Beginning the Search
Beginning the Search
Beginning the Search
The student affairs job search is a long one. On average it takes 119 days. That length can be very challenging; especially if you’ve never participated in a higher education job search before.
That’s why it’s helpful to breakdown the specific stages of the job search. This makes each part more manageable. Breaking it down also makes it easier to focus. Examining the search in stages also allows you to dedicate your time and energy to the right areas.
This article will address the area where most entry level student affairs job seekers find them themselves: in the earliest stages of the search.
The early stages of the search…
For most job seekers the early stages of the job search begins during the last two terms of their graduate program. This often includes the final coursework required to complete their graduate degree as well as some electives that may provide some additional benefit. These electives often provide some sort of networking, collateral experience, or exposure to other functional areas that aids in their student affairs job search. These job seekers may also be working on completing their capstone or thesis. Both are great documents to showcase and document academic and professional achievements.
Resume & portfolio preparation
At this stage, candidates should begin compiling, editing, and constructing an updated resume and portfolio showcasing their education and experiences. These documents are usually extensive and encapsulate everything they’ve learned throughout their internships, assistantships, and graduate work.
I always highly recommend that candidates ask their peers to review their resume and portfolio. Turning to peers in your network is a good first step. Afterward, share your materials with your faculty members for input. It’s also a great idea to share your resume and portfolio with assistant directors and directors who are in positions to hire entry-level student affairs professionals. They can often provide the most critical review of your work as well as some helpful feedback.
Geographic and functional areas
Later in the early stages, candidates will begin to review and send applications to a myriad of different postings that fall within their target demographic and functional areas. They include applications to research one universities, small liberal arts colleges, regional comprehensive universities, and community colleges.
Student affairs professionals are likely to apply to jobs within student activities, student engagement, residential life, study abroad, academic advising, community standards/judicial affairs, and many other functional areas.
Job fairs
Candidates may also take advantage of the opportunity to participate in the NASPA Placement Exchange or ACPA Career Central during this stage of the search. These events serve as invaluable resources to connect with other colleagues and student affairs professionals from many diverse backgrounds. These events are specifically useful because representatives from various institutions often come to them looking to hire entry-level professionals.
However, please note that these two conferences may NOT be the best venue for all candidates. They often include institutions from across the country and world in many different functional areas. Because of this, they’re not always the best choice for new professionals conducting a more targeted search in a particular geographic or functional area.
Summary of the early stage
-Graduate Program Completion: Final two terms/semesters of the graduate program lasting about 4-6 months
-Electives, Capstone, Thesis: Good documents and experiences that candidates can share with employers during the job search
-Peer Review of Resume & Portfolio: Share with colleagues, internship supervisors, and other professionals before using it in the job search
-NASPA Placement Exchange & ACPA Career Central: Major placement conferences specializing in student affairs job search candidates
I hope that you found this article useful! If you need some additional help on your student affairs job search, then check out the eBook The Student Affairs Job Search: A Comprehensive Guide available here.
Happy searching,
References
Career Central. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.myacpa.org/career-central.
Eng, D. (2019, October 14). Geographic Job Search - Job Hakr: Student Affairs Job Search. Retrieved October 23, 2019, from https://www.jobhakr.com/blog-1/2019/10/14/geographic-job-search.
Mayhew, L. (2012, November 20). e-Portfolios: Emerging oppurtunites for student affairs. Retrieved October 23, 2019, from https://nacada.ksu.edu/Resources/Journal/Current-Past-Book-Reviews/e-Portfolios-Emerging-oppurtunites-for-student-affairs.aspx.
Sapoznikov, M. (n.d.). How to Ask For Resume Feedback. Retrieved October 23, 2019, from https://www.impactbusinessgroup.com/blog/ask-for-resume-feedback/.
The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education ®. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://carnegieclassifications.iu.edu/classification_descriptions/basic.php.
The Placement Exchange: Student Affairs Career Placement. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.theplacementexchange.org/.
What is a Capstone Project in Graduate School? (n.d.). Retrieved October 23, 2019, from https://www.gradschoolhub.com/faqs/what-is-a-capstone-project-in-graduate-school/.
What is a Thesis? (n.d.). Retrieved October 23, 2019, from https://www.gradschoolhub.com/faqs/what-is-a-thesis/.
Cite this Article
Eng, D. (2019, October 28). Beginning the Search. Retrieved MONTH DATE, YEAR, from https://www.jobhakr.com/blog-1/2019/10/28/beginning-the-search
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