Getting an Offer

It has been a couple of weeks since your on-campus interview, and at any moment you are hoping to receive that phone call offering you the position. If it has been longer than the original timeline discussed during your on-campus interview, do not hesitate to call or email your contact on the hiring committee. You can share your increasing enthusiasm for the position, and ask for an update with their hiring process. This is especially important if you have multiple institutions that you may be hearing from.

With time and patience, the call that you have been waiting for happens! Often times during this phone call the employer will go over the salary, start and move in dates, and discuss where the process goes from this point forward. This is your opportunity to ask any questions you have about the position, and ensure that you completely understand the benefits and salary being offered. If you have not already had a discussion of your preferences and needs with regards to the salary, ask if the salary and/or benefits are negotiable. With the tightening of budgets, do not be surprised if they are not. After you have asked your questions, it is appropriate to ask for time to consider the offer. Ask the employer to give you a timeline as to when they will need to know whether you will be taking the position or not.

If the offer you received is not your top choice, it is in your best interest to contact the top institution(s). Let the contact know that you have another offer, and ask for an update as to where you are in their process. You can also give the institution your timeline for accepting or declining the offer, and share your preference for this position. This should hopefully motivate the committee to make a decision with regards to your candidacy. You will then be able to make a more informed decision

Once you decide to accept a position, be sure to ask what the next step will be. You will want an official offer letter, and often a contract is signed. Depending on the position and institution, you may be asked to give information for a background check. Be sure to ask who your contact will be until your arrival so that you may ask any questions that come up. Finally, celebrate all of your accomplishments! Congratulations on your new position!

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Enjoy Your New Job!

Congratulations on your new position! Although this job search process can be lengthy and stressful, with a little patience we can all find our fit in student affairs. Enjoy learning new skills, and gaining new experiences in this next step in your career. Consider starting a blog of your own to document the valuable lessons you are learning along the way, and share them with other student affairs professionals. Thank you for taking the time to read the little tidbits I have learned along the way during my job search process. Best wishes and good luck!

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

Writing Thank-You Notes

The last impression that you will leave after your on-campus interview comes in the form of a thank you note. After an interview you may write as many as 20 thank-you’s, but it is very important to show your gratitude for the opportunity and the time each individual has taken to be a part of your on-campus interview. Here are some words of advice with regards to writing your thank you notes.

• Be sure to write them in a timely manner. Ideally it would be beneficial to have them in the mail no later than one week after your interview. Often the process moves quickly after the on-campus interviews, and you want to make sure to leave that lasting impression prior to any decision-making.
  
• Write a note to everyone you meet with individually. Even those that join you for dinner or guide you from one interview to another. Everyone is a potential colleague, and you want to show everyone your enthusiasm and appreciation.
  
• Consider putting all of the thank-you notes in a larger envelope and mailing them together. This will allow you to save on postage, and ensure they all arrive at the same time. The staff mailboxes may be in the same location, so it wouldn’t take too much time to distribute the notes.
  
• Share your enthusiasm and what you appreciated from each individual. Perhaps they shared a philosophy you really appreciated, or explained the culture of the campus very thoroughly. Let them know how they connected with you and why it was so meaningful.
  
• Be aware that thank you’s via email may be a good option. As institutions strive to promote sustainability, consider saving the paper and sending your thank you notes via email. You will be demonstrating your commitment, as well as demonstrating that you value sustainability.

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