Blog from the Job Hakr: Student Affairs Job Search
This article will review where to look for student affairs jobs. It includes typical places for student affairs jobs in higher education and post-secondary institutions. In addition, general job listing sites are included as well as how to find remote jobs that use student affairs professionals’ skill sets.
Read MoreThis article will outline why it’s important to learn about the search committee and how it relates to your student affairs job search. The search committee’s purpose, process, composition, and commitment will be reviewed in detail. Search committees are usually comprised of individuals at the institution who are representative of its community and its values. A review of how they are recruited and retained will be provided.
Read MoreThis article will first define micromanagement before addressing it as a consequence of issues revolving around doubt and self-worth. Distractions and how they affect your workflow will be addressed, in addition to how workloads can and should address big picture items and goals. Appropriate time and resources can be dedicated to these priorities through the use of time boxing; or the assignment of time to resolve and accomplish specific activities. Personal focus and follow through will be addressed in using micromanagement to your own advantage as well as how having a dedicated workspace can help you better manage your own workload.
Read MoreThis article will answer all of these questions and more for student affairs professionals who are starting new positions. Demonstrating enthusiasm for this job is covered in this article as well as defining and outlining your responsibilities. Standards and expectations for your work should be established early on. This article will explain how to do so in addition to prioritizing your first orientation meeting with human resources and your manager.
Read MoreWorking successfully for your organization means learning how its culture influences you, your work, your position, and your office. This article will identify how culture is defined at the highest levels of your organization as well as how implementing and promoting a positive culture matters in the long run. Expectations of cultural considerations; balance in culture; and the administrative take on work culture will be examined. Finally, how culture influences and affects the student experience; addressing culture in the interview; and proactive steps towards implementing your own culture change will be addressed.
Read MoreThis article will address and define what the term “managing up” means. Specific reasons why student affairs professionals should manage up will be addressed as well as what skills are necessary for exercising this critical professional competency.
Read MoreThis article will review each professional’s entire network as an “asset.” Many people think that they already know who is in their network. However, there are individuals who can provide you more help than others; and they probably aren’t the ones that you’re thinking of. How to curate your personal network will be provided along with tips for managing your connections. How to leverage your personal network will be covered in depth in addition to networking and job searching simultaneously.
Read MoreThis article will address how to find and develop a professional direction. It includes re-thinking what we normally envision as the “career ladder” and recreates it more as the “career lattice.” Beginning steps for setting your own professional direction are discussed in addition to how creating your own career goals builds into and connects with existing student affairs competencies.
Read MoreThis article will address the issue of “imposter syndrome” and how it affects our professional lives. Who is affected by imposter syndrome will be covered in addition to some of the most common characteristics of imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome’s effects will be reviewed in detail in addition to the types of people who are most affected by it. In the end, imposter syndrome is a state of mind that can be addressed by shifting our own mindset. Imposter syndrome in student affairs will be specifically reviewed in addition to action steps for overcoming your own imposter syndrome.
Read MoreThis article will review and define toxic work environments. Signs of toxic workplaces will be discussed as well as determining if your supervisor and coworkers are toxic individuals. Comparisons between health and toxic workplaces will be covered in addition to specific effects of toxic workplaces. Those signs include high turnover, lack of clarity, low morale, and absent co-workers.
Read MoreThis article will provide a step by step process for approaching student affairs virtual interviews. The process starts with managing enough time in your day to prepare and host a virtual interview. Setting up your space for virtual interviews is also key. That means making sure that you present well on camera. Like other interviews, the virtual interview requires its own line of preparatory work necessary for success. Additionally, technical specifications, hardware, and software are necessary for making sure that your interview goes smoothly.
Read MoreThis article will review the process of applying for student affairs jobs out of your immediate geographic area. Often this includes applying to student affairs opportunities in another state. Challenges and difficulties of this part of the job search will be identified as well as reasons for your desire to relocate.
Read MoreThis article will review signs that you have poor boundaries between your student affairs work and your personal life. The history of student affairs professionals who have trouble setting these boundaries will be discussed along with steps on how to create a healthy separation. Specific boundaries will be covered and discussed in detail including time boundaries, technology boundaries, physical boundaries, and mental boundaries. Action steps for setting these boundaries and navigating relationships related to these restrictions will be discussed.
Read MoreThis article will define transferable skills as well as their importance for professional development. How to use transferable skills as well as how to apply them in different functional areas will be covered. A list of student affairs transferable skills will be provided as well as how to write and articulate them for use in your application materials such as your resume and cover letter.
Read MoreThis article will review reasons to look for jobs outside of student affairs. It covers transitioning outside of the field of higher education. The article includes how to look for work outside of traditional academic circles. Specific steps for bridging the gap and making this transition are outlined. Transferable skills that student affairs professionals already have as well as the power of networking are discussed in detail. Finally, student affairs alternative job roles, titles, and options are provided.
Read MoreThis article will review changing functional areas in student affairs. It includes steps on mitigating this transition including connecting to colleagues in other functional areas. Skills and responsibilities across functional areas are reviewed and itemized. The steps necessary to make an internal transfer (within the same university) are reviewed in addition to how to have this conversation with your manager. The process leading up to your move to another functional area including transferrable skills and actionable steps are covered in depth.
Read MoreThis article will review the following (non-comprehensive list) of employee benefits for student affairs professionals: start date; professional development; relocation expenses; insurance (health, dental, and vision); child care; retirement plans; tuition remission; commuting plans; life insurance; legal advice; housing; board; wireless / cell phone plans; holidays; vacations; sick days; performance bonuses; cost of living increases; and flexible work arrangements.
Read MoreThis article will review how to justify your numbers and your compensation package at the end of the student affairs job search. It’ll include how to explain your reasoning as well as how to begin the conversation about increasing the offered compensation. It’s important to stay objective; remain logical; and quantify your “ask” during this process. That’s why this article will also address how to include recent accomplishments; institutional knowledge; and market worth as part of your negotiation plan. Finally, this article closes with strategies that include aiming high; preparing responses to questions; and timing your negotiation correctly.
Read MoreThis article will answer what “market worth” is. In addition, special considerations related to salary and compensation are discussed as they relate to hidden information in the negotiation process. Specific steps are outlined on how to research and calculate your market worth. Also, specific factors are addressed for evaluating your market worth and your compensation as an employee of an institution. Finally, this article closes on the balancing act between evaluating your market worth and new career opportunities.
Read MoreThis article will provide an overview of how to learn and share your salary responsibly with other professionals. It includes an outline of why you should ask this important question as well as where to start. This article also addresses why asking is a social taboo as well as why answering the question can be equally as difficult. As employees we also have the right to share our salary information with each other. So, this article will go into depth about both the values and the downsides of sharing. Lastly, the article closes on applicable strategies towards having and hosting this conversation.
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