Middle of the Search
Middle of the Search
Middle of 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 period of time that ALL student affairs job seekers find themselves in at one point or another: the middle of the search.
The middle stages of the search…
After completing applications, sending in cover letters and resumes, as well as participating in the NASPA (Student Affairs Professionals in Higher Education) Placement Exchange or ACPA (American College Personnel Association) Career Central, you’ll proceed to the middle stages of the job search. That means participating in first round phone and/or video conference interviews.
This transition represents the middle stages of your search where you’ve already progressed past the initial field of candidates and have gained the attention of the search committee. At this point, you’ll find yourself competing against a smaller pool of applicants. This is because search committees begin to narrow their search in the larger sea of student affairs professionals.
Here, you’ll be offered a phone interview with a campus recruiter, screener, or hiring manager trying to determine if you should progress further in their search. Many institutions now also host video interviews where the interviewer(s) and the candidate engage with one another in real time online.
Video interviews
These types of video interviews are more intense than the phone interviews of the past. This is because the interviewer can gain more information about the candidate based on their facial expressions, candor, and demeanor. The major difference here is that you’ll also be on camera: so make sure to smile, wear something professional, are well lit, and have a clear and uncluttered background.
Practice looking at the camera on your computer so that you appear to be making eye contact, rather than looking at the image of the person on the screen. A strong WiFi signal and a working microphone go a long way towards interviewing successfully in this format.
If you’re as paranoid about a technical setup as I am you can always turn to a friend or family member to give you feedback on your video, sound, background, and quality of lighting.
Regardless of the differences, the video interview results in the same outcomes as the phone interview: it’ll determine whether or not you’ll progress further in the organization’s search.
The on-campus interview
The next stage after the phone and video interview is the on-campus interview. At this point, finalists are invited to the institution. These are often for full- or multi-day interviews. This process usually involves meeting with the hiring manager, search committee, and the students who you would work with.
The on-campus interview is the most critical stage of the job search process. At this time, you’ll only be competing against one to three other candidates who have also progressed this far.
The questions that the institution is considering now is no longer “if” you can do this job. Rather, they are trying to determine if this would be a good “fit” between you and the institution.
I realize that this is a very nebulous question to ask. Trying to determine the difference between competency and fit can be very subjective. However, this is the question on the search committee’s minds when they interview you in person.
Middle stages of the search summary
-First Round Phone Interview: This is offered when you make it past the first round of cuts after reviewing application documents (resumes and cover letters).
-First Round Video Interview: This is a more visceral form of interviewing where both audio and video are shared with the committee in real time. It’s a prime opportunity for both sides to learn more about each other but also includes some additional technical considerations.
-On-Campus Interview: The final stage for institutions when considering candidates. This is the intensive part of the process for both institutions and candidates as they evaluate the finalists for the position. Competition is high as both attempt to determine alignment, personality, and “fit” for the role.
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
Block, M. S. (2015, May 15). The Student Affairs Job Search. Retrieved October 29, 2019, from https://www.higheredjobs.com/articles/articleDisplay.cfm?ID=669
Career Central. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.myacpa.org/career-central
Eng, D. (2019, August 19). Targeted Cover Letters - Job Hakr: Student Affairs Job Search. Retrieved October 29, 2019, from https://www.jobhakr.com/blog-1/2019/8/16/targeted-cover-letters
Eng, D. (2019, July 1). 4 steps to navigating the on-campus student affairs interview - Job Hakr: Student Affairs Job Search. Retrieved October 29, 2019, from https://www.jobhakr.com/blog-1/2019/6/26/4-steps-to-navigating-the-on-campus-student-affairs-interview
Eng, D. (2019, July 8). "Does this institution fit me?" The Student Affairs Job Search Question - Job Hakr: Student Affairs Job Search. Retrieved October 30, 2019, from https://www.jobhakr.com/blog-1/2019/7/3/does-this-institution-fit-me-the-student-affairs-job-search-question.
Eng, D. (2019, October 7). First Round Interview - Job Hakr: Student Affairs Job Search. Retrieved October 29, 2019, from https://www.jobhakr.com/blog-1/2019/10/7/first-round-interview
The Placement Exchange: Student Affairs Career Placement. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.theplacementexchange.org/
Cite this Article
Eng, D. (2019, November 04). Middle of the Search. Retrieved MONTH DATE, YEAR, from https://www.jobhakr.com/blog-1/2019/11/4/middle-of-the-search
Internal Ref: JHKR48S46KVXS