions.
Be on Your Best Behavior. At All Times!
It won’t matter how you are dressed or how you interview if you make an ass out of yourself in some other way. Some do’s and don’ts:
Do:
Come prepared for each interview
Be friendly to the interviewers and to other candidates
Stay positive
Thank your interviewers for their time at the end of the interview
Network with other candidates and encourage them in their job search
Use the preparation table areas to organize your thoughts and your materials
Wait a few minutes if the interviewer is running late. Since most interviews run for about 30 minutes, you should feel free to go after 10 minutes. But these are very busy days and people do get off-course. If you have back-to-back interviews, let the interviewer know.
Don’t:
Schedule back-to-back interviews (if you can help it). You’ll need time to get from one place to another and you will periodically need a break.
Badmouth, make fun of, or make rude comments about an interviewer, a university, another candidate, your boss, your current employer, or basically, anyone. This means in the placement center, the hotel, the lobby bar, the McDonald’s across the street…wherever. If you need to vent or talk out frustrations, go to your hotel room and talk with your conference roommates or call a friend or family member on the phone. For everyone else, act like it’s raining daisies and nothing could be finer.
Stay in the placement center all day (especially if you are not especially busy at some given time with interviews.) This can lead you to think too much, stress out, and get down on yourself. You will need fresh air and walking-around time. Take it.
Flirt with your interviewer or other candidates, make inappropriate jokes or off-color comments or go on and on and on about how many top scholars you know in the field. It’s boorish behavior and it will count against you in the eyes of many employers.
Expect to leave the placement center with a job in hand. Most universities just don’t work that way. There are human resource guidelines to follow, and many student-services positions really like to involve students, colleagues in related departments, and upper administrators in their selection processes, and it’s unlikely that all of these parties will be represented on the interview team.
Learn Something!
If the placement center is part of a longer conference with professional development sessions, go to some! They are great places to network, you might learn something new that leads you to explore additional opportunities, and you will need a break from the placement center.
If you have the option of talking about your career or some topic of interest with more experienced professionals, do it. Sometimes, these opportunities come up in sessions. Sometimes, they come up on the sidewalk, in a restaurant or at a volunteer post.
Volunteer!
Volunteering is a great way to get informal opportunities for networking, to learn how the conference is organized, and to be of service to other candidates.
It’s also fun. Did I mention that you are likely to need a break from interviewing? This is one way to take a break but depending on what you volunteer for, you may end up volunteering in the placement center. Just be sure that you are doing it during an actual opening in your interview schedule!
Best of luck to everyone interviewing this season!
Work with Sean. I help higher ed professionals take control of their careers with tailored services including resume and CV development, LinkedIn profile optimization and networking strategy, interview coaching, and one-on-one career guidance.
In my last post, I gave somewhat of an overview of major placement conferences for candidates in Student Affairs. In this post, I hope to share a few tips for all you Higher Education/Student Affairs job searchers out there who are attending a placement conference this season.
