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Newbie 101: Advice for new jobs

It is the nature of our work to shift jobs a bit more often than some of our counterparts in other industries. As student affairs professionals, we are the Gumbys of the higher ed world—we flex to changing hours, additions/deletions to our job descriptions, and even locations of offices and workplaces on campus.

Similar to other industries, however, our field sees a lot of our turnover around fiscal year-end/start in July. In our online #sachat twitter community, several of us are starting new positions and decided to share thoughts about what its like to be in a new role.  By answering a few basic questions about our new positions, we hope to provide some insight into role changing for our readers, and also get you interested in speaking with us more in the future on BlogTalkRadio.

First of all, what is your new position title and university? When do you start (or did you)?

Shannon: Residence Hall Director/Student Activities Coordinator at Lyndon State College in Vermont. I start July 19th, so just over a week from now.

Mickey: Assistant Director of Residence Life at University of Wisconsin-Superior.  I started June 14th, so I’ve been in my role for about a month.

Becca: Assistant Director of Student Involvement and Leadership at the University of North Carolina – Pembroke. July 1st start date.

What is your professional preparation/background coming into this position? (other positions, fields, education, etc)?

Shannon: This is my first full-time position after graduating with my Master’s degree in College Student Affairs Leadership this past May. As a graduate student I had assistantships in Career Services and Residence Life, and did Internships in Summer Conferences and Service Learning.

Mickey: Previous to this I worked for a short time as Associate Director of Student Life at University of Maine at Machias, and prior to that was a full-time Hall Director at Iowa State University for four years.  I did my graduate work (and was a grad hall director) at Minnesota State University, Mankato ’03-05 and did my internship teaching a life skills preparatory course. I did my undergrad ’99-03 at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point where I got my start as a Community Advisor!

Becca: My education includes a M.Ed in Higher Education Administration from Kent State University and a B.A. in English, Journalism, and Applied Writing from Ashland University. During graduate school I worked at Baldwin-Wallace College as a GA in Greek Life and Leadership. I also completed internships in International Student and Scholar Services, New Student and Parent Orientation, and Student Conduct/Residence Life. As an undergraduate, I interned in Greek Life and orientation for two years as well.

What resources (networks/specific tactics/webpages/people/social media) were key in the search to find (and get) this position?

Shannon: Higher Ed Jobs became my best friend for searching by type of position or in the states I decided I wanted to live in. The #sachat network on Twitter was a great resource in learning how to read into a job description a bit more, decide what type of position was best for me, and general motivational support.

Mickey: Without a doubt my number one resource was my network through UMR-ACUHO.  I’ve been part of that organization for 7yrs now and those folks are like family to me.  I felt that a number of my colleagues were very interested in helping me get back into the region and back into a residence life role, and most of all, in Wisconsin!  Second to that I would say HigherEdJobs.com was incredibly helpful.  At the time of my search, I was still a newbie on Twitter, although that community was very helpful to me when it came time to do on campus interviews and ultimately accept and negotiate for my current position.

Becca: I visited the career services office at Baldwin-Wallace College to have my resume critiqued and gained feedback from my supervisor, @Kathy_Petras, and friends. Many members of the #SAChat community were integral to my job search, including @clconzen and @edcabellon, who helped review my resume and prepare for interviews. Social Media played an interesting piece in my job search as well. ( http://edcabellon.com/tech/twitters-impact-on-my-job-search/) I followed several potential supervisors, universities, and department accounts during my job search to gain insight into the positions I was pursuing. I interviewed for several positions at ACPA and subscribed to additional position postings from higheredjobs.com.

How did you utilize your references and mentors in your search process?

Shannon: References were great because most were current or past supervisors, so if there was a job I was applying for where I didn’t have one of the desired experiences they worked to find a way to get me that experience to stay extra competitive. They also put up with me during the ups and downs of the whole process. My mentors were great because they WEREN’T with me every day. They offered a great outside perspective on things, and since they worked at schools across the country, they were able to give me great perspective on what life was like in other areas of the US. Stacy Oliver, in particular, became known for her “Parking Lot Pep Talks” that started in the parking lot on her campus after I drove down to visit, have lunch, and get some advice.

Mickey: I have always been in the practice of sending weekly “reference update” emails to me actual references, and informal (yet similar) updates to my mentors/other colleagues that might get a cold call (see my previous post on this).  I sent (and received) a lot of email during my search, especially because I was struggling with being unemployed for a longer amount of time than expected.  These folks were both a personal and professional support to me, and also offered me opportunities to continue to grow my skills through being keynote speakers at their winter trainings.  This is also how I got connected with Sean and Higher Ed Career Coach and Life Coach and grew my professional skills to the online world.

Becca: My references helped me to reflect on and articulate my previous work experience as I prepared for interviews. I was able to process my interviews with supervisors and mentors after the fact to determine institutional fit and to prepare for second interviews. I was lucky to have a mentor with me at ACPA to debrief with between interviews and to re-energize during the process.

What are your initial goals in your new position?

Shannon: Since my job is in both Residence Life and Student Life I really need to learn the culture of each office when I arrive. For the residence life half my goals are to create a strong Community Council in my hall (always a bit difficult with an all-first-year building) and to create some quality programming, some that will hopefully become yearly traditions. For the student life half I’m working with overseeing all the student organizations so I’d like to create some Leadership development programs, and also resources/workshops for student organization advisors.

Mickey: I believe I am just about wrapping up my initial time frame for my immediate goals, which were to 1) network/form initial relationships with the campus life team and other colleagues on campus. 2) tons of reading on our shared drive (policies, previous documents on programs, etc) 3) start laying major groundwork on the training schedules and programs for the fall that are under my supervision (hall managers, assistant hall managers, academic resource coordinators, intern, etc).  Now its on to Phase 2 of my goals!

Becca: 1) Get to know my new colleagues and students. 2) Find opportunities to share resources and to collaborate on evening and weekend programming. 3) Develop evening and weekend programming to match the learning outcomes set by the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership.

What things are you making sure NOT to do in your new job?

Shannon: Hopefully I will not get too overwhelmed! Again, having a dual position I’m hoping to not get too focused on one half of it, to the detriment of my other responsibilities.

Mickey: Work/check email constantly at home.  In this position I am personally making it a goal to strive for as much balance as possible and I truly feel like I am really getting there (which is rare for our profession).  I’m also trying to not make “this is how it is/should be” statements based on past experience, but rather ask questions of why certain things are done a certain way, if there is flexibility, etc.

Becca: I am not pretending to be the expert. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be the first person to fill the Assistant Director position and to contribute to the Leadership mission of the office– but I am not pretending to be an expert. Rather, I am excited to be a part of a team and to bring my perspective to the table.

What things are you making sure TO do in your new job?

Shannon: Definitely making sure to develop strong bonds with my coworkers, and with/between my student staff members.

Mickey: Spend time with my new team.  Eating lunch with them everyday, and hopefully hanging outside of work soon.  Building those trusting relationships so that they can count on me as a person and colleague and vice versa.  Also making sure to ask a TON of questions and taking TONS of notes (I need an iPad or something).  I’ve started keeping a few different files on Evernote as well (can sync between my iPhone/work computer/home computer) that are: 1) the idea file (future ideas), 2) observations, and 3) areas for development.  Taking notes is key for me.

Becca: Ask questions and listen to the answers. Learn the culture of the institution, the students, and the community. Engage in professional development opportunities and apply the new knowledge to my work.

Any advice for SA folks still searching in mid-July?

Shannon: Get excited about the possibility of jobs outside Residence Life. I noticed that as I got to the end of the semester/into summer a lot more Student Life/Student Activities jobs opened up. I’ve noticed now that even more Academic or Career Advising and Admissions jobs are opening. There’s still hope, and still lots of time before fall semesters start.

Mickey: Be more broad/less picky in what you are looking for, because in student affairs you get to do a little bit of everything anyway, so you might as well start broadly (if you are entry level).  It really concerns me when I see folks straight out of school (whether undergrad or grad) that are focused only on one or two areas when they just need to jump in to a position and get experience.  Make it known that you have many interests so that you can do your main role and other small projects once you are hired.  For mid-level folks who are still searching, I would say….save as much money in all areas of your life as possible.  As someone who was unemployed (by choice) I had to make a lot of tough financial decisions and ask for a lot of help/support from those around me because I knew it was going to be a harder/longer process to find that right mid-level fit.  Be ok with that, and be humble with your process.

Becca: Ask for help. The professionals in our community are eager to see each other succeed and are willing advise you through the process if you ask for help. In addition to your mentors, utilize your resources as much as possible: stay current in the field by reading The Chronicle, blogs, participating in weekly #sachat conversations (http://thesabloggers.org), and publications from your functional areas of interest.

Other tips/tidbits you want to add?

Shannon: Even if you don’t fit every qualification on a job application, apply anyway. Don’t tell yourself no, let them decide that. Moreover, be yourself. Lots of policy and qualifications can be taught. Personality can’t.

Mickey: If you don’t have a well-established network (references, mentors, friends, supportive family, etc) then focus your efforts ALWAYS on growing and nurturing that network.  Research (and personal experience) supports that these people are the ones that more and more are helping us find and secure jobs, and are also the ones that support us the best in our first few weeks and months on the job.  Grow your network!  Also, ask lots of questions, and don’t ever think that they are dumb or unworthy.  Sometimes forcing someone to answer your question helps them realize that their methodology or program has never been questioned, or it can also help display your interest in what they have going on!

Becca: Be open-minded. A position description and university website give you a partial picture of a job, just like your resume and cover letters do. Dig deeper and look for opportunities.

While being a new employee and new to a university can look different for everyone, we hope that we’ve given insight into what it can be like for three folks at different places in their careers to approach a new position.  Join us this Friday at 11 a.m. EDT on the Higher Ed Life & Careers Blog Talk Radio show with Sean Cook to hear more about our new roles and being new employees!

Have thoughts, questions, or comments? Please leave them below, or feel free to follow us on Twitter @slhealy, @mickeyfitch, & @beccafick!

Tuesday Time-Out: It's Our Blog Birthday!

A year has somehow passed since I first registered HigherEdCareerCoach.Com and HigherEdLifeCoach.Com, so today’s Tuesday Time-Out is a recap of important events in our first year. Thanks to all our readers and guest posters, and to all the other people who have supported and sustained the sites through this critical first year.

Some milestone events during year 1:

2009:

  • July 11th, 2009. I registered higheredlifecoach.com with GoDaddy. Less than a week later, I decided that I wanted to host my site at Fatcow (aff. link), because they are geared toward small business, and host their servers with wind energy. I registered higheredcareercoach.com as well (this time through Fatcow).
  • August 4, 2009: Published 1st post on HigherEdCareerCoach.Com. First month: 35 readers total.
  • At the end of September and beginning of October, I attended the coach certification program, and posted a couple of video diary posts.

2010:

  • In the new year, I started blogging more regularly on both sites, and recruiting guest writers, to broaden the perspectives offered beyond my own.
  • As Placement season revved up, Higher Ed Career Coach began to feature articles on placement. In one, at the end of January, we began a ongoing Twitter hashtag conversation around the placement experience (#saplacement) to allow employers and prospective employees to share comments, questions, and tips related to job searching and the national and regional placement exchanges.
  • In February:
    • Bryan Koval became the first guest blogger, with the first installation of his “Doctoral Student from a Distance” series.
    • Shannon Healy began chronicling her job search in what would become an 11-part series on her student affairs job hunt.
    • Shonda Goward from FirstGenerationUniversity and I traded guest posts on each other’s sites. This would be the first guest post exchange for either site.
    • Broadcast the first episode of the Higher Ed Life and Career Show on BlogTalkRadio
      • The first episode had 10 live listeners and Bryan Koval guest hosted.
      • The highest number of live audience members was 34, for “The Value of Twitter in Your Job Search,” with guests Mike Severy, Becca Fick, and Mallory Bower.
      • So far, episodes of the show have been listened to 1,042 times.
  • In March, Mickey Fitch began writing periodic posts for both sites, followed in April by Mallory Bower. Regular contributors and guest posters are now a regular part of both sites.
  • In April and May:
    • We ran articles and did radio shows on dealing with disappointment in your job search, staying motivated, and starting over.
    • We also celebrated the graduation of many members of our reader and contributor community.
    • I introduced my first hybrid coaching program (“8 Weeks to August”) for job seekers starting over with their search, featuring online activities, 1-on-1 coaching, mock interviews, and the opportunity to be featured on a page of the HigherEdCareerCoach site, and to be interviewed on BlogTalkRadio. The first of these client pages will be posted soon.
    • Introduced the concept of differentiating “who-dos” from “gurus,” after a serendipitous exchange over Twitter with friends and an homage to the Australian band the Hoodoo Gurus.
  • June and July:
    • Began a comprehensive overhaul of all my sites, front end and back, including running a design contest on 99Designs.com (aff. link) for new logos that would be academic and fun, and imply coaching, and to bring in sports metaphors; a re-design of all websites related to my business, Cook Coaching and Consulting, and back-end stuff, related to Search Engine Optimization, site security and other stuff that is probably not all that interesting to readers.
    • Named Breakdrink.Com and their site creator, Jeff Jackson, as the first “Who-Do of the Month,” as part of an effort to identify a “Who-Do” of the Year in Higher Education. This person or organization will receive a new award, the “Who-Do” Highsman, plus bragging rights and some sort of other actual reward (probably money, but we’ll be taking suggestions and figuring that out over the next few months, based on community response.)
    • Introduced some new regular features to bring more voices into the conversation, starting with the “Monday Morning Quarterback” series. Scott Helfrich (of StudentLifeGuru) took the first turn in what will be a regular rotation. Each month, we’ll introduce a topic related to higher education and/or careers, and have guest columnists respond with their take on the issues put forth.
    • Discovered accidentally that, for at least one day, the blog ranked among the top 100 small business blogs on Technorati. Apparently, these rankings fluctuate pretty wildly, but seeing this blog listed just a few spaces away from Zen Habits (which is one of the most awesome blogs on the planet) was pretty freaking awesome. Maybe someday soon, we’ll do it again.

The development of these sites, (and my coaching practice) would not have been possible without the support of an awesome community of readers, contributors, friends and colleagues. You’ve helped the blogs “find their voice,” attract new readers, and explore new territory in our efforts to play a contributing role in discussions about the emerging directions in higher education, career development, and professional development and training for higher ed professionals.

In the next few weeks, you’ll see even more changes, including:

  • A new tab where you can find more information on upcoming live webinar classes for job searchers and professionals starting their new positions, short courses, teleseminars, and the next editions of our hybrid coaching programs. (Another for students hoping to attend placement next Spring, and one on getting your act together to apply for graduate programs.)
  • A new provider (aWeber) for our mailing list, and free e-mail “short courses” for new subscribers
  • E-books, videos, and audio content, including interviews with higher ed professionals about their career development.)
  • A membership area for premium content, career discussion forums, and online coaching.
  • New sites in our web portfolio, including HigherEdCoach, a site for coaches and consultants working in higher ed to share their tips for getting into coaching and consulting, and to learn from each other. The site will also have a directory for coaches and consultants, that will hopefully assist those in need of coaching and consulting in finding someone appropriate to their needs.

Help celebrate our blog birthday! Your support and encouragement keep us going. Here are some great ways you can help us kick off Year 2:

  • Tell a friend or colleague to check out the sites.
  • Even better, send out links to your favorite articles from the last year to your Twitter List, or “like” them on Facebook (you can use the Wibiya toolbar)
  • Go back and comment on your favorite post.
  • Add our sites to your blogroll if you have a blog.
  • Write a guest post.
  • Sign up for an upcoming webinar class or coaching program.
  • Give the gift of coaching to a friend, colleague or family member who needs a motivational kick-start in their job search.
  • And most importantly, keep reading!

Thanks for everything! We’re looking forward to Year 2!

Are You Saying "Just Enough" in Your Interviews?

boy stacking blocks, just enough balance

Job interviews can be a lot like stacking blocks. Once you have "just enough," it's time to stop.

Lately, I’ve been having some good discussions online, over e-mail, and on the phone with the participants of my 8 Weeks t0 August Career Coaching Program. It’s a small group but we are getting into the swing of things and hopefully having a program like this one, with 1-on-1 coaching, online activities and some dedicated times to have practice interviews, will help the participants find some clarity, focus their searches, and find great jobs by this September.

One of the topics we’re spending time with early on is obstacles. It’s hard to move ahead when you feel stuck, unless you can recognize the obstacles in your path, and clear them.

Since I’m not looking for work right now, I related something that I struggle with as a businessman, because it really isn’t that different from the things I struggled with in my job searches, and it’s this…

Saying just enough to answer the question.

Think about that for a minute.

Just enough.

In a job interview, your answers have to address the question, but beyond that, the issue that most of us struggle with is not coming up with a good answer. It is the “enough.” And more particularly, the “just enough.”

So when do you know when you’ve said enough?

  • Is it when you describe your job and your tasks?
  • Is it when you say something memorable?
  • Or is when you do both of the above, in ways that the interviewer will connect with?

Are your answers “connecting?” If not, where can you find clues on how to connect?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this, and how you might apply the idea of “just enough” in your interview strategy. Please comment below and share your thoughts on how to say “just enough,” or share some of the obstacles you find yourself up against, and maybe we can help you figure out ways to get over them around them, or to go right through and smash them to pieces.

Higher Ed Career Coach Sean Cook, pictured here in front of Tillman Hall, the "old main" buildilng at Clemson University, his alma mater.

Sean Cook, M.Ed.

Sean Cook is a Life and Career Coach from Athens, GA. He attended Clemson University, where he earned his B.A. in Political Science (with a minor in Administration) and his M.Ed. in Counseling and Guidance Services (Student Affairs in Higher Education concentration.) Before founding Cook Coaching & Consulting Ltd., Sean spent 15 1/2 years working in higher education, mostly in residence life. His interest in coaching was a natural outgrowth of his personal experiences as a job seeker and his professional experiences as an advisor to college students and student organizations, and as a supervisor to students and young professionals from a variety of backgrounds.

Sealing The Deal: Questions to Ask Yourself When Faced With “The Offer”

In our field, a lot of time and attention is put into prepping for interviews, writing cover letters and resumes, and getting ready for the big on campus interview day. Less attention is given to teaching what type of follow up you should do after an interview to stay at the top of the hiring committee’s list of top candidates. Even worse, we rarely talk about how to “seal the deal,” by asking  questions, airing concerns, and negotiating before we accept (or deny) a final job offer.

Student Affairs is admittedly a sometimes overly “touchy-feely” field. We fear asking probing questions, or acquiesce to certain professional situations, because we don’t feel like we have any other choice, or that we are “just” a new professional and have to “deal” with what is given to us. However, in the same breath, we tout how great we are, at motivating our students to reach for the highest goals and achievements they can. Does anyone else see the disparity there?

Recently, I underwent my own mid-level job search. With the help of professional peers, my best friend, my partner (both of whom are in higher education), and family, I was able to be very intentional, thoughtful, and mindful of my situation when “the phone call” came from my new supervisor. Through this process, I’ve gathered a few helpful hints and questions to ask yourself when “sealing the deal”.

Some things that are important within your professional role and critical to consider when faced with a job offer, include:

  • Availability of peers/network/team
  • Peer professional context (where were they before there? Homegrown? Across country?)
  • Availability of professional development funding and/or commitment to tangible professional development
  • Technological resources within department/division/university
  • Tangibility of higher leadership to you (dean of students, vice chancellor for student affairs, chancellor/president, etc)
  • Mission/vision and goals (are they active? Is there a five year plan? Do they know where they are going?)
  • What is the general “vibe” of the team? (Are they easy going? Joke a lot? Work late at night? Always late?)

Beyond the professional concerns, you should also be aware of your personal needs (and hot buttons!) that need to be met when facing a job offer, including:

  • Cost of university services (parking, health/wellness center membership, meal availability, athletics tickets, theater tickets)
  • Benefit packages (what is the retirement contribution/match percentage, availability of local doctors and specialists, vision/dental care, flex health benefits, vacation/sick leave)
  • Where is your university/system “at” in terms of furlough, layoffs, hiring freezes, travel freezes, etc
  • Proximity of university to retail shopping, groceries, and social/hobby needs
  • Ability to find suitable housing for self/family/petsProximity to airport/mass transit
  • What salary do you need vs. want (don’t be afraid of negotiating for a higher salary or soft recurring benefits! These extras can lead to higher employee satisfaction and productivity!)

I mentioned before about asking these questions of yourself/your institution. However, I would also encourage you to air these out with peers, partner/family, and friends. They have an objective viewpoint that you may not be able to see because of the “job offer glow”. After searching out answers to these questions, you can feel confident in the fact that you’ve done a thorough job “sealing the deal”.

What kinds of questions do you ask? Share with me via Twitter or comments below!  Best of luck to all of you getting “the phone call” soon!

Starting in mid-June, Mickey Fitch is the new Assistant Director of University Housing at University of Wisconsin-Superior. Mickey’s crafted her career around the residence life experience on the college campus. Mickey loves to tell stories and help students make the most of their residential experience on campus. On the personal side, Mickey is an avid fisherman and outdoorswoman and is currently engaged in a life-changing health and fitness journey! You can learn more about her at mickeyfitch.weebly.com or follow her on Twitter @mickeyfitch.

Elevator Speeches and Interview Skills

Everyone knows that the perfect place to make career connections is the elevator. So it occurred to me that the topic might be a great one to explore on the next HigherEdCareerCoach BlogTalkRadio show.

Then Mike Severy, who was a guest on the show last week, had to go and reinforce this idea, when his tweet about an article on Inc. Magazine about the topic:

Tweet from Mike Severy about Elevator Speech article

So this is what we’ll talk about this Friday. (I’m adding the topic of interview skills because I think it is relevant. We’ll give feedback about that, too.)

But I’m hoping to do even more.

They say that practice makes perfect. Well, here’s the time for you to practice. Call in to the show and introduce yourself. Deliver your elevator speech. Get feedback from me, the co-hosts and maybe even the audience.

We’ll also corner callers into answering some questions in a “mini-mock interview,” and give feedback about that.

I hope you will join us and consider calling in (to get or give advice and comments.)  When the show is on live, you can call in to (347) 989-0055 or go to the show page and click on the Skype Click-to-Talk button (Blue “S” logo above the show summary.)

Please listen and call in. Your engagement could be really helpful to job seekers.

Today on BlogTalkRadio: Using RSS in Your Job Search

Today, from 3 pm to 4 pm EST, I’ll be hosting another episode of the Higher Ed Life and Careers Show on BlogTalkRadio. I hope you will join us live and call in your questions and comments!

Today’s topics:

  • Using RSS feeds to keep up with vacancy postings during your job search with Eric Stoller, an academic advisor at Oregon State University, who also shares his thoughts on higher education, technology, and social justice issues at EricStoller.com and consults with institutions in higher education about technology issues.
  • From my Google Reader: Higher Ed News and Views, plus other interesting articles on social media, education, etc.
  • Cook Coaching Programs and Services: Information on my 8 weeks to August Career Coaching Program for student affairs professionals finding themselves “stuck” in their job search; Accidentally on Purpose sideshow, with Sean Cook and Monica Moody; upcoming workshops for high school students transitioning to college, parents hoping to avoid the “helicopter parent phenomenon,” and more.
  • Call-Ins: Please listen in to the show and call in your questions and comments to (347) 989-0055 or send them via twitter to @hiedcareercoach. I’ll be asking for comments at various points, especially between 3:15 pm and 3:45 pm when talking with Eric Stoller, but callers are welcome to comment on or ask questions about anything we cover, or other issues in higher education.

Listen to internet radio with Sean Cook on Blog Talk Radio