I’m sure that many of us have participated in summer internships through programs like NODA and AUCHO-I. The internship process can and should be an exciting experience for both the host institution and for the intern. It’s a time for learning, personal and professional growth and experiencing a new place. The internship can go by quickly that’s why it’s important for everyone involved to make the most out of it. Here are a few things to think about as you prepare to host or be an intern.

Image from here.

1. Make a plan-you put together a job description and now you have to make it come to life. Not everything can be based on “well whatever the intern wants to experience” the intern will want to experience EVERYTHING! It’s the fun part of being an intern. Ask yourself the following question “when this intern goes back to their school I want them to say this about our institution” Some internships have specific goals like supervision of conferences or orientation support that need to happen but I encourage you to still have a plan for what you want to have this person accomplish. On the flip side if you don’t have something that is predetermined like conferences or orientation be intentional about the projects that your intern is taking on. Make sure they can be completed or have a clear goal in mind. Don’t send them on the quests that have no answer because you want a pair of fresh eyes on a project

2. “Have you met Ted?” One of the first steps to making someone feel welcome is to provide an opportunity for them to meet the people in the neighborhood. One way not to do this is to have the intern randomly introduce themselves or lead them around from office to office. This can be an awkward encounter of the first kind. You can’t lead them around or shove them into someone’s office doorway then what can you do? You can organize a meet and greet. In the years that I supervised AUCHO-I interns I would hold a meet and greet that included bagels and a Noshbox from Einsteins and invite all of the summer staff for a brief meet the interns nibble. This enables them to meet everyone at the same time and provided informal introductions. The calendar request was for no more than 30mins. I took a few minutes and said what the internship was (explained it every year just in case someone forgot or there were new staff members) then turned it over to the interns to intro themselves and mingle. I would end the internship with a similar breakfast to say goodbye. Like a good book a proper internship should have a begging, middle and ending.

3. Buddies from around the way-Another great way to network yourself as well as provide additional resources for your intern is to connect them with colleagues around the way that are also hosting interns. When I was an AUCHO-I intern I was able to attend a regional AUCHO-I intern conference that was put together by the interns in the area. I also visited two other schools in the area while at the impromptu conference. As an intern supervisor I worked with a colleague at a neighboring institution to set up a visit day for our intern that was always well received.

4. Bye Bye Bye-Have your interns present the story of their experience to those they worked and interacted with. I was asked to do this when I was an intern, and it was one of my first outside of the classroom presentations. Being able to articulate what I did in a presentation was a valuable reflection experience. As a supervisor I had my interns do the same thing. About a week before the end the internship they would present their experience to an audience. It was a great way to hear about all the ways that they had connected with people, places and with the department. When given permission I sent the previous year’s internship presentation to the next intern as a resource.

For Interns:
1. Don’t skate to one song and one song only-be open to whatever the experience will bring you. You could be traveling to another part of the country working in a place that you know nothing about. Sit in on any meeting, hang out with people or explore on your own. Take every opportunity to soak it all in. Just being a fly on the wall can teach you a lot about how different departments work to fulfill their mission and values.

2. GOALLLLLL!- Have a clear vision of something that you want to accomplish over the summer. Make sure you share your thoughts with your supervisor so that they can help you accomplish your goal within your other tasks. You decided to do an internship so that you could grow, learn and develop your skill set. Don’t sit back and wait for this to just happen through osmosis. Be proactive in your own development.

3. “Have you met me?” As an intern it’s your perfect opportunity to set up meetings with different offices, directors and vice presidents. Student affairs people love to share the story of their journey with up and coming members of the field. By sending an email to set up a meeting or grabbing lunch you are making someone’s day because they are able to wax poetic about their experiences and offer advice.

4. Bring the beat back-You are going to learn a lot of stuff over the summer that could be helpful to your department. Make sure that you share your experiences and what you learned with your home institution. Sharing ideas and knowledge are how we in our profession continue to advance and grow.

Being an intern and hosting an intern is a great way to continue to expand the knowledge base of our profession. When we are intentional in our planning towards being success hosts and interns everybody wins!

Wow!  The whirlwind of  ACPA, Osh Kosh, NASPA and regional placements is over!  Many of you connected with employers at this year’s placement exchanges.  You may be hoping that your next email notification or cell phone ring is the dream employer calling you with an on-campus interview offer.

What happens between the conferences and the call?  You’ll have some hours of waiting and second-guessing your interview responses.  Instead, you may want to try some of the strategies below.    Second-guessing only helps if you learn from it, otherwise it becomes a rocking chair. (It gives you something to do, but doesn’t get you anywhere).

Try these:

1)   You will want to distill down which schools you ‘connected’ with during socials and the interviews.  Was there a table of interviewers that immediatelymade you comfortable?  Did you seem to connect with the themes of their questions?  Was there  a school that asked a question that you struggled with?  Why?  Were you invited and did you attend the school’s socials?  Did you feel like you were socializing with long-lost colleagues at the event?  Is there a particular mission or vision of a school or department that really spoke to you?

Contemplating some of these questions will help you preliminarily identify institutions that may be a “fit.”  Fit becomes important because you will want to work somewhere you feel like you will learn and grow from the school and people around you.

2)  Attending placements with a pre-determined “dream” school or position in mind is natural.  I know I did.  I went in thinking, I don’t know what I’ll do if I don’t get X position at Y school.  Instead, I ended up connecting with an entirely different school and state – this is where I ended up working.

You want to have an open mind about the schools and positions you interviewed for during your time at the conference.  Even if you really wanted an orientation position, but you connected with a school with a RD position – you may want to give that serious consideration.

When you get your foot in the door at a school – you connect with is going to give you excellent experience, the opportunity to gain skills in other areas as well the ability to connect with other opportunities at the school that may be an orientation position or a step-up in housing in a few years.

3)  If a school calls you to offer an on campus interview, but you have absolutely no desire to work there.  You will want to consider points one and two above.

Remember, your time and the schools’ are very valuable.  If you do not think you would want to live or work there – be honest.  Thank them for their consideration, but right now you are considering other opportunities.

You may think because you are not be getting any other interview offers you should jump at the chance for an on-campus.  One of the hardest things to do is work at a school you do not connect with in a place where you do not want to live.  This is hard on you, as well as on the school and your colleagues.  You will want to factor this into your consideration.

If you accept the on campus offer, and then decide at the last minute that you do not want to go – you will need to do more than send an email to the search coordinator.  You may want to call the person you were working with to make your interview arrangements.  Thank them for all their time and consideration, and talk with them about your decision.  You and the employer will be happy that you did.   You both saved valuable time and resources.

4)  While it is important to follow up on your application, you should give schools some time to get back home, get their search committees together, review all the applicants they interviewed, do follow-up phone interviews… -basically, it will take time.  More time than you think it should – especially when you are on the other side waiting for the phone calls and emails to start rolling in.

Sometimes private schools can move faster in their search process than a state school.  Private schools do not have state guidelines mandating search committee processes and procedures.  They may be offering on-campus interviews more quickly, than their state counterparts.

It’s okay to drop an email to the people you met at the conference to let your interviewers  know you are still interested –  just make sure you are not overdoing it.  Before hitting ‘send’ on that 12th follow-up email, you may want get some advice from a colleague or mentor.

5)  Remember your job and/or grad school.  Communicate with your supervisors and/or professors if you are having to head out of town on an on-campus interview during work or class.  Reveal as much as you feel comfortable.

Enjoy the process!  Stay positive and work with mentors and friends as you experience the adventure!  You are writing a new chapter in your life – enjoy the moment.

Hollie Chessman is the Associate Director of Distributed Campus Projects at George Mason University.  She is a PhD in education student whose research interests include student affairs professionals, well-being and work life balance.

This past week I, thankfully, successfully organized and ran a Mock Interview event for any interested students at my campus.

I invited 5 employers to come to campus to spend a few hours having 15 minute mock interview and feedback sessions with our students with regards to what to expect at interviews post graduation.

Each student was required to bring a cover letter and resume with them in order to have the practice be as realistic as possible. The added benefit being that each employer took the time to critique each students cover letter and resume. Additionally, students were given the choice to have their interview video recorded for their own individual use so as to see themselves later and work on their body language and so on.

I am happy and relieved to say that the event went very well and each student was pleased with the opportunity. Indeed, most reflected on how beneficial this event was as many of them had never had an interview before. Each student was also asked to dress professionally for the event as they would come  when interviewing for an actual job.

The employers were also impressed by our students demeanor, appearance and professional behavior.

In the future I hope to create mock interview events which are tailored to specific fields of study such as business, criminal justice and so on. I believe by narrowing the scope I will give students a true taste for the types of questions they will get on future interviews in their fields of study.

What do you do on your campus to prepare your students for post college life? Are you finding more students are utilizing Career Services on your campus?

The middle of Spring semester is when the job search season swings into high gear. We’re in national conference season now, which along with all the great networking and workshops, brings attention to the job search for the upcoming academic year. From graduating graduate students to SSAOs, a key task in career development is reflection to define your next steps.

Find that match. Photo by ejorpin

What are my immediate goals? Defining your career goals sets the stage for sharing information with potential employers. Consider your current and past roles. What kind of job are you seeking?

What do you see yourself doing 5 or 10 years from now? How do your job search activities now lay the foundation for your future success? How do your career goals meet employer needs?

How does my background match the employer’s requirements? A resume is a document designed to convince an employer to grant you an interview. Your ability to tell your story in a way that matches the employer’s requirements is critical for success. What parts of your background match what the employer is seeking?

Am I customizing my resume to be relevant to each employer? Different colleges have different needs. Your task is to identify those needs and address them in your resume. Research the organization via their website, mission statement, annual report, and/or any media coverage. Determine how your background meets their needs. This is a fundamental task in order to reach the interview stage. This may require a different resume for each employer. What are the university-specific needs?

Am I ready to receive communication from an employer about the open position? Have I checked my voicemail greeting recently? Do I have forwarding activated on my job search e-mail account? Is my interviewing wardrobe cleaned and pressed? Am I ready to discuss the position with the employer at a moment’s notice?

What kind of preparation did you do for your last job search? What methods do you use to filter through job listings?

Suzanne Wall is the Director of Career Services at Albertus Magnus College.

Straight up now, tell me-are you an introvert? If someone asked me this question my answer would be yes. I have attributes that some people associate with being an introvert. I would rather work alone than with teams, I don’t enjoy being put on the spot in front of people that I don’t know unless I’m prepared-which eliminates the on the spot part. I always need a little time to recharge after being around a bunch of people, the list could go on. Being introverted, I can say has been both a blessing and a curse at times during my career.
I was reminded of what it means to be labeled an introvert recently during discussion surrounding our RA selection process. In filtering through candidates there would be the occasional comment about how an extroverted RA would reach residents better, or an introverted RA would struggle getting out and glad handing with residents. I’m sure that with certain people this is definitely the case. I’m sure that there are some introverted RAs who would struggle building community as an RA but the same could be said for an extroverted RA. I guess what I struggle with is that we in student affairs seem to want to take a chance with the extrovert and are quick to let the introvert go. This subject also hit home for me when I read a book called Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain.

In this book Cain explores the world of introverts-how we as a culture started to associate introvertness with certain traits, how we associate these traits with leadership and the extrovert ideal. One of the items that she describes as the extrovert ideal is the belief that “He favors quick decisions, even at the risk of being wrong. She works well in teams and socializes in groups. We like to think that we value individuality, but all too often we admire one type of individual—the kind who’s comfortable ‘putting himself out there.’”

http://loveashley.net/2012/12/02/10-myths-about-introverts/

I believe every day we have students, colleagues and other people in our lives who we wish would just put themselves out there, wish they would talk more in groups, or share ideas more frequently “’cause you have so many good things to say” (and yes I’ve heard that phrase a few times). Do we really need to wait seven seconds for the introverts? Couldn’t we wait seven seconds for the extroverts to stop talking? Those that get these messages may think they have to conform to an extrovert ideal which may feel as ridiculous and uncomfortable as putting on a heavy coat on a hot summer day.
Helping someone come out of their shell is not the same for someone who is an introvert-it’s a part of who we are. I do not feel that you can grow out of it; for someone who is introverted we will push ourselves when we are ready. For me that time came years ago through discovering how I could make my introvertness work for me through strategic interactions with people, projects and life as a whole. I can work an OPE social like no one’s business and get up in front of people and wax poetically about any topic. Yet there are many times when I feel I’m doing my best work when I am quiet and being cerebral –so when you encounter that introverted colleague, friends, student etc. pause before you ask them to put on that heavy coat.

Do you see the struggle between extroverts and introverts? Do you think introverts are too often misunderstood? 

With spring, campuses come alive. The grass turns green under a newly warm sun and students are suddenly everywhere. This is a busy time for student affairs professionals; we’re working long days and tight schedules to fit programs, meetings, and events into an already packed schedule preceding spring break.

For some SA grad students and professionals, spring is also the time of job searching. Add scanning through lists of posts, conducting research, networking, and creating resume and cover letter construction on top of an already busy schedule and you’ll find both excitement and stress.

While no longer an #sagrad, I can empathize. Last year, in my final semester of graduate school, I accepted a 1-year fellowship contract. In spring 2012 I applied to over 30 jobs, completed over 12 interviews (phone and on-campus) and ultimately whittled the list down to my current position, the opportunity that seemed to fit best. It was a consuming and challenging, yet exhilarating, time.

One year later, my fellowship wanes and I’m back to the search. My friends and family members do not understand the higher education timeline or process, and the concept of The Placement Exchange or C3 are completely baffling to the non-student affairs world. For those of us job seeking within this unique system, we’re swamped.

There’s something wonderful about a job search. The process is both draining and exciting. If done right, applying and interviewing for positions can give prospective candidates an opportunity to both reflect on and articulate their skills, accomplishments, and new ideas. Even through job interviews for positions that turned out to be a less-than-ideal fit, I’ve been able to network and to learn more about different institutions and, in turn, myself. The job search is a seemingly never-ending process of search and reflection.

A job search comes with the opportunity to consider new environments, institutions, and locations. Yet, applicants must also weigh how each of these new opportunities will affect and change their current lifestyle. We must recognize our priorities and follow a combination of both our head and our heart. Ask yourself what (and who) matters most in your life. What can you compromise and what must you have?

For those job searching, now is a stressful time. A job search is incredibly difficult to balance with an already challenging student affairs schedule. Yet, it will pay off. See each position as an opportunity and apply strategically and thoughtfully. The experience will be a learning process and I wish all who are searching good luck in finding their paths.

Do you have #SASearch tips to share with others? How do you manage your stress level while on the job market? 

Katie is currently a Career Advising Fellow at Elon University in Elon, NC. She completed her master’s degree in higher education administration at the University of Rochester in 2012 and has personal interests in professional development and careers, sports, reading, writing, and travel. 

As student affairs professionals, we work in a uniquely fulfilling field. Fulfillment is in growth, and not only in your own growth, but in the growth of others.

Earlier this week, a student walked into our business career center and announced, loudly, “I JUST LANDED MY DREAM JOB!” I had never worked with this student, nor had I met him before. Yet, my skin rose as he celebrated with his career advisor. This, I thought, is precisely why we do what we do.

Accomplishments in the career services world may look different than those in other areas of student affairs. Oftentimes, our measurements of growth, success, and accomplishments are concrete. A student lands an internship or job or gets into the graduate school of his or her dreams and we can celebrate. In an ideal world, we would see every student find the perfect opportunity and continue along a path of happiness and professional development. Of course, what’s ideal is not necessarily reality.

As a career advisor, I often ask students about their interests and how to incorporate those into internships, jobs, and a work setting. Do you want to work with people? Do you like working with computers? What is most important to you?

You will forever hear education professionals remind others (and one another) that they don’t do their work for the money. We are in a unique profession that is driven by learning, growth, development, and an energetic, innovative world. We love what we do, particularly when we see the fruits of our work in the growth of our students. We watch them learn and mature and we eventually wish them the best as they take a new path following their time with us.

And while chocolate is now 50% off and the roses have begun to wilt, keep the spirit of Valentine’s Day and take the opportunity to remind yourself of your chosen career path and all the things you love about your job. Remind yourself why you choose your industry and your position. Remind yourself why you do what you do, and why you have chosen to do it in the setting that you have. Thank a colleague, thank a student, thank those who have made your work fulfilling and worthy. Love yourself and love your work.

What do you love most about your job? What gets you fired up and ready to face each new day? 

via fensterbme

Whether you are trying to reach out to a potential mentor, or if you are hoping to get a few minutes with a hiring manager in a job search, getting past the gatekeeper will be an important process.

Several years ago I applied for a position at a small college.  Since the hiring manager was the Principal of the college she was a complete unknown to me, and I her.  She did not attend any of the conferences I did, or know any of the people in my network.

Finding the Principal in the phone directory was easy.  However, I noticed the phone number was the same number as the Principal’s assistant.  I waited till after 5pm and called the number – the Principal picked-up!  Goal!  We had an excellent chat about the position at the college and I provided a little background about myself.

Ultimately I didn’t get the job. But I did get past the gatekeeper!  It is the job of administrative assistants to keep eager job seekers, networkers and vendors from interrupting an executive’s work day.

Tips for getting past the gatekeeper:

1)      Pick-up the phone and call.  You may feel more comfortable with e-mail – but you need to call.

2)      Try early morning or early evening, outside the time in which assistants typically work.

3)      Do your research.  If the gatekeeper of the person you are trying to reach picks-up – you better know his or her name.

4)      If you do get the administrative assistant on the phone be super nice, sincere, friendly and courteous.  If you want to be really bold you may try “Is Chad in?” inferring that you are on a first name basis with your target.

5)      Ask the administrative assistant for the best time to reach the administrator.

6)      If the gatekeeper is nice and even a little bit helpful send a very short thank you e-mail.

7)      If you apply for a position through on an online system then ask if it would be ok to send in your resume via e-mail.  This is very helpful in case human resources does any screening.

Best of luck getting in touch!

About 15 months ago, I left a student affairs role to become a research scientist in information technology.

I left behind no longer having June, July and August being devoted to summer registration and orientation programming. I stopped coordinating efforts across multiple student affairs programs within one department to ensure that no major programs overlapped so that all students in all programs could potentially attend something if they so desired. I no longer worried about what policies might exist in other departments on campus that could prove difficult — or outright impossible — to navigate in order to accomplish a given task or process.

I pulled up my roots, took 10 years of post-master’s experience in programming, assessment, evaluation, student supervision & development, and assorted other skills, and planted them firmly in a realm of data and process.

Or so I thought.

Now, I think I spend more time thinking about students now than I did before.

Before, I took it for granted that what I did was student oriented. Every program, every evaluation, every time I attended a student-coordinated event – all of these things were part of my job, because student development and success programming not only were written into my jobs, but also were ingrained in my being.

Today, I look at the intersection of technology and student success. How technology impacts success, how we can use it better (or less) to enhance experiences and learning, how students experience technology in general.

I work with faculty who are overtly and concertedly interested in putting effort toward enhancing their classroom and the learning environment. I work with very technical colleagues whose sole purpose is ensuring that systems are up and running so that students and faculty can accomplish their work, research, and education. I examine processes and implementation time-frames with an eye and understanding of what might happen in the realm of students or faculty were we to do something at a given time. The folks in the Office of the Provost – the people charged with overseeing the broad academic mission of the institution – are often working with my colleagues and me to improve and enhance the student and faculty experience on campus. The Vice President for Information Technology even believes that our mission in IT is supporting the academic and research missions of the institution – not on fixing broken computers and running email.

In short, in stepping out of the realm of student affairs, I learned that the rest of the campus was actually interested – and involved – in the affairs of students, too. They just don’t call themselves “student affairs.”

Interestingly, I find myself applying the theory I learned as a graduate student more now than before. The programming skills come in useful as I work on a conference we’re coordinating.  The assessment and evaluation pieces come into play in ensuring that the tools we implement and the training sessions we offer have well-defined measurable objectives.  You name a course or concept in any given graduate program, and I can probably tell you how I use those skills today.

My point? The student affairs degree is highly versatile within an academic environment. If you’re struggling to find your first position – or are in a position that you’re finding isn’t exactly the bee’s knees – there are other options for you. Market your skills, not your degree. Look where your experiences are equivalent to those in a non-student affairs role.

I assure you, there is alignment in areas you never even considered.

And if you step into that non-student affairs role, make it your job to bring your appreciation for and knowledge of the student experience to every component of your job. You, and your supervisor, will be glad you did.

What tips do you have for people looking for a new position within higher education? How do you encourage others to search outside their perceived realms of expertise?

Matt Pistilli is a Research Scientist for Academic Technologies at Purdue University and a recovering student affairs professional.

As we enter a new academic year, it is time for the annual debate about job placement and college degrees. This infographic from BestCounselingDegrees.com again targets the usual suspects in the Humanities and Fine Arts. Do you think students should look at employment trends when selecting a major? Does the benefit of any higher education trump the lower earnings for some degrees? What advice do you give to students when they are selecting a major?



Source: Best Counseling Degrees