Lesson: Allow Yourself To Breathe!

Heather J. Macon

University of Missouri – St. Louis

So, the second time around, I think I got this down pack! I am currently a second year graduate student and I will be honest and say that I took heed to my job search stress immediately leaving undergrad. I remember being stressed, uncertain and having so many grammatical errors in what I thought was a cover letter. I reflected back on the lessons I had learned, thought about a few things I could have done differently, and most importantly: Now, I take a look at what I have to offer and how eager I am to succeed! Trust me; growth does occur in the job search process!

1.     Seek Mentorship – One thing I learned for sure throughout my first year of graduate school was to seek a mentor. It’s always to have more than one, and I can truly say that each mentor that I have whether it is male or female has taught me something very beneficial coming into the world of Student Affairs. I have mentors in Residence Life, Student Life, Student Conduct, and even Academic Affairs; each person has brought a new dynamic to my life. It really does help to have a mentor guide you along your job search process from resumes, cover letters and all the way to practice interviews.

2.     Constructive Criticism/Feedback – Be open to asking questions, and having open discussions about your vision, goals and most current experience. Talk with someone about how the process is going so far, what it is that you are doing, what are some things that you don’t quite understand? There will be someone to offer you feedback, and there will be someone to offer a suggestion or two on what it is you can do differently or enhance. It’s all about being transparent, and open to constructive criticism and feedback! I would much rather want someone to tell me “this cover letter is very bland, and doesn’t show what you have to offer,” Than someone simply smiling and nodding “this is good.” Um no thank you, be completely honest with me. 

3.     Be Open-Minded/Research – Always remember to job search with an open-mind, and do some research on some institutions and places that you haven’t quite considered. It sort of goes back to mentorship as well. There are some institutions I have come across just by having afternoon lunch dates, browsing LinkedIn or the TPE (The Placement Exchange) website. I can say that with research, and being open-minded it kind of takes a bit of stress off of you, realizing that there are so many options! Put in the work!

4.     Network – I’ve traded in some Facebook hours for LinkedIn, seriously. No seriously. I go out a bit more to campus committee functions, and I take the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations about the next phase of life. When asked to sit on a panel or offer insight on what it that I have learned the most about the “job search” it’s NETWORKING! I encourage you to step your game up and reach out to someone in the field and ask questions. It’s always good to know good people!

5.     Relax – Breathe and understand that everything will be okay. Give yourself good timing, and work toward that end goal. It’s just the beginning, you are just starting out, and so you will go through the job search process again. Take time to reflect on what it is that you are doing right! Fill your mind with positive thoughts, and always remember that there is nothing wrong with seeking guidance! You’ve got this!

I know we get annoyed with all the corrections and drafts of cover letters and resumes, but allow your skilled self to breathe! You are almost to the finish line.

10 Tips for Handling the SA Hiring Season

David Friedrichs

Mississippi College

I am entering my final semester of graduate work in the Higher Education Administration degree at Mississippi College. I began this journey back in the late summer of 2014, which is also when I began employment as an Assistant Area Coordinator (a fancy term for Resident Director) for the college as well. After a chaotic first semester on the job, I began to wonder if I was supposed to be returning to this position/institution. While I knew I wanted to keep growing in residence life experience, I found myself wondering if I was at the right institution. This left me trying out the job search for a few months during the spring of 2015.  That experience gave me some insightful tips for how to approach the job search process moving forward.

1. Internal reflection. Before you can put yourself out there, I believe it is key to know yourself. One of the best ways to accomplish this is to look back upon your past experiences. Anything from coworkers, to school/campus culture, can be worth reflection. In this you might gain a stronger understanding of what you want to look for in the next job.

2. Developing a list(s). During a workshop at the 2015 SEAHO Conference (Southeastern Association for Housing Officers) the speaker provided a list of various aspects that go into deciding on a job. We were then instructed to rank them 1-10 (1 being the highest and 10 the lowest) to show the various levels of importance. Therefore, I recognize not everyone organizes his or her lives through lists, but it might be worth considering, especially when playing the comparison game.

3. Utilizing the resources. Because a major component of this decision for me derived from internal conflicts, I was very fortunate to have coworkers and supervisors that were willing to work with me. Thus, be sure to utilize those around you who have gone down these roads before. And just because you are a graduate student or employee doesn’t mean you cannot access the institution’s career center.

4. Preparing for the chaos. January to June. From my observations in the past two years, these have seemed to be the peak months for when schools are posting jobs and filling positions. Thus, the time is now to dust off the resumes, update those reference contacts, and re-edit the cover letters. As the semester takes off, being prepared will allow you to operate in a calm and professional manner, which is key when interacting with potential employers/supervisors.

5. Staying organized. Much of this, like some of the other tips, will depend on how many schools/jobs you are applying for. If it is a good size, staying organized, especially with documents is absolutely essential. One suggestion I heard by someone, was every time she applied to a new job, she created a completely separate folder to better assist her in how she handled the many jobs she was applying and creating documents for. 

6. Being proactive. One big suggestion is to find a placement exchange (AKA job fair) you might want to attend. Even if you don’t gain employment from attending, you will still gain valuable experience in how to better communicate your skills and strengths within a 30 minute time frame. Another suggestion, which I am planning on trying out this year, is the idea of sending out letters in inquiry. Even if the school does not have an opening for that hiring season, it might really go a long way in building, developing, and furthering connections/relationships.

7. Do your homework. Cannot stress this enough. While many would agree this is important for the pre-interview preparation, I would say it never hurts to research the school before you even apply. And don’t just go to the institution’s website. Check out instagram, twitter, and other internet platforms that might give a more well rounded picture at what you might be getting yourself into. If you are doing an on campus interview, you are probably meeting with more than one person. Therefore, it would be helpful to know who these people are and what they bring to their position and overall purpose of the institution.

8. Be patient. If you aren’t used to silence, you’re in for a new adventure of learning.  It is important to note that silence from an employer does not automatically mean denial. Therefore, submit the application, do your rain dance, and let it be for a while. It’s ok to be excited about the possibility of what might be to come, but be careful in that attachment, as you really never know what is going on behind the scenes.

9. Practice, practice, practice. While it’s an obvious for interviews, I am also talking about other aspects as well. The various formats of interviews definitely ranges on a broad spectrum, therefor knowing how to best perform in these different environments is no doubt helpful. Whether the interview is on skype, over the phone, in hotel ballroom, or on a college campus over a span of 6 hours, there are ways to prepare for these types of situations.

10. Stay Confident. It’s no lie. This can be quite an exhausting process. Therefore, be sure to develop a system or systems for staying sane and calm throughout. The most important aspect is to keep the spirits up. While the time period I mentioned above ranged between January and June, schools will keep looking up until as late as September. So keep the smiles coming!

In a final thought, as I also approach the job search myself, the two main components I hope to hold onto are institutional fit and geographical location. There are many deeper details as to why those two have become the most important to me, but if you are interested to hear more about it, feel free to email me at DJFriedrichs@mc.edu as I would be thrilled to share more about my journey.

Ode to Judy Garland

Zack Neil
Western Illinois University

"Next year all our troubles will be miles away"

 Holiday lights are coming off doors, trees are being tossed to their wintery graves, and radio stations are turning back to the tunes of the regular year but one song keeps playing in my mind (if you are a Judy Garland fan or have heard one of the many renditions) you may know the song "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"). Particularly this winter break I have been trying to make sense of cover letters, talking to my partner and family about where I am thinking of searching, calling up some contacts, Facebook messaging cohort members etc. I think about the idea that next year this will all be but a distant memory. The job search will happen and I feel comfort knowing that there is no right way to go about it. What would make me feel unprepared is if I did not know myself or my practice moving into this search. Though I know I will never be truly 'finished' in knowing myself, I have confidence that my heart is in the right place in helping students learn (as I'm sure many of my colleagues across the land do too!) 

"Faithful friends who are dear to us gather near to us once more"

Speaking of hearts, I appreciate the gifts of feedback of older practitioners, friends, almost strangers, and professors but what is important to me is knowing that I have people cheering for me to move forward through this search.  I call them 'gifts' because sometimes gifts are broken, do not make sense, are inappropriate, or simply not wanted. Those gifts are as good as the ones that do work and are helpful because they are like reminders of what I truly believe. I think what is important for me is knowing that someone is there with some interest in me and my search. I have learned a lot about myself through two years in graduate school, but one thing I have learned is the power of perseverance and to appreciate the allies that have been with me through thick and thin. Come to think of it, Judy Garland usually played characters where she has needed some sort of help ("Wizard of Oz" comes to mind). It would be lovely if we all had a scarecrow, a man made of tin, and a lion skipping with us through this search. But perhaps those people are there already! Something I wonder for those going through a search is: who is around to give you both a shoulder to lean on and a hand to high five when you do get that job offer?

"We have to muddle through somehow"

This search will be hard and there are helpful people around, but now it is time to not trust the process. To me, the process of resume-writing, going to a placement conference, doing interviews, etc. leaves out a very important ingredient: me. Even when I am sometimes overwhelmed with contrasting perspectives and being overloaded with too much advice, one thing I know is to not only trust this 'process' but to trust myself. Perhaps going to a placement conference is not in the cards for a search or maybe a search right now is not in someone's best interest. The 'process' is kind of like the Wizard of Oz: big and powerful that everyone trusts but sometimes forgets to trust themselves. It is seeing the process and choosing what is in my best interests. And whether that comes from self exploration or hearing thoughts of others, it is about me asking myself the question: What are others telling you to do versus what do you truly believe is best for you?  

"Let your heart be light"

The last thing I would like to add is simple (and what I am currently working on!): do it. Own experiences, values, friends, uniqueness, quirks, flaws, and strengths then do what you need to make this process work for you. If anything, being home with family this break has reminded me that there are greater things in this world than a resume or TPE. I think there is power in being present with the here and now; remembering who and what is important to me because it will ultimately guide what goes into my resume and what happens at TPE. For me, it is a balancing act of reflection and checking off my to-do list for my process. Luckily, I have a few weeks and a few movies of Judy Garland to get me through! So next year, as I haul up the ornaments from the basement and light the candles I may not remember what all transpired in my search- but what is important to me is that I worked hard in my process, thanked those that helped me, and was true to myself throughout.

Why I Am Not (Totally) Freaking Out About Job Searching

Emilie Nemchak

University of Northern Colorado

As a second-year graduate student who is finally able to see the light (and degree) at the end of the tunnel, I am neck-deep in resume-building, conferences and, of course, studying for my comprehensive exams. Looking for a job has consumed the past few months of my life, which would have normally caused me to panic and cry while writing my 26^th cover letter. However, thanks to these great tips from my mentors, supervisors and some awesome colleagues from across the country, I am actually looking forward to TPE and the entire job search process. I do not know if a graduate student has ever said that sentence, but here we are! I wanted to share these tips so I can hopefully bring some peace of mind to my fellow second-year graduates:

1)    Have at least 2-3 people of varying student affairs positions view your resume.

Since high school, I have been told to have multiple people look at my resume to get more opinions on what I have listed, how I have formatted it, etc. However, recently at the Association of Intermountain Housing Officers (AIMHO) conference, I was told that having people from varying levels of student affairs positions look over your resume was the key to having a great resume. The reasoning is a fellow hall director is going to look at your resume differently than your director of housing, because they have both been in different positions when it comes to the interviewing and hiring process. I have also been told to give my resume to student affairs professionals outside of my department, so I have sent mine to people who work in orientation, admissions, and even some faculty members too. Their feedback has been beneficial and having eyes other than housing eyes on my resume has allowed me to see what other areas I can spotlight on my resume.

2)    TPE is not just for housing people.

While I intend to go to TPE for a housing position, a few of my graduate school friends who do not have a graduate assistantship in housing have been worried that attending TPE will be a waste of time for them. However, I have noticed quite a few positions posted on the TPE job search page that are not just housing positions. In addition, my supervisors have been very vocal about making sure you spotlight skills that are transferrable on your resume when searching for positions that are either different from your current graduate assistantship or show that your knowledge in your current position can be transferred to whatever position you may be applying for. In addition, my friends and supervisors who have been through TPE have told me it is a fantastic experience when it comes to networking and sharpening your interview skills. You may meet someone who is hiring for a resident director but also knows of a position opening up in admissions. The possibilities are endless!

3)    Make sure you get feedback on your cover letters too!

I am not a fan of writing cover letters and I know it shows in my writing. To combat this, I have made sure I have at least 2-3 people look over my cover letter too. I never really understood the importance of the cover letter when I first started looking for jobs, but one of my professors phrased it in a great way by saying a cover letter is “a way to go into more detail on the things your resume may not convey right away”. It is kind of like a virtual greeting to the people who are looking over your resume and can be a great way to show how you stand out from all the other candidates who applied for the position you want.

4)    Do your research on the places you apply to.

The best piece of advice I received from someone who went through TPE as a candidate and then later as a hiring authority was to at least know the name of the mascot of the universities you apply to. Apparently, at TPE, you may be given something with just the mascot of the school listed and if you do not know which school it is, then that is a big strike for you. One of my friends gave me her excel spreadsheet from when she attended TPE and it is FANTASTIC! I’ve changed it a bit, but I’ve made sure to list out each school I want to apply to, what their mascot is, the names of their housing department officials, any learning communities/projects their department is working on, the type of institution it is, any big programs they are known for, etc. This way, I will be prepared for each interview I walk into and I can find areas at the schools that really resonate with me as a person and student affairs professional. Research shows you care, and people who care are usually the ones who are invited to an on-campus interview!

5)    Breathe!

I am a high-performing person who has made pro/con Excel spreadsheets when researching what type of planner I want to purchase for the year, so I get stressed sometimes when I realize I don’t know where I’ll be working this time next year. However, my super-supportive supervisor has been great at telling me to just breathe and to have confidence in my abilities and what I have done so far as a graduate assistant hall director. It’s okay to not know what will happen at TPE and no one can plan exactly how their interviews will go, but have confidence and know that you are just beginning your career in student affairs. Have fun, go with the flow, and do not worry – you will find your “fit” soon!

The 2016 StudentAffairs.com Job Hunt Blog

For the past ten years StudentAffairs.com has recruited graduate students to write a weekly Student Affairs Job Hunt blog.  The goal, to paraphrase Jim McKay of the old Wide World of Sports television show “is to span the globe to bring you the constant variety of job hunt experiences... the thrill of victory... and the agony of defeat... the human drama of the job hunt competition."

This year we are going to do something different.  Instead of one or two graduate students being selected we are going to open participation in the 2016 Student Affairs Job Hunt blog to EVERYONE!  Any graduate student can submit to the blog, which will then be posted with attribution or anonymously--your choice. Interested graduate students can start submitting now.  Just let us know how you want the post to be listed. 

We are looking for posts that are interesting, fun, enlightening, edgy, and eye-opening.  Submissions can be sent to Stuart@StudentAffairs.com.  Questions?  Let us know.