The Three Key Ingredients

As I begin applying for positions, I have noticed that there are three key ingredients with every application.

1. The first is not a surprise, your resume. Before sending out your resume be sure that you have multiple people look it over. I have asked one of my mentors on campus, a professional in the field of student affairs I plan to enter, and two of my references to look over mine. Your supervisor can give you advice on how to word your job responsibilities to really sell yourself the way you deserve. A professional in the area of student affairs that you are interested in can help you organize your various experiences so that it is tailored to that area. Your references will provide feedback, as well as have taken the time to thoroughly read all of your experiences. Strongly consider taking advantage of Career Services on campus or various workshops on resume critiques.

   
   

2. The second is a cover letter. There are many examples that can be found online to give you a foundation of what a cover letter is all about. It is your first impression to a potential employer, and it is your task to sell yourself in the most concise way possible. Keep in mind to address the ‘required’ and ‘desired’ qualifications from the job description. It is important to write each cover letter specifically for the job you are applying for. This will allow you to demonstrate how your professional values fit with the values of the institution. As with your resume, it is a great idea to get feedback. Have multiple people look over your cover letters, especially your first one.
   

3. Finally, you will need a list of references. Pay close attention to the number of references required for the position. I have applied for positions that require three, and others may ask for five. Be sure to specifically ask each individual and get their okay before adding them to your list. It would not be uncommon for a potential reference to want to sit down and talk with you about the positions you will be applying for. This would be a great opportunity to talk about their specific expectations. Common practices and expectations can be found in the ‘Keep Your References in the Loop’ post.

Once you have these key ingredients ready to go, you will recognize the time and energy needed to apply for each position.

Amy Moreno-Kieffer
Co-Editor
Student Affairs Job Hunting Blog

Cautious Comments

With some of the major conferences soon to begin–and their accompanying job fairs and exhibit halls–we received a great piece of advice from one of our readers elaborating on our November 29th post on “Professional Courtesy.” Briefly, that post cautioned job seekers of the insular nature of the profession and to understand that every action has possible consequences. In this case our reader “would…suggest that your comments to associate members [exhibitors], vendors and agents can also come back to haunt you. All these people are connected to those of us who hire and can either put in a good word for you or can warn potential employers about you. It is a VERY small field.”

Keep Your References in the Loop!

Today my supervisor gave me a great idea for today’s blog entry. Never being on the other side of the reference list, I had not even thought of how beneficial her tip would be for those of us that are job searching. She told me how beneficial it is to keep your references in the loop. Make sure that they have your most updated resume at all times. This will ensure that they have an idea of what you have been doing professionally. Also, they will have the copy of your resume that you are sending out with your cover letters.

Another great idea is to send your references the job descriptions for the positions you are applying for. Your references will be able to identify how your skills will fit with the positions you are applying for prior to receiving a phone call from the institution. It is also helpful if you can give your references a heads up when an institution may be contacting them. Let’s say that you have completed a phone interview or a videoconference interview, and have a good feeling about being offered an on-campus interview. Let your references know where you are at in the process. It is likely that an institution will contact your references prior to offering you an on-campus interview. Those on your reference list will be less likely to be caught off guard once they receive the call. It is always a great idea to let your references know how your search is going. Be sure that you do not wait until they have to ask. You never know what advice they may have for you. Your search will be fresh in their minds, and they will be more likely to think of you when they come across a position that may be of interest to you. Especially since often times they are references for other job seekers as well. Now that you have these helpful tips, go email your resume to your references!

Amy Moreno-Kieffer
Co-Editor
Student Affairs Job Hunting Blog

Thinking Outside the Box

As a first year student (and not looking for jobs JUST yet), something I keep hearing around me is “think outside the box” in terms of jobs. Perhaps a job or area that you were not previously interested in, might be one where you learn and gain a lot of experience from. I think a wish list is a great way to start sorting through all the positions and schools out there, but also, especially in this economy, branching out and trying something new might be beneficial as well!

Voice Mail Etiquette

In our December 2, 2009 post we briefly talked about practicing your phone interviewing skills since your first contact with a potential employer could be via the phone line. Another part of your phone preparation strategy starts right at home, or in your pocket, with your answering machine or cell phone away message. How professional is your message? Does it have inappropriate references, sexist asides, obnoxious jokes, or music that never ends? What type of first impression may this message convey to someone who doesn’t know you? You may never know since a surprised employer might not even leave a message, but just hang up and move onto the next candidate.

Record you message to be simple and concise. For example – “Hello, you’ve reached [insert your name]. I cannot get to the phone right now, but if you leave your name and number I will return your call as soon as possible.” If you happen to live in a group setting where there is a shared phone, have a conversation with your roommates about the appropriateness of the phone message. In today’s world most college students have a cell phone so this may not be much of an issue.

With the job market still tight you want to enhance your candidacy in every possible way. Reviewing your outgoing voicemail message is quick and easy and will make a favorable impression on a would-be employer.

The “Perfect Job”

It is important to keep in mind that when you are job searching, it is a two-way process. You need to find the right fit for yourself, and you are interviewing the institution just as much as they are interviewing you. Recently I participated in an activity that centered around describing my “perfect job.” If you had to create a job description of your perfect job, what would be included? It may be helpful to start by thinking of the type of institution you are interested in, large, public or small, private for example. What would be your ideal location(s)? What job responsibilities are you most interested in to grow as a professional? As an example, here are the answers to what I am looking for in a perfect job:

• Supervise a staff of 5-7 students
• Oversee a residence hall housing 300 students
• Work 10 hours per week with multicultural services or a resource center for women
• Select and train student staff
• Have autonomy to do programming with my building
• Work collaboratively with colleagues and departments around campus
• A furnished apartment, laundry, and meal plan provided
• Has partner benefits
• Allows pets
• Located in or near a large city
• Small, private institution
• Strong dedication to social justice and diversity

After you have created your list, you can then decide what characteristics are negotiable, and which are not. This will help you decide whether or not you should pursue a position while comparing your list to a job description. Keep a copy of your list with you as you attend various interviews and conferences as a reminder to be true to yourself. If you decide to pursue a position, you can use this list to answer interview questions such as “Why are you interested in this position,” or “Why are you interested in re-locating to (insert location here)?” Finally, you can develop questions from this list for the institution to ensure that they offer what you are looking for.

Amy Moreno-Kieffer
Co-Editor
Student Affairs Job Hunting Blog

Video Interviewing

Video interviewing is a whole new ball game in the job search
process. When I was first informed that I would have a video
interview via Skype, I thought to myself “what a clever idea!” It is
a way to have a more personal and visual interaction with potential
employers despite the great distance between us. Then I started to
think about actually doing the interview. That is where a little bit
of worry set in! “Will the camera in my laptop be high enough in
quality?” “How exactly do I set up this video conference?” “What if
my internet connection fails and we are disconnected?” After I had
practiced Skyping with colleagues and set up for the video conference
a whole new line of questioning came to mind. “Where should I
conduct this video conference?” “What should the background be?” “A
view of the trees on campus or artwork?” I finally decided on a
blank off white wall so that the people on the other end didn’t get
distracted and think that I had antlers from the tree branches behind
me.

Once it was go time, I anxiously clicked the answer button. I
quickly remembered that I had to also click on the camera to ensure
there was more than just sound. The video interview went by very
quickly! It was a more personal experience, and great to see the
people on the other end. One of my fears did become a reality
however. Even though I had interviewed on campus (one of the best
internet connections available), we got disconnected not once, but
TWICE! Thankfully they were totally understanding about it, and I
did not feel that it jeopardized my candidacy by any means. Even
though I was anxious leading up to the video conference interview, I
can now say that I have experienced it. It is not so bad as long as
you remember to look into the camera as much as possible when you are
answering, and not down at your screen. Get set up at least 15
minutes in advance to ensure you are connected, and everything is
working properly. Expect the connection to be lost or a little shaky
at times, but don’t worry the employers on the other end should be
pretty understanding. This advice comes from someone who has done
this only once, but hey, “I have interviewed via Skype.”

Amy Moreno-Kieffer
Co-Editor
Student Affairs Job Hunting Blog

Clean Up Your Facebook

As you begin your job search it is critically important to review your social network sites, such as Facebook, for potentially embarrassing or inappropriate material such as photos and wall writings.   What might have simply been “college craziness” during your undergraduate years may now be viewed negatively during the job search process as more and more employers are using social network sites to “check-up” on candidates.  Innocuous comments you post on your Facebook page could be misinterpreted by others, especially if “heard” second hand.  Even strictly defined privacy settings are not a total safeguard since information–including personal information–can be shared among friends.  And their friends.  And their friends.  And so on.