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?

Curious what Student Affairs folks read about the most in March? Below are the top 5 posts for last month:

1) Social Justice in Student Affairs-How do you unpack your knapsack?

2) Ten Ways to Support Multiracial Students

3) Where All My Introverts At?

4) A Search for Process – Part 1

5) Reflect to Organize Your Job Search

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? 

Thanks to everyone who participated in our #SAchat focused on Beginning Research in Higher Ed. This week’s topic produced 581 tweets from student affairs professionals, graduate students and undergraduates interested or working in the Student Affairs field!

Read the transcript as a google doc.

What are some other topics you would like to see us cover? Please let us know your ideas and feedback to keep #sachat growing strong. Until next week, (if you haven’t already done so) please make sure to LIKE our Facebook Page. Thanks for your continued support!

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!

This is a story about three people, talking about one job search process, and two out of the three having no idea what the other is talking about.  The story revolves around the month of my  graduation, birthday, and job search (all in the same month).  My favorite part about this entire process are the interactions with my parents.  They are amazing people and I owe everything to them, but they are still a little hazy on everything that accompanies my career. I’d say it’s an “evolving” understanding. Job search is the apparent culmination of their misunderstandings. I feel it is my duty to send out a few warnings and heads-ups for future job seekers:

1.  Call it “College Student Development.”

I don’t know what your graduate program is called but mine is “Higher Education and Student Affairs.”  That is a pretty vague title and keeps you guessing at “What does he do everyday?” So for all of my peers whose programs were not easily decipherable, I would just go with “College Student Development.”  Its basically Goldie Lock’s porridge: its not too vague, easy to understand, and specific enough. The first time I referred to my area of study as College Student Development things became much clearer.

2.  Have the “I know the salary is low but thats normal for entry level in this field” conversation early.

Parents are concerned and only want the best for you.  Parents also believe that you are the greatest thing since pretzel M&Ms so you should be paid as such.  This wasn’t an epic battle for me or anything, my parents are supportive of my choices no matter the pay, but for some parents… this can be quite the shock.  Give your parents a headsup early on what starting salaries look like in Student Affairs and ensure there won’t be any huge surprises later in the process.

3.  Remind your parents how many colleges and universities there are across the country.

This is especially true for us non-geographically-bound job seekers.  Some parents struggle with their children being far away (mine). I remember sharing that I would be job searching all across the country and the collective gasp that followed.  I made sure I knew how far away each job was and all information about nearby airports. Luckily, you can get anywhere in the country under 8 hours (thanks Wright Brothers for easing parent’s concerns nationwide).

4. Tell some stories about the students you’ve worked with and their growth

Parents want to be proud of you, so they love hearing stories about the lives you’ve affected.  Our profession is one of the few who get that chance everyday.  Telling your mother you’ve made someones life better is like eating a fresh Krispy Kreme doughnut – it warms the soul. It also brings everything into perspective: no matter where you go or what you do, the work done will help others, and any Mother or Father can be proud of that.  Even if its done 14 hours away.

5.  Be prepared to repeat all of this to any siblings or extended family.

Self-explanatory.

I wan’t to take this chance to thank my family for their support and love throughout this entire process.  I am lucky to have a wonderful group of people who support my ambitions. I’m happy to announce that my parents and I escaped my Job search process without any major, or even minor, fights and I’m not employed.  It’s a bedtime story that I can get used to.

The following is a guest post from Katrina Anaya, graduate student at Seattle University.

I am a planner.  I like to make lists and fill calendars.  So when it came time to decide what to do after I graduated with my master’s degree in Student Development Administration, I was eager to plan the what, where, when, and how.  Location.  Institutional type.  Position.  These parts of the planning process were relatively easy.  But an essential part of the “how” of getting a job these days is having a network.

My partner and I determined a few months ago that we wanted to move somewhere new, and after Google-ing, Wiki-ing, and finally visiting, we settled on relocating from Seattle, Washington to Austin, Texas.  As an introvert, I dreaded this part of the plan the most.  I already have a good network in the Seattle area, but trying to recreate one in a place over 2,000 miles away seemed exhausting.  I had visions of attending conferences bigger than I’ve ever attended (everything is bigger in Texas, right?) and being lost in the crowd.  A part of me was having second guesses about moving, which I think mostly stemmed from my apprehension to start networking.

One Sunday evening I finally decided to send out emails to higher education professionals in Austin. The first email was to an academic advisor stating I was a graduate student looking to work in the area in June and wanting to learn about the advising system and the culture of the institution where she worked. I asked her to please let me know if she was available to chat over the phone, thanked her in advance for her time, and signed my name.  I read over the six sentences in my email about ten times and reluctantly clicked “send”.  The other emails I sent that night were similar in nature, and I went to bed nervously wondering what these professionals, who had no connection to me, would think.

When I woke up the next morning, I had two enthusiastic responses in my inbox.  I was honestly crossing my finger for at least one response.  To my surprise, every single person I emailed wrote back to me by Monday evening!  I’m not sure if this was just “southern hospitality” or catching people at the right time, but it was encouraging to find professionals who seemed genuinely interested in talking to a graduate student from the Emerald City trying to build a network in the Capital of Texas.

Since that Sunday evening, I have emailed many other professionals in higher education in Austin, and received similar results.  Each time I speak with someone, I am inspired by their enthusiasm and desire to help someone whom they’ve never met in person.  With each conversation, I learn something new about the profession, and I add another contact to my Texas network.  While there is still much of the job search process that worries me, I would encourage planners and non-planners alike to reach out to others in the field.  When I do receive a call for an interview, I will be able to speak confidently about the systems and issues in Texas higher education, and I will have a network I can call upon.  If you are entering into a time of transition, especially the time after graduate school, I would encourage you to take the first step now, put yourself out there, and start connecting.  I learned the pressure and anxiety I felt before networking was mostly unwarranted, and I am now excited to continue to build my network as I embark on new adventures in the Lone Star state.

Over a year ago I was on the job ‘dating scene’. I was busy with resume and cover letter writing and completing HR applications. Now I’m on the other side running selection processes, and traveling to conferences to find that great next professional. I’ve been busy reviewing resumes and cover letters, and also prepping my mentees. It’s so much fun, but at the same time sad. Because for every resume I get, I have to make a decision that may changes others’ lives – do I grant an interview or not? I do feel bad looking at a resume and writing a no thank you note. I know what candidates will think when they get the note. ‘Why don’t they like me?’, ‘Fine I didn’t like them anyway’, or ‘That was so embarrassing’.

So candidates, here are some insights to the process. First, really read the job description and align your cover letter with the job. Provide exact examples of ONE program or initiative that directly connects to the job description. You only need four paragraphs for your cover letter: Intro – I like you and hope you like me for these reasons, Current – what I’m doing that relates to your job, Future – what I can bring to you that can’t be seen from the resume, Wrap-up – last words, tie in school mission/goals and contact information. Have a nice letter head with your information, and please use large font size. (Remember, we are reviewing hundreds of applications and our eyes get tired.) If the words are too small, we really won’t have a chance to read your information and will go straight to the resume.

For the resume, try to be as precise and concise as possible, and stick to two pages. For mid- or higher level positions, it is expected to have longer resumes. You won’t be able to articulate everything you did in your position but highlight those points that directly relate to the job. Customize your resume and cover letter to make it as easy as possible for the reviewer to make the connection that you should get an interview. Remember your goal is to get an interview so the resume and cover letter really need to connect to the position and make the reviewer want to meet you. Again, make sure the font is at appropriate size, and the design and space of the resume is balanced. Use your resources on campus like the Career Center and individuals in similar positions you are applying for. Ask them to review your resume and cover letter, and listen to their recommendations. They got their job so use their advise!

Additionally, in the past few years the use of HR applications have come into play. No longer is it enough to submit a resume and cover letter to be considered for a position. You also must complete a HR application. I have found that candidates have little or no understanding on how important this aspect is. This is your official application to the position, and you need to complete it as much as possible. Copy and paste your information in there. Give your salary preferences (aim low always!), and enter your updated references. Review the application before submission and follow up with the HR department to be sure they have received it and forwarded it on to the search chair. More than ever, I spend time explaining to candidates that I can’t consider them for a position before they fully complete their application with all their employment history or documentation. HR uses the application, not only the resume and cover letter to vet candidates. For example, if you don’t put in all your years of experience, and only put in your most recent employment HR may not consider you a candidate due to lack of years working. Trust me, I know filling these applications is redundant and tedious but if you want a job, do it!

So for the most part, if you do all this you should be able to get an interview. Realize it’s a employer market right now. If a job prefers a master’s degree and you don’t have one, go ahead and apply but understand there are hundreds of candidates bidding for that position. Employers can be very picky on who they offer interviews to so please don’t get offended that you didn’t get an interview. Keep your options open and do yourself to make yourself as marketable as possible.

Good luck to all those looking for a job. It’s a crazy process but you’ll get the best if you put your time and energy into it.