by sean@higheredcareercoach.com | May 30, 2011 | Site News
As we come up on the 2 year anniversary of Higher Ed Career Coach, I’ve been working on some changes to increase readership and engagement with existing readers. You’ve probably noticed the Facebook page and discussion boards, and changes in the direction of content, toward practical how-to articles and interview tips, and away from of the more philosophical pieces about higher education and first-person perspectives and reflections. Those won’t go away entirely, but this recent focus has been the result of a couple of things… diving into analytics and seeing what content is getting the most reader response, and asking readers directly what they want to see more of on the site.
The changes are also the result of some ongoing efforts on my part to show my coaching skills and get more business. I’ve been a member for a while now of the Third Tribe Marketing membership site run by CopyBlogger, and I recently joined the Authority Rules conference, to learn how to get more comfortable with marketing by developing ways to market myself authentically.
A big part of this is developing an awareness of how people perceive me and the Higher Ed Career Coach brand. And it’s hard sometimes to separate what you think you’re putting out to the world from how it’s being perceived. So I’m doing a survey during June to find out more about why people visit the site, whether they get what they came for, and what they think about the site and brand.
One person will be selected to receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card once the survey closes on June 30. SurveyMonkey takes care of the selection of the prizewinner and fulfillment. See sweepstakes rules for more details.
To take the survey, follow the link below:
Click here to take the reader survey!
by sean@higheredcareercoach.com | May 17, 2011 | Career Skills, life purpose, work/life balance
I recently had a discussion with a fellow coach as part of the Third Tribe Marketing membership site, which connects small businesses with some of the top minds in social media and marketing to help them learn ways to build authority, increase their credibility and get more business.
The discussion was about saying “no” to some commitments so he could concentrate on his business. He was having an awful time doing so, and I could definitely relate to where he was coming from. Like most of the people I work with (and like me!), he has multiple passions and only so much time.
His question was about deciding what to quit and when to quit it. I get it. When you have a business, and want to have a life beyond it, it makes no sense to keep on doing the wrong things, or dividing the time you need to spend on the right things. I suggested that maybe he just needed to re-balance his priorities.
There was a time when I worked at Penn State’s Smeal College of Business, and was responsible for running a student organizations office that supported 32 student groups. I advised four of these directly, and assisted the other 28. I also coordinated the work of the committees for all of the college’s major student events, including a scholarship committee, two award ceremonies, and all of the major leadership and professional development events.
I left that job and went back to Residence Life. In my first position back in that department, I supervised professional staff, planned training events for student and professional staff, created publications, and was responsible for 11 major department tasks and committees, including oversight of a resident assistant training class with 4 to 7 instructors and 70-120 students each semester; admissions events; orientation; welcome week; assessment and writing the department’s annual report. I had so many things on my plate that half the time I met with
my supervisor, we talked about what I had been doing lately, and the rest, we tried to click through in our heads all the things I was supposed to be doing, because neither of us could keep up.
Now those were busy jobs. Many people have busy jobs, and those were the duties. I knew that going in. These types of positions are classic student affairs jobs…you
wear many hats, largely because of interesting
institutional priorities and
lack of funding to actually hire an appropriate level of support staff.
Anyway…
What I did in my “free” time was up to me.
Did I relax?
You tell me. Here are a few things I spent my “free time” doing during that period:
- Serving on the “nominating committee” for my church to recruit people gullible enough to want to be on the board, or who could be guilted into it.
- Acting as student outreach chair and advising the Penn State student group related to the church (yeah, another group!)
- Teaching a 26-week sex ed course at the church for junior-high-level kids (10 of them) where they learned about not only plumbing and mechanics, but assertiveness skills, understanding sexual orientation issues, and discussing their values and the role they play in decision-making. (Did I mention this was an unpaid position? My standing joke is that this is about as close as an Unitarian can get to sainthood!)
- Serving on the fundraising and events committee for a new non-profit that saved an old movie theater and converted it into a performing arts center. In this capacity, I helped plan a couple of concerts, a 5K and a certified mile race, and helped with open houses during the yearly arts festival.
- I also took up gardening, got back into home brewing, and helped found a home brewers club. I was secretary of that group for a while.
Somehow I fit it all in. And for a while, it was okay. Then, I got promoted, had a different scope of responsibility, and my wife and I started a family. I supervised more people, had fewer work responsibilities, but ones with more impact on other people, and I had to learn to say “no” and to let some things go, and scale back commitments to others.
Eventually, I hit a wall with stress, being a new dad, and dealing with everyone else’s needs for my time and energy. I had a health issue crop up, and things got much harder to deal with. Only then did I learn to say “no.” It’s not selfish to take a step back if you need to do so. At least not in the unhealthy, guilt-wracking way most people think about it. Instead, think of it as “self-preservation,” because that’s what it is, really.
I won’t say I did it without encouragement and support from the right people. First, my family. My wife
Sarah insisted I stop ignoring my obvious health issue and go to the doctor. My doctor insisted I see more doctors. And
my supervisor told me in a meeting that she would support a personal leave of absence. I resisted for a while, but eventually realized I needed to step off the stress train and go look at some trees and grass and get right with how I was taking care of myself and with how I was viewing my work, my life, the world, and my place in it.
Here’s how I did it.
- I started saying “I have some other things to deal with right now, and I want to take some time to sort out my personal priorities, so I will be scaling back some duties and not continuing with others.”
- I offered to help with an orderly transition of tasks during my leave, and I did so.
- Then I left, turned off the cell phone, stopped looking at work e-mail, and spent a few days all by myself at a state park lodge in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. It was the best thing I ever did for myself. Looking back, I realized I hadn’t given myself enough opportunities for comparison.
That period let me adjust my approach to work and family, and my priorities started to settle themselves out. I spent more time developing my staff, and less time criticizing them; more time talking with students instead of just at them and near them, and I started going home on time to be with my family, work in the garden, enjoy downtime, and think about the kind of person I wanted to be. It led me onto a path toward coaching, and eventually to this group.
Here’s where you have to be bold and unapologetic. I was established at Penn State, and comfortable. You might even say
complacent. I’d
“topped out,” and after a few searches for the next rung up the ladder didn’t work out, I realized several things about my situation that I hadn’t reflected on enough. First, my opportunities to move up internally, which had been regular and self-sustaining for almost 15 years, dried up. Second, I had moved through the hard transitions of the previous couple of years, and was in good stead with my colleagues and supervisor. Third, the organization was most comfortable with me at the place in the organization I held at that time, and both of us were losing out on growth opportunities because of it.
That’s when I realized my priorities were hopelessly out of sync with where I wanted to go in my life and career. So I took a leap of faith, and went there anyway. It meant leaving my job, moving away from a place I had called home for 15 years, and making new friends. I left at a weird time of the semester (about 5 weeks before Winter closing.) I didn’t want to leave then, because of the weird employment gap it left, and how some people would interpret it. But we had bought a new house, had a buyer for the old one, and I really didn’t want to move from Pennsylvania in December, anyway. So I planned my transition as cleanly as I could, left the lines of communication open, and stepped boldly into creating my own life and career.
I realize that for many, this would have been completely insane. For me, it was only mildly so. I had savings and investments to lean on, the support of my family, and a plan B. (I moved to a college town just in case I needed a more stable stream of income, and I keep the lines of communication open with my old colleagues, supervisor and references, in case I need to get that next job.)
I’ve concentrated my efforts on being recognized as a likable authority in relation to higher education careers. I’m learning to provide content that enhances that reputation and build
testimonials that will speak for me. I know I talk too much and that it annoys some people. I can only say I’m working a little on it, and the rest is just who I am. If you respect the value of my advice, knowledge and skills you’ll move past it. What content “expert” isn’t a little bit of a pain in the ass every now and again?
But I’ve digressed, so let me return to you and hopefully help you to focus your efforts:
My questions for you are these:
- If you can’t fit your priorities into your life, is it your life or your priorities that are the problem?
- How could you re-order them without “throwing out the baby with the bath water?” My bet is that you can. And if you are going to get where you need to get, you must.
- So which needs and priorities are you going to feel worst about not meeting: yours, or those of others?
- What’s the role of faith (in yourself, or something greater, or both) in your career? And how do you know when it’s time to “take a leap?”
The other truth you need to embrace, if you are to move forward, is that the world doesn’t rest on your shoulders. The programs you support will go on, if people are committed to them. You can still be involved in a lesser role if you want to be. You can do your own thing, without walking away mad, or burning the bridge behind you.
To think any less is to imprison yourself by meeting someone else’s expectations. Let them go. Focus on your own. You deserve to be happy and get where you are going.
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by sean@higheredcareercoach.com | May 9, 2011 | Job Search, Negotiation
Discussing salary is easily the one part of the job search process that causes candidates universal anxiety. One of the search terms that job-seekers look up, before arriving at this site, is “tactfully asking about salary.”
Since asking about salary is such a nerve-wracking experience, here are five ways to find out about salary without asking (or at least asking outright).
- Refer back to the job posting and see if a “salary range” is indicated. Anticipate that most hiring agents will make an offer between the minimum and the mid-point of that range, with early-career candidates being offered closer to the minimum, and more experienced candidates being offered toward the mid-point. In very few cases should you expect an offer to be made above the mid-point; organizations want to hire people who can grow into the position before their salary expectations outgrow what the organization can pay. It’s a question of value: no matter how good you are in general, they have placed a maximum value on what the work at that level is worth to the organization. If you need more than that, don’t apply for the job.
- Visit the Human Resources website for the institution and see if there is a section with information about salary, compensation and benefits. In this section, search for the terms “pay scale,” “salary bands,” “pay grades,” “salary grades” and “salary levels.” If the institution has this sort of system, see if you can find level at which the position is classified; this may be listed in the posting. Public institutions are more likely to have this information posted, since many states require that information about employee pay scales be released to the public. If you do find these listed, refer back to the advice from #1 and figure the pay will be between the minimum and mid-point.
- Ask someone who works at the institution, but outside the hiring circle for the department where you are applying. If you can find such a person in the same department, or who holds (or has held) a similar position (in title or pay band), they should be able to at least give you context about what they make, and may be able to give you some context based on that experience. They may also have access to internal systems where they can see different information than the general public (like new employee manuals, benefit guides, etc.)
- Call someone at Human Resources and ask what the “typical” hiring range is for a position at that title and grade. Indicate that you believe you may be interested in the position but don’t want to waste anyone’s time (theirs or yours) by applying to a job you can’t afford to take. As long as you say it diplomatically and convey that you are asking for those reasons, you’ll likely be fine, in the eyes of Human Resources. It shows that you are a serious candidate if you do apply.
- Google it. You never really know what you might find out. Try “salary range” for “title,” and “institution,” and see what comes back. I did this for several positions and the search returned recent job listings, with salary information, a couple of perspective pieces by student affairs professionals about jobs and salaries, and one site called GlassDoor.Com, which lets you search for salaries by job title. (That would’ve been a number 6, I guess, but I didn’t want to change the title of the article.)
Whatever you choose to do, I advise against asking outright about a specific salary number, related to your candidacy, until you have been made an offer. When you are offered a job, a starting point for the salary discussion will be included in the initial offer. Don’t react to the first number you if you can help yourself. Just ask how they came up with the number, and why they feel it would be a fair offer, given your education, skills and experience. Then take some time to think about whether the offer is fair. If it is, you can take it or maybe see if you could make a counter-offer to see if you could do a bit better. But if you are happy with the salary, there’s nothing wrong with just taking it and getting to work. If you aren’t, go back with a counter offer, but be sure to base it on the value you will create for the employer (i.e., how you will earn the higher salary through hard work and productivity.
What other ways can you think of to “ask without asking?”
Some good resources to help you explore ways to approach salary negotiation:
Negotiating a Job Offer: Do’s and Don’ts
Sealing the Deal: Questions to Ask Yourself When Faced with “The Offer”
Job Search 101 Video on YouTube from USC’s Annenberg School
Interview Tip: Leave the Salary Out of It on Newly Corporate
by sean@higheredcareercoach.com | Apr 25, 2011 | Job Search, job search tools, Site News
Social Media has changed the way we look for jobs, network, and do research on our fields of interest. Today, there are many opportunities on the internet to expand your reach, and to leverage the power of your personal and professional networks, but it’s especially important that you have a “socially intelligent” approach to what you are putting out to the world. Now, more than ever, individuals need to be careful about how they present themselves, know what is being said about them, and nurture relationships that enhance personal and professional credibility.
Much is made these days of the topic of “emotional intelligence” and what your EQ implies about your aptitude for certain types or positions and your ability to adapt to new situations and challenges. An increasingly important part of the equation is your “Social Network Intelligence.” This is where emotional intelligence collides with technology and communication, and results in perceptions of your motivations for work, readiness for a new role, adaptability toward new challenges and your general degree self-awareness.
To help you understand the various aspects of “Social Network Intelligence,” and to integrate this concept into your job-seeker arsenal, HigherEdCareerCoach will be offering an online mini-course on “Social Network Intelligence for Job-Seekers” this summer. Enrollment for the first session will be limited to 20 persons.
To find out more about this program, fill out the free “pre-enrollment” form below. When the schedule and cost are finalized, members of this list will receive the first opportunity to enroll. If the course fills from the list, those who cannot be placed will be offered the opportunity to sign up for a waiting list for later sessions.
I hope you will be able to participate in the mini-course. The content I’m developing so far should be really useful and I will be adding some bonuses that will be announced only to members of the list (they’re going to be good!)
by sean@higheredcareercoach.com | Dec 31, 2010 | Site News
This has been a very interesting year. Student Affairs professionals have embraced social media in many new and different ways, and it’s been exciting to be a part of the changing higher ed webscape. Along the way, Higher Ed Career Coach has grown and developed as a resource for higher ed job seekers. On this last day of the year, let’s take a look back at some of the highlights of 2010.
In January, my post “personal branding in your job search” gave five quick links to articles on the topic. In January we began a series of articles related to the “placement” season in higher education. This began with a couple of articles on preparing for and conquering the placement conference.
In February, Shannon Healy became a regular guest blogger during the placement season. Her #jobhunt posts eventually became an 11–part series, chronicling her job search, her experiences at placement conferences, and the interviews (and rejection) that followed. She joined me on my blog talk radio show to discuss handling rejection and starting over, and was joined by her friend and mentor, Stacy Oliver, who introduced us to the concept of “parking lot pep talks.” But we eventually shared her joy at becoming a new staff member at, and joining Mickey Fitch and Beck Fick on the show to discuss getting started in the new position.
Also in February, Brian Koval beginners series of guest posts on the doctoral experience. Koval, who is also a periodic co-host for the podcast, and and a former staff member of mine at Penn State, shared his thoughts on applying to, being accepted by, and beginning a doctoral program with a distance education component. He has since begun a new position at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.
In March, Mickey Fitch became a regular contributor to the blog, sharing tips on ways to make the job search entertaining, prepping your references, and how to deal with the pressures that come with negotiating and accepting a job offer.
We’ve also been lucky to have guest posters write about their perspectives on higher education through my periodic guest blogger series, entitled “Monday Morning Quarterback,” including a four article series entitled “What higher education needs to learn.”
In the spring, I joined the membership site Third Tribe and began learning about effective ways to run and market my business and to grow the readership of my blogs. Since that time, I’ve been fortunate to connect with other members of this community, who have appeared on my radio show and written guest posts for Higher Ed Career Coach.
In May, I offered my first hybrid short course, “8 Weeks to August,” which was geared toward helping job seekers who were “stuck” in their job search processes, and help them get back on track.
The Mortarboard "C" logo for Cook Coaching and Consulting.
In July, I introduced new logos and word marks as part of a branding campaign, geared toward creating a unified brand image across all sites owned and operated by my company, Cook Coaching and Consulting. July also brought several guest posts and the highest traffic the site had experienced to date.
August and September, however, brought some disappointment as readership dropped during the traditional staff training and new student orientation period, and my podcasting efforts became less regular, as I began a part-time position at Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia. I began to concentrate more of my efforts on creating programs including webinars and my upcoming placement partner coaching program, and a multi-part e-course on planning your career in higher education, which is free to subscribers of my mailing list.
October, November, and December sped by in a blur. As we come to the end of the year, I am looking forward to ramping up the production of useful and relevant content that will assist job seekers during the busy spring semester and the 2011 placement season. Readers will also likely begin to see some changes in the format of this site, as I seek to re-position it to include more career resources site, with less emphasis on the blog. This change should happen gradually, as I seek to find the right balance between offering practical resources and tools, and sharing perspectives on what it means to work in higher education.
I will continue to network with others that can provide useful and informative content to our readers. Some of this may include reaching out to former guest contributors for additional content, as well as creating opportunities for new voices to share their perspectives.
As I look back upon the year, I am grateful for the many opportunities the year has brought me to connect with others, and to help job seekers move forward in their careers. My thanks go out to my loyal readers, my guest bloggers, my guests and cohosts for the podcasts, and to everyone else out there who is trying to create a supportive and caring environment or higher ed job seekers.
Thanks for reading! See you in the new year.
