Job Hunt: Infinity

A fairytale!

2012-03-01T16:15:00.001-08:00

I have a wonderful fairytale for you today. All inspired by current conditions at my institution. There are lots of changes happening and I have spent some time reflecting on those changes.

Once upon a time there was a merry band of misfits wandering around in their very familiar territory, the wooded lands of Quarterdom. Quarterdom was a vast place with many varieties of flora and fauna, and even hundreds of tiny bands of misfits. These bands of misfits could be very set in their ways and incredibly stubborn. One day the council of misfits decided that it was time to move. There was fresh, undiscovered land on the other side of a muddy stream called Regsem. The council saw fit to create many committees to assist with the move, and these committees decided to make the move in small batches. Some brave explorers would be the first to cross, and then they would teach everyone on what was on the other side.

Then one day, the council of misfits decided on a specific day to begin the move of the entire population. There was, however, a plan to move the entire population of Quarterdom across the stream; first the leaders and all of their helpers would move, and then the families. Slowly the leaders began to approach the stream, and then each misfit had a choice. There were three options: learn to build a bridge, walk through the water, or to stay in Quarterdom until the last possible moment. There were also different attitudes to have about crossing the stream, some were very negative about the change, remember the part about being stubborn, other were excited about the change, as it would bring new opportunities, and some were just scared, they were so used to living in Quarterdom, would they be able to live the same way in Regsem?

This fairytale ends with the whole population moving into Regsem, but unfortunately there is no middle part about crossing the stream. I would hope the leaders of each band of misfits would choose to learn to build a bridge, helping the families behind them the chance to enjoy the change positively. I am of the opinion, as well, that those leaders who choose to be negative, regardless of their crossing choice, will just spread negativity. Each attitude choice, I think, will affect those coming behind them, and I only hope, for the sake of the entire population, that the positive attitudes will rule the day.

PS -- my next blog post will have pictures of work cart parade floats

Music, silence, and noise

2012-02-22T09:34:00.000-08:00

So this morning I read this article by Dean Dad inInside Higher Ed.

It made me think a lot about this week. And last week. It’s been kind of slow around here,

which I’ve been told is normal around this time. Spring break is close and then the end of the year approaches, which I’ve been told can be a crazy time of year.

Normally, as I work in my office and get all sorts of things accomplished, I listen to Pandora. I have several stations to listen to, ranging from classical, symphonic, to acapella, and rock. But this week, I haven’t put it on once. The quiet is really relaxing and calming, with everything else going on in life (my husband and I are hosting the largest gathering ever at our home this weekend) the quiet is really nice.

The quiet also allows me to pay attention to the other things happening in the building and outside in the hallway. I’m located at the top of an open stairwell, so I hear lots of things. It’s interesting to listen to students and faculty as they pass in the hallway.

Anyway, this is just a quick thought regarding music and silence. Hey, at least I’m attempting to post more. On a side note… this weekend’s post will include a fun event at my husband’s place of work!

Event planning and life lessons

2012-02-20T15:31:00.000-08:00

When you plan a wedding there are so many things to do. Among them are choosing outfits, food, cake, favors, music, dates, a wedding venue and reception hall. Now, when you begin planning a wedding there are a few things that come first, without these first few steps planning for a wedding can come to a stand still. Generally the couple picks the time frame, say, the month of June. Then they visit reception halls and choose their venues, when they've picked a hall/church/country club they then choose an exact date. After this takes place, everything else can fall together nicely.

The couple, generally, isn't going to make a choice about food (ex: we need to serve steak, chicken parm, and pasta primavera), before finding a place to serve the food. They won't pick a specific date, unless it's an exception or a couple with very specific needs, until they have some sort of venue. Rooms, venues, a place to actually host an event, need to be the very first thing established, otherwise nothing else can be planned.

Planning other events can generally follow the same pattern as planning a wedding, the actual venue being the most important part (to me, as the event planner).

Along with a learning curve about the differences in event planning, I'm doing a lot of other learning. I finished grad school over a year ago, but I try hard to stay current in the student affairs field, and I also really love to learn. I started learning to ice skate and play hockey in early December. I fell a lot, so much so that I was considering the possibility that I actually broke my tailbone (one of the cats stepped on it one night and it hurt so bad!). However, growing up as a musician I understand the value of practice and being stubborn, and I have improved... a lot. I can skate upright, fall a lot less often, and even have some confidence. I think I need to find a way to take all of the lessons I've been learning on Sundays and apply them to work. Sometimes work makes me very frustrated. There is repetition, redundancy, and inefficient practices everywhere, some days, like today, I just leave frustrated and upset.

PS -- I apologize for the lack of weekly Sunday posts. Sundays are hockey lesson days, and we've been spending them with friends. My schedule should get back to normal soon. Or, I'll make a new one.

Star Wars, an Event, and Cheese Drops

2012-02-06T07:49:00.001-08:00

Several things are going on in this post. I'm taking a few lessons from Yoda and Star Wars this week. I hosted the first event in which I took a major part of planning. I'll also share the recipe of my new finger food for a Super Bowl party!

Star Wars lessons:

Do or do not. There is no try. -- Turning in a paper late with the excuse "well, I tried to get it in on time" would not work, why should I hold you to a different standard?

I don't care how many wookies are bearing down on you, I have other things to do.

Threatening the copier with the force of the entire clone army will not fix the paper jam.

If you can assist with operating the Death Star, I would assume you can follow directions.

The force is not strong with this one, nor is the brain

This is not the office you are looking for

When your head is in space, it's hard to breathe

Event:

The first huge event in which I took a large role went , well, it didn't go nearly as well as planned. My tech person did not arrived almost an hour late. The caterer, who was never used by my department before, arrived late. The student workers, who were supposed to be there beginning at 5:30, had classes until 7. And then, they ran out of food at the event. But I heard the food was good, and the student employees appreciated that they didn't need to attend to the food or clean up. There were a few unexpected surprises, as there always seem to be.

Food:

Small tub of cream cheese (softened), a couple of handfulls of shredded cheddar cheese, salt, pepper and garlic (all to taste). Mix together. Cut 2 tubes worth of crescent rolls in half, put a small spoonful of mixture in each, wrap the corners of the crescent rolls around to cover most of the mixture. Turn on the oven to 350, bake for 10 minutes. Voila. Cheese drops for your party.

Limits and the freedom they provide

2012-01-30T16:12:00.000-08:00

There's something to be said about being "hourly". I'm not responsible for checking my email while away from work. I get an hour lunch, where I don't have anything to do except for eat lunch. I have a finite list of responsibilities, and if I attempt to go outside of that list I can be written up and dismissed. I am an at-will employee, meaning I can leave whenever I want, without a reason why. I work at an institution with very defined policies and practices which require people to be civil and protect me from harassment and discrimination.

I always thought that being hourly meant being in a low-end job. But in all reality I have a pretty cushy job that allows me to have responsibility but also a work-life balance. I can't be ordered to do something outside of the set parameters, for example I cannot paint while on the clock. I can't (or shouldn't) drive my car to do university business. And the institution where I work has an entire process for being "terminated". If I go on vacation my only obligation to my position is an out-of-office email reply, and to arrive back at work on the appropriate day. If I'm in a class or doing something with my family, I don't have to answer when someone from work calls (although there are a few people I'd answer for).

I also have opportunities to grow. I go to professional development classes, I am also allowed to take a certain number of credit hours without being matriculated. Within the next year I can even begin looking for a different position if I so choose. Being hourly is not necessarily confining, which is how I used to see it, and sometimes still do, it's also liberating.

It reminds me of a lesson back in high school English class (thanks Mr. Blake): freedom is slavery, slavery is freedom.

Taking responsibility

2012-01-15T11:36:00.000-08:00

My husband and I are watching Star Trek: The Next Generation. There is a two-part episode where Captain Picard is transformed into a Borg; this episode is apparently the best two-part episode in the history of television (pretty much a direct quote from my husband). Part of this episode (or an episode around that one, we're watching them in succession on Netflix so I get confused) includes a young woman who aspires to be Picard's next Number One, she goes over Riker's head and attempts all sorts of feats to prove her worthiness. Riker continually tries to remind her that she has a lot of learning to do.

This episode really reminded me of some of the complaints about the "Millennial" generation. I've heard many negative things about this up-and-coming generation, including that they feel privileged and that each of them thinks they are unique and special. People think that Millennials don't take responsibility for their actions and don't take time to learn how to do things properly.

After the past few weeks I don't think this is just a problem with young people. It's a problem with a lot of people. I made an appointment for someone, the best available time for the two involved was 9am. I explained this, and got a raised-eyebrow expression when I mentioned 9am ("9am! that's early!"). We had an event this week, along with the arrival of winter weather, and the two crossed paths. The event involved several different people, one showed up on time, one kept calling us to keep us in the loop regarding traveling, and another never bothered to call. We also had an issue in the office that could have turned into some type of teachable moment, the problem is, the people who could have been taught didn't understand.

The above examples do not just include people under the age of 21. It shouldn't be a problem just addressed with young people, but with people as a whole. The question should be: When do we stop giving the benefit of the doubt and hold people accountable? Should 50 year olds be held accountable for checking their email just like we want to hold 18 years olds accountable for showing up on time? When is it a 40-something's responsibility to save the planet, instead of the 19 year olds?

I'm expected to be in my office beginning at 7:30. I take care of numerous animals, chores, and responsibilities in my own personal life, and still make it to work and do my job. I'm close to the Millennial generation's age. It's not a problem with young people, it's a problem with the society in which the young people grew up.

Hostage

2012-01-09T10:27:00.000-08:00

I was going to post a really cool link about a craft retreat on facebook. However, I became highly annoyed, almost to the point of yelling at someone, and so I decided to write a blog post during my lunch.

I’ve worked in some pretty interesting jobs. I’ve work at a pet store, florist, dining facility, administrative offices, non-profit offices, and academic offices. I’ve had all sorts of different supervisors/bosses. Some are mentoring, education-oriented, and fantastic to work with, other are harsh, rude, inappropriate, uneducated, and all around terrible to work with or for. Office environments have included hostile, friendly, casual, semi-formal, and all sorts of things in between. So, for all of those things above, it means I’ve also worked with a large, diverse group of people.

I worked at one school, I previously called it Gold College, where I was absolutely miserable. My boss was terrible, the workplace was hostile, I didn’t trust human resources, and the ladder to climb regarding complaints was poisonous. At the restaurant there were people I could trust, but it could become very slippery if something went wrong. I pissed off one of the managers one evening and wasn’t spoken to for several weeks. Now *that* was a good time.

My current office situation is truly heavenly. I can wear jeans, “nice jeans”, and business casual tops, and school logo-wear on Fridays. I have benefits, vacation days, sick days, a great supervisor, and a comfortable office chair. The challenges change on a daily basis, and although I had a bad day on Friday, I generally enjoy what I’m doing. And, the best part is, there is so much room for advancement.

Hostile environments can make you feel like a hostage in your own office. They make the air poisonous and the day difficult to bear. Today will lead to a teachable moment, whether it's mine, or the person on the other end.

Grocery shopping

2012-01-08T10:02:00.000-08:00

I grew up in a small town. There is an incredibly small Main St., with the only two lights in town on either end, some shops, restaurants, and pizza places. The school district is very good (in my uneducated about primary/secondary opinion), we had college-level courses, instructors with Master's Degrees, and an administration I respect. I remember when housing tracks were fields, when across the road from my parents house was a swamp, and when lots of parents volunteered to work with Booster Clubs, committees, and school activities. There were drugs, cigarettes, sex, and all sorts of scandals (one of my locker neighbors in Middle School mysteriously disappeared after rumors of pregnancy).

I now live in a small city, which is located in a very rural county. There are a few places I can buy groceries, including a local supermarket, Target, Walmart, Aldi, and now a small grocery store. Walmart is generally poorly organized, poorly staffed, and highly annoying. Target is much better, but I rarely buy food products from there (unless they're on sale, of course). I usually use the supermarket, Tops, and I'll use the weekly circular to find good deals and then add to the list whatever else we need in the house. There are downfalls to using Aldi, mainly that I need to bag my own stuff and need cash to make a purchase.

But I'm open to trying new things, especially if it'll help save us money, so I went to the new grocery store. It's right down the road from me so I was really hoping it was going to work out. I walked in, there are no baskets, only carts. No flyers are available, so I walked around. The prices on meat isn't cheaper than Tops, and the aisles are small and cramped. They save on money, therefore overhead, by not unpacking flats, not bagging groceries, and not having other things that a brand-name grocery store would have.

Well, to get to the point without being too rude, I don't think I'll be visiting the new grocery store on a regular basis. It's not all about the actual store, it's about the clientele. I don't think I'm above anyone, I've just decided on a different path. Maybe they remind me of every reason I chose two prestigious institutions of higher education, or maybe I just don't like how they smell like cheap cigarettes and beer, or maybe it's because I was super hungry and just wanted to be done grocery shopping.

Language

2012-01-02T08:04:00.000-08:00

I've been attempting to write this post for several weeks. I've learned a lot so far in my new job, I have also come across a lot of problems, concerns, and issues (for me personally and for the office/program I work in). The main one that stuck out in December was language.

We don't normally pay a lot of attention to the language we use, until we're in a new environment. I guess it's like getting dressed for work. At the restaurant I had to wear specific pants and specific shirts, wore a similar underwear everyday, black socks, and restaurant shoes. When I interviewed, I put on nice clothes and nice pants, just like I used professional language in the interview. Before I started my new position I asked what dress code was like and while I still dressed up, jeans are generally acceptable.

The language in my department is the opposite of my professional training. The people paying for an education? "Students", or in my department: "kids". I hated being called a kid while in college. It reminded me of being in high school, where the adults made all of the decisions. I paid for school, I worked two jobs my junior and senior years. As a student I worked in an administrative office, where everyone called students "kids". No, buddy, I was an adult and I expected to be treated as such.

The other word that was used a lot in December was "break". Now, I know I have it good. I was paid to not work for a specific number of days. At my institution, staff had one week (and one day) of paid holiday. Faculty members and students have three weeks without classes, meaning most of the faculty members in my department stopped coming to campus after their last day of class, or even canceled their last class before break. There were a few exceptions, as is expected, but most planned to have a full three weeks away from campus. In conversations most referenced these three weeks, with no clue that there were people with different schedules.

There is also a change coming up for us that will affect faculty teaching loads. Now, those conversations made me laugh (silently, of course). But are probably for a post in the future.

Silos, divisions, and the problems they cause

2011-12-06T18:02:00.001-08:00

When I was in graduate school we talked a lot about silos and divisions. It never really hit home until I started working in academic administration (as opposed to student services and that end).

The department in which I'm working used to be two departments, and a few years ago they merged. This has affected my life in a few ways, first (and most definitely foremost) of which is how my office and files are organized. Faculty's folders, which hold information such as evaluations, are not organized alphabetically, they are first sorted by previous program and then alphabetically. Contact lists are also sorted like this, which can make finding someone I haven't met yet extremely difficult. We also have two department leaders, one from each former department, who each had their own assistants. This lead to have three assistants in one office, each doing a specific job and working in a specific silo.

Silos have also caused other problems, such as redundancy. Each of the three assistants had their own files, folders, filing systems, etc. The past few weeks, my co-worker (Gina), and I have been going through files, folders, and binders. We've thrown out and shredded reams upon reams of paper. We've created more stream-lined processes, digital calendars, and it's been a lot of work for very little actual product.

Now, divisions, I think those are worse than silos. Divisions, and personalities, have caused some problems that might not be able to be fixed with color-coding, labels, and piles sorted numerically. Within the office there are currently two staff members, the department head, and student workers. Along with all of those, we help all faculty in the program and are the main support for the co-department head. Divisions include what people think each person is responsible for, how work should be divided, who contacts who for specific things. Even while working together, certain people don't know how to communicate effectively.

Through all of this frustration I truly am enjoying my new job. I really like working with Gina, and my direct supervisor is amazing. The university where I work offers fantastic benefits, including up to 12 credits free without being matriculated. It's been a great experience so far, and I'm really looking forward to learning and experiencing more.

A new step

2011-11-20T16:38:00.000-08:00

Lots of goods and bads the past couple of weeks, along with beginnings and endings, which could be good or (and) bad.

I received a rejection letter from my dream job. No interview, nothin'.

Well, I can now share that I found a job! I am now a Sr. Staff Assistant at a local institution, working in a 100+ year old program with a fantastic reputation!

I started at a really slow time in the academic year, so there isn't a whole lot I can do (yet)

I meet my co-worker, who has been out on medical leave, for the first time this week

I no longer work in the restaurant business! (but I had to say goodbye to some good people)

In my first week of work I managed to get a cold, have Outlook screw up times for an appointment, have my ID number messed up, and get a flat tire

I had a terrible stomach bug this weekend, and when I finally felt better we went to the grocery store and then got pooped on by a murder of crows

I think I'll continue the blog, but change the idea. I'm going to write about my learning experiences, and professional growth. I can't name names, or exact projects, but I should hopefully learn lots that will continue my education on higher education!

Ignorance isn't bliss for those around it

2011-11-10T06:06:00.000-08:00

Sorry for another late blog post, but the past couple of weeks have been a bit crazy. A few weekends ago I was at work when a table had a conversation with me, and I want to share it. At first, I just laughed at the ignorance of what was being said, but after I shared it with my coworkers, I realized how insulted some of them felt for me. I'm not offended by ignorance, or by advice from ignorant people, I can't be or I wouldn't have a job.

So, first, some background. In the restaurant where I work, there are close to 90 TVs and the radio is always on. Most of the time there are several different sports channels on the TVs and some sort of music is over the speakers. On Sundays, each TV has a football game on and the Bills game (or most popular team) is being played over the radio.

After serving the food, and while clearing plates and garbage from surrounding tables, my table starts talking to me. There are two women in their 60s as well as an older gentlemen.

Table: Does all of this ever get to you? You know, the TVs and the music?

Me: Sometimes, but most days I don't pay attention to it anymore.

Table: You should go get an education and get out of the restaurant business.

Me: Well, I actually have a Master's degree.

Table: Really? And you still work here?

Me: Yes, I finished my program this past December and have applied to over 45 jobs since January.

Table: Oh wow. You're so young-looking, too!

Me: Yeah. I have my Bachelor's from Ithaca College and my Master's from UofR. I'm 24, so I'm hoping to find something soon to start my career.

Table: Oh.

Me: Yeah, the job market is really tough.

Table: Oh, you'll find a job eventually. You'll find a job when you look older. You look so young!

The new running joke at work is that we should all get an education. Funny, but not really.

Resources (or lack thereof)

2011-11-02T05:40:00.001-07:00

Recently my graduate school sent out a survey about graduate's job placement. I was pretty honest. At the time I had applied to about 40 positions since January 1st, and had only gotten two or three interviews. I also knew of several people who graduated (with similar and different programs/degrees) who could not find permanent, full-time positions in their fields. I also knew of others, who went through similar programs and found jobs immediately after graduation. And so, as graduate school teaches us, I began to reflect. What in the world could possibly be different from my degree (from an institution not well known in the field) to a degree from a public institution (with a very strong program). We go through similar classes, with theory, diversity, and administration courses. We write similar papers, and have fantastic faculty members. But speaking with the person I know from the very strong program (we'll call it Bills University).

Bills University offers a program with a cohort and is very selective. It has many graduate assistantship opportunities on campus and sends students to local conferences. And after doing some research, I think it's the conferences that make a difference, although spending time as a GA is also important. But going to conferences gives you resources. You go to programs with working professionals, taught by experts and other professionals. You dine with all sorts of people, and make connections with them. You hear from speakers who have been in the field for years and who write massive textbooks all graduate students read. My program offered information on conferences, but nothing beyond that. There are several local conferences, such as ACUI and CSPA-NY, but I only ever attended CSPA-NY as an undergraduate. At conferences you also learn about professional resources, such as those available online or through associations, which could be helpful when looking for a professional opportunity.

My graduate assistantship taught me a lot but my experience working in higher ed while I was a graduate student ended up with me unemployed, with a half a Master's degree, and no one would touch my resume. I wound up at open interviews at a nation-wide restaurant and was hired as a hostess. (I put myself through school, which meant that if I didn't make enough money each semester, I wouldn't be able to continue going to school.) I didn't meet the right people in my field, I didn't make the right connections, and I didn't learn the right lessons by working in a restaurant. I lacked the resources and network to make changes, and nothing I did could change that fact.

Upon reflection, I wish I had known how important connections were before applying to and attending graduate school. I may have chosen another school to attend (I did have plans to apply to four), picked better GA opportunities, and spent money to go to conferences (regardless of how much money it would cost and the money I would have lost by not working). I think if I had gone to conferences and made the appropriate connections locally, I would be in a better position to look for a job. By working as a GA in an unknown institution I lost valuable time in meeting people, and working in a restaurant did not allow me to look for another GA position. Now that I've been doing a lot of research on my own, I've found a lot of things that would have been helpful the past ten months, such as blogs, twitter feeds, and professionals willing to help.

Not alone

2011-10-27T15:43:00.000-07:00

I normally try to keep these posts pretty professional. I'm not sure why. Somehow, deep down, I must think that out there somewhere someone who is reading this REALLY wants to offer me a job. And so, on and on I write about searching for that position. But, it's really scary. I'm a waitress (ok, a server). I pay, at the minimum, close to $1000 a month in student loans. I'm married, I have a mortgage, car payment, utilities, and a family to pay for. Some months I don't make enough to make ends meet. And my husband is wonderful (I don't think he really gets it though). We make it through, each month and each disaster. Even the dinner that got messed up earlier this week, we just bought calzones.

Generally the people around me don't get it. Don't get why I want to do what I want to do. "Why not go into HR? you have the skills." I don't want to get into HR, I want to work with students. I didn't study HR in grad school because students are my passion. Yes, people are right, I probably won't make a lot of money, and I probably will live in this crappy city for a while. But if I love my job and love what I do (like going to grad school) then what does it matter?

But you know what I just found? The most amazing thing in the universe (ok, maybe not the universe, but my little piece of the internet). A directory full of blogs written by people in student affairs. Graduate students, new professionals, associations, and the whole wide world of student affairs. So I browsed, and I clicked, and I wound up on a blog titled "I'm Terrified".

And then I realized I was terrified. But I'm not alone anymore. It was like the dear john letter I got yesterday didn't matter, or that I don't want to cook dinner didn't matter, or that I didn't make what I needed to make today didn't matter. I wasn't alone. I may not ever meet this fantastic person who wrote that blog, but she is out there. So I want to cry because I realized that the emotion I couldn't figure out has been terror, but I want to dance because I'm not the only one. (I'm also so excited to post this that I didn't proof read it properly, so I'm sorry.)

Questions?

2011-10-24T05:36:00.001-07:00

Interviews are always full of questions. Questions toward the candidate, questions toward the panel or interviewer. Questions about behavior, strengths and weaknesses, preferences, money, and the list goes on. Most of the interviews I have been on include a list of questions that are asked of all of the candidates and include the normal strengths/weaknesses, what kind of manager do you prefer to work with, how would your boss describe you questions. Some interviews ask questions about behaviors, which make the interviews seem bizarre and not job-specific.

I usually go into interviews with my own questions. I do research on the office, topics, students, and institution, and find unanswered questions through that research. I have also spent time doing all of that, and not finding anything to ask. I can then come up with questions regarding the position, such as work hours, unique challenges, and what kinds of students/populations utilize the office. I've had one interview, on the phone, where I wasn't prepared (my own fault) and had to come up with questions on the fly. I don't recommend that.

Before, during, and after interviews I also have questions. Should I keep applying to other positions? I can always withdraw my applications, and if I don't apply I'll never have the chance once the deadline expires. They haven't called, what do I do now? I interview with mostly panels, and not people from HR. Do I call HR or the lead member of the panel? How should I dress? I've been to interviews where I have been in business clothing and all of the panelists are wearing jeans and sweaters. And then there is that final question: what did they think? With all of my time preparing, writing cover letters, contacting references, doing pre-interview research, rearranging my schedule, and getting dressed up, is it worth it? I have been a "final candidate" in a few searches now, with never being the one called for the position. I guess one thing this has taught me (over, and over, and over) is that rejection is a part of life, and if I don't keep trying, I'll be serving tables forever.

So, once again, I wish there were more resources available for those of us who wish to break into the field.

An interview!

2011-10-17T10:31:00.001-07:00

Another interview, and life got in the way. I had an interview at a great, local community college. The position would be part-time, and the interview was supposed to take an hour. I had two choices of days, Tuesday or Wednesday, between 9 and 5. I chose Wednesday at 9, thinking I should get out by 10 and be to work only a few minutes late.

That morning I found my interview clothes were still wet from the washer, and they didn't dry in time for me to leave. Daisy had a difficult time taking her medicine. And it was raining. So I threw on a dress and a shall, belted it so it would look more conservative, and ran out the door. I was there early, the interview started late. I had already had the campus tour on a previous interview, so they took me directly to the interview. I was excited, because now it should only have been 30 minutes and I could be on time for work!

The interview was very informal, which was nice. We discussed the position, my strengths and weaknesses, and what the job needed from the candidates. I learned there were four of us interviewed and that two people who previously held the position are now full-time advisors. I was the last of the four interviewed. The interview had the usual interview questions, along with a situation to be dealt with and a question-answer session. I had three questions about the position, so I asked question 1, and all three of my questions were answered. I felt sort of stupid after that.

Along with this great opportunity to interview at a fantastic institution, I also found a lot of frustration. There isn't a whole lot of advice out there for those of us trying to break into the student affairs/higher ed field. If you go to Inside Higher Ed or The Chronicle, and go to "Career Advice" a large majority of the advice is for academics. Articles talk about not looking like a grad student during interviews, wearing properly fitting suits, visiting conferences, and the academic hiring cycle. They talk about CVs and teaching statements. I really wish there was more focus on the other side of the college/university campus.

So, for those curious. I wore a sundress that is zebra-print with a wide band of hot pink at the bottom. I put a long shall, with short-sleeves on, wrapped it around to cover most of my upper-half, and belted it with a wide, elastic, black belt. I also had stockings and conservative black heels on. No umbrella or purse, just a file folder, my keys, and a pen.

A social experiment (with brownies!)

2011-10-10T10:07:00.001-07:00

Apparently I performed a social experiment at work this weekend. I did not mean to create a problem, or to cause any drama. I simply offered brownies.

I work on Sundays, especially Football Sundays (or Sunday Funday as we call it) and I generally work a 6 to 8 hour shift. Last year a bunch of us unofficially rotated bringing in snacks. I love to bake and cook, and I love to share the stuff I make, so I do it mostly so I can bake and share it, without feeling guilty. Football has gone on for a bunch of weeks now, and only two of us have brought in treats. Last week I spoke with Barb, the other woman who has been bringing in goodies, and we discussed a sign-up sheet for everyone to bring in something during football season.

Sunday morning I got up early and made brownies, in cupcake holders. I also created a sign-up sheet with all of the Sundays between yesterday and the end of the year. On the top of the sheet I wrote: "Want a brownie? Sign up to bring in treats for everyone else!". Not a single person signed up or took a brownie. Not one. I gave some brownies to the cooks, because they asked. None of the other servers asked if they could take one without signing. They all talked about it and looked at me like I had wounded them. One server even told me, after I made the brownies disappear, that he did not take a brownie because he did not want to sign up.

It really shocked me. For several reasons. The first reasons is because everyone loves to eat at the restaurant, if you put food out (it could be bizarre and strange) it will be eaten. The second is that brownies or cookies are not difficult to obtain. You could easily buy a mix and bake them, OR you could stop at any of the grocery stores within 5 miles and buy a package or two of cookies or brownies or even a cake! The third reason was because I assumed that I worked in a semi-mature workplace. We are required to work as a close team, with constant communication, and sharing food and stories is the main way that relationship happens. Work is required to maintain any relationship, including working relationships. It really disappointed me that no one was will to contribute that work.

A note on the job hunt: I have an interview this week for a part-time position at a local community college. I'm waiting to hear back about my dream job, as screening begins today (TODAY!!!). I also applied to a part-time, minimum-wage paying position, but have not heard back. There are only a few positions posted recently that I am qualified for, so I'm really hoping I hear something back from institutions soon!

The last few days, in bullets

2011-10-06T11:02:00.000-07:00

This week I don't have much to walk about in a large-post fashion. I wish I could have written something mind-blowing over the weekend, but I lacked the inspiration. There are, however, a lot of interesting things happening that I'd like to learn more about, or just mention. So, I've decided to do a bullet list of things that I can't write about in a paper-like fashion.

· The Occupy Wall Streeet, along with the student protests, are really interesting. I truly wish there were more brave media outlets or journalists who would investigate and report on what is happening

· I used my "network" this week to secure a recommendation from someone not only in the field but who retired from the institution to which I applied for a job

· My poor dog. I don't have kids, and really, I don't really want any at this moment (in the future, when we are more financially secure and I have a few years invested into a profession, yes), my animals are my kids. We have four cats and a dog. Daisy has had three seizures since February, has been to the vet more times than I care to remember and has donated quite a bit of blood to the cause. Now she has problems with one of her ears, and she has to go back to the vet. She's quite a trooper though.

· "Winter is coming". Yes, it's unfortunate. It means a lot of changes, including the weather. But it also means that the hiring cycle (which hasn't really wound down yet) should start to really slow down in anticipation of next year's budgeting/hiring cycle

· I've applied to another part-time, minimum-wage job. We need the money pretty desperately and I don't mind working. Someone claimed it was good for character building. I'm just really ready for a professional position.

· My husband is extremely frustrated with work right now. I wish there was more I could do to help. There must be some parallel to what he and I are going through, but it just sucks.

Dream job (at a local institution)

2011-09-28T05:50:00.000-07:00

So I recently applied to a position that would be my "dream job". It's working with veterans, at an administrative level, at an institution that serves a large number of students and vets. It's a full-time, grant-funded position, but it's what I really (really, really, really) want to do. It would be like the genie or fairy granting one wish for the career path you want.

But, like most things, it has made me reflect on what I want, where I want my career to go, and what my ultimate goal is. It started with a thought: I want to work, advise, and counsel veterans in an institution of higher learning. Ok, great. That's a huge description for one person's job. And then came the doubt: can I make enough changes to effect enough people to make it my final goal? Nope, probably not. Helping even one vet would make my degree worthwhile, but helping in the large-scale would probably be the career goal. Ok, so then what is the final career goal? I probably need to be a VP of something somewhere to effect real large-scale change. Ok, well there's a scary thought. That require years of experience, ladder climbing, and at least one more degree.

Ok, back up. Stop. Breathe. First I need a job, just one, with some professional experience working with students. There is a good place to start. But I am so excited about this posting that I can't help daydreaming. It's grant-funded that means in order to keep the position around funding needs to continue. This could mean that there is grant money for several years, months, or even just days. Ok, so what about making it a self-funded position or office? How could it become self funded? Well, what if the institution held an annual conference concerning serving vets? It could offer in-person sessions as well as webinar settings, we could bring in local professionals and speakers, use campus resources, and grow each year. Or we could offer services to the community, such as discussions and panels, that could be sponsored and paid for in order to continue the program.

Oh, and that question regarding personal weaknesses? How about: a passion so big that all I can think about is how exciting this position is.

GI Bill in the news...

2011-09-26T07:02:00.000-07:00

8 For-Profit Colleges Collect More than $1-Billion in Veterans' Education Benefits

Why I can No Longer Teach U.S. Military History

Serving Soldiers?

For-profit colleges getting more GI Bill dollars

Highlighting Flow of Military Benefits to For-Profits, Senators Seek Changes in Key Rule

Above are some articles focusing on veterans in higher ed from this week. Every time I see an article with "veterans" or "GI Bill" in the title along side some mention of higher ed I get excited. But most of the articles don't even mention problems students face (other than a drop-out rate). They don't mention services provided, support structures, development, committment, or that they are high-risk students. They talk about how for-profit institutions some how trap them into an education. They discuss the 90-10 rule and how a senator claims the GI BIll was left out due to a technicality. Along with the frustrations of finding a job, attempting to get my husband back to school, and other daily stress, these articles are just a little too much.

I don't think it was a "technicality" I think the GI Bill was left off the list of federal funding because it would hurt the number of veterans enrolled. It would hurt the institutions helping veterans become educated and integrating back into civilian life. I think it was necessarily to improve enrollment numbers.

I think we're missing a HUGE opportunity by not enrolling veterans into traditional campuses. The veteran population has such a large spectrum of students, that if we learned to support them and allow them to succeed we could help hundreds of other students. Veterans cross borders every day, such as parents, sons and daughters, employees, military members, full-time or part-time students, some are also adjusting to a new way of life. If we can find a way to help them, we can help so many other students, too. They can be enrolled and take classes and essentially have their education paid for 100% (which a lot of schools are looking for, too).

And then there's the article on why a professor can no longer teach a class she has taught for decades. Another reason why higher ed should be working with veterans. Learning about their needs and desires is important, but so is educating the community around them. Teach employers, neighbors, community organizations, and the campus about veterans and military members is vital to keep them in those relationships. They, like most everyone else, want to contribute to society and be good people. That means sitting in class, listening, making connections, and learning in the way they know how. By not having appropriate resources, this instructor now feels she cannot teach something she has a passion for, and everyone loses out.

Budgets and Divides on Campus

2011-09-19T07:07:00.000-07:00

There are lots of articles and research out there on how institutions of higher education can solve budget problems. I was reading this article, and I thought it was rather well-written and explained a lot about the research of budget cutting. And then I read the comments (there were 13 when I read them). There are many comments about the "problems" in higher ed, such as unions or administration or "student services" (I like that it was put in quotes).

I read Inside Higher Ed a lot, mainly because there is no subscription fee, and I cannot really afford to subscribe to The Chronicle of Higher Education. While the articles can be amazing and discuss really interesting topics, I find the comments (and sometimes the articles) to be in two or three categories (disclaimer: broad generalizations are coming, entire papers could be done on each topic). The first is faculty. They generally have the highest degree attainable in their field and they either focus on research or teaching, sometimes both. They understand their one field and their personal experiences but they generally live in an academic silo. Also in this category are the administrators that work around academics, such as deans or provosts. The second is student services and those administrators. They will generally hold at least a Bachelor's degree, or some certification in something, but many hold Master's degrees or doctorates. Those with graduate degrees spent time studying the whole institution and topics on many levels about why institutions look like they do. They research why there are so many academic departments, how student services developed, how diversity initiatives started, and why student services is around (student development theory). The third camp includes facilities, support services, and unions. This third camp can sometimes be divided into the first two, so it only occasionally arrives by itself.

One part of the article I found interesting was the mention of when programs were cut at an institution, faculty then wanted similar cuts in administration or somewhere else at the institution. The reasons academic programs can be cut, is because there is either redundancy or lack of enrollment. Redundancy was created because of silos. For example two English professors argue the merits between writing properly and public speaking in the early 1990s, thus the department of communications is created to focus on public speaking. Going with that example, we might be able to say that English professors and communication professors focus on those two specifics and completely forget that one needs the other, whereas someone who has studied higher ed knows that the two could theoretically be teaching in the same department. In a different article that focused directly on student services there was a comment by a faculty member somewhere along the lines of "I didn't know student services existed, how do I find out more on my campus?"

Without faculty there would be no students. It could be (and has been) argued that without student services students would drop out, perform worse, and behave worse in the community (or if you put admissions and financial aid into the student services category one could argue there would be no students). One cannot exist without the other. I believe making "fair" cuts or across-the-board cuts hurts the institution far worse than eliminating inefficient administration and courses/programs that do not meet enrollment standards. If inefficiencies are found in student services, than by all means make cuts there, too. But simply because we may not understand what someone's job is, does not make it okay to attack their position or worthiness to work on campus. Oh, and trust me, there have been cuts made to student services (otherwise I probably wouldn't have this blog).

First-year Needs

2011-09-14T06:29:00.000-07:00

When I was a Resident Assistant I primarily worked with First-Year Students. It was such a great experience! You could really see the students develop from high school students into (mostly) independent adults. I didn't know much about theory back then, but it was clear that their behavior and attitudes changed throughout the two semesters of living in the First-Year Residence Hall Program. Now that I look back, it was a great program and some-what ground breaking. I participated in a professional-level committee for piloting a campus-wide first-year residential experience. We utilized programs from around the country and it was great to see work at that level while I was still a student.

There was a blog post this morning about first-year programming and the needs of first year students. All of what she states is true, the transition from high school to college can be difficult and overwhelming. First-year programming generally tries to alleviate a lot of the stress and provides a safe, comfortable community in which to learn and grow. It is a great idea.

My friend Stephen, who was involved in student leadership, Greek life, and student housing while we were both undergrads, was working with Sophomore Programming. I read a posted opportunity about a position leading Sophomore Programming, and it brought back the conversations Stephen and I had when we were working with the two populations.

We talked about the need for a second year of programming, and what it meant for the following years involved. Should there be a third-year program? What about a fourth/final year? What about non-traditional, part-time students, do they not have a community in which to feel comfortable? And what about non-traditional first-year students, are we assuming they have the skills that traditional students do not? It poses a lot of questions that don't always seem to be realized (or answered), beyond the said need for first-year programs.

An Opportunity to Move On

2011-09-12T08:48:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time I worked in an office environment, at Gold Institution. Initially I loved my job, I enjoyed working for my supervisor, learning new things, working with new clients, and using my skills. My supervisor, Greta, was amazing. She was well-educated, well-spoken, and believed in learning from mistakes and not punishing them. While working for Greta I also picked up a part-time job doing some consulting work, I needed to take two days off in order to finish the project for the consulting position. Greta immediately granted my request and wanted to know more about what I was doing and how she could better utilize my skills.

Greta was let go shortly after that due to both politics and reorganization. My supervisor then changed to Jane. Jane was a control freak, in many ways. Any mistake or oversight was looked over to the nth degree and I was given many talkings-to. I was given "freedom" to do many new things, because of the reorganization, but everything, and I mean everything, was checked by Jane. When Jane found a problem, it became a huge discussion, and if she didn't find a problem but an error caused a problem, it became even more of a huge discussion. Needless to say, I was miserable. I was unhappy and obviously Jane was unhappy with me. I was then let go. It wasn't a good fit and if I hadn't been let go I probably would have left anyway.

I now have connections to a local institution, one of my former classmates from grad school has offered to put in a recommendation for a position at XYZ similar to that at Gold Institution. I've asked my classmate if there is contact with students, and I haven't heard back about that yet. I really want to get into higher ed and if this entry-level position, that does not require a Master's, gets me into an institution then I should do it. But my confidence for this position, and the skills it requires, is close to nothing. I know I have the skills, I can answer phones, etc. Because of poor leadership skills and my lack of foresight, I have doubts about my abilities.

Critically thinking about restaurants

2011-09-08T06:45:00.000-07:00

Restaurant:

There are some opportunities available at a restaurant (Marge's) including bartending, serving, and managing. I know (or rather knew, they are no longer there) two manager at Marge's, as does my General Manager (GM), and I offered to bartend a few days a week (they had lost all but 2). My offer was rejected, which is Marge's management's choice, and I accepted gracefully.

I recently heard a few new things about Marge's; one was that it was dirty, not in a health inspector sense, but in that it hasn't been kept up by staff and management. Another was that ticket times, the amount of it time takes for the server to input the food to the time the food leaves the kitchen, was unacceptable. The last one I heard was surprising, and that was that all of the staff members seemed to really like their GM. This was surprising because through previous conversations I was told that the GM was difficult to work for, had certain idiosyncrasies that made it difficult to make a schedule, and that staff members were generally unhappy.

Higher Ed:

There is this article posted today: A Dissenter is Fired

It's about Erskine College, which is apparently a failing institution, and how they have recently fired a tenured professor who disagreed with institution policies and practices. Now, I do not know much about Erskine, but I do know that the whole point of tenure is so that those granted it are able to practice their profession free from fear of retaliation. Politically it can be framed as a negative, but the reason it was created was so that it protected professors from being fired when they have different views from campus administration, government, or community members (this is the short answer version, there is much to discuss when it comes to tenure). So this professor, William Crenshaw, has disagreed with the institution about how it includes its religious affiliation.

Compare/Contrast:

Restaurants, at least in this establishment and in this state, are at-will employers. You can be fired at will or you can quit at will. Tenure is obviously not like that. The situations could be similar. The GM could just have a great staff who really appreciate his hard work, or he could make life so difficult for those who don't like him (or those with different ideas or habits) that the only ones left are the ones who like working for him. The restaurant could be dirty and slow because the GM organizes it that way, and those who come to change that are driven out. So, to use phrases from Marge's, Erskine has attempted to return to the status quo, by ridding itself of a dissenter it can go back to being dirty and slow.

Conclusion:

I am glad that my offer was refused, even though the commute would be easier. I enjoy working in an environment where dissent, as constructive criticism, is encouraged, and where personal growth is celebrated. I truly hope I can find a supervisor in a professional position as encouraging and professional as my current GM.

Research, veterans, and passion

2011-09-05T11:09:00.000-07:00

My thesis from my Master's Program is on the transition veterans experience going from active duty to full-time student at a four-year institution. My husband inspired the original research, he was attending a local institution (ABC) for a degree in engineering. He had several years of experience from the Navy directly related to his new field and although this ABC refused to grant him very much credit for his experience and previous schooling, he was excited. He attended a few classes, always one at a time (he jokes he's on the 12 year plan), and we found various roadblocks and attitudes that kept him from enjoying his time on ABC's campus. One instructor's actions made me so mad I had to keep myself from calling him, his supervisor, and his supervisor's supervisor.

So, I started doing research, and found that there wasn't much research on how to help students who are veterans or military personnel. I did find a few organizations who wanted to help veterans, HE administrators and professionals, as well as instructors. I also found several news outlets that offered both good and bad information. Since finishing my research, and my program, I try to stay recent on research and articles concerning the veteran and military population in higher ed. I generally read InsideHigherEd.com as well as the Chronicle of Higher Education, and sometimes there is pertinent articles and information. These articles inspire me and make me hopeful that institutions are paying attention to this population.

There is good news, such as adjustments to the GI Bill: http://www.insidehighereducation.com/news/2011/07/26/fix_for_veterans_attending_private_schools_on_gi_bill

And then there are speculative reports that scare away veterans and administrators: End of a Military Full Ride? http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2011/08/17/possible_changes_coming_to_tuition_benefits_for_military

I think this population really needs special attention on campuses, in classrooms, and when building community in and around higher education institutions. This population is one of the reasons that I refuse to give up looking for an opportunity, any opportunity, to begin working on a college campus.

10,000 B.C.E. and The Tropics

2011-08-28T19:57:00.001-07:00

10,000 B.C.E.: Ok, not really that long ago, more like the early 1990s. The computers went down at work during a lunch this week. It revealed a lot about what the past few years has taught me, mainly: don't panic. While going to graduate school, planning a wedding, and working 30 hours the main goal was to the get through the day/hour/course/reading/shift. It requires flexibility, multitasking, and leadership. Flexibility to change plans, schedules, meals, etc. At first I thought the whole experience taught me a lot about my coworkers, but then I reflected and realized it showed me a lot about myself.

If a shift runs long or a reading takes more time than set aside, other things need to move around. The computers were down, so we had to write down our orders, hand them to the kitchen, do our own calculations, and so on. Multitasking was a huge skill, because while driving home I had to figure out what was next, or days off required laundry, dinner, reading, and preparing for work. At work the other day we all had to multitask, we had to figure out a new system, take orders, help each other, and not go crazy. Leadership skills show themselves in so many ways, but while at work it meant taking time to help or guide someone new to the non-computer system, or calming someone down during a negative encounter, or simply staying calm during the storm.

The Tropics: My first thought was to write about the hurricane and how it's affecting higher ed. But, in all reality, it isn't affecting me personally or many of the local institutions. I do hope that everyone stays as safe as possible. However, I am going to write about the plethora of opportunities posted this week, instead of a dessert, it was the tropics. I've applied to four positions, three in the area and one in Virginia. There are many different openings open, some of which I don't qualify for and others at institutions where an application is still pending. So, as of right now, I have quite a few different opportunities waiting in the universe, which is a nice thought to have.

However, I need to buy new shoes for work. As I have told several people, I *know* once I buy good shoes for work (at least $50) I will have some type of opportunity available to me. I'm just going to bite the bullet.

A Master's Degree vs. The Job Market

2011-08-23T05:14:00.000-07:00

Some might wonder a few things about my Master's degree. Generally the first question is, what is my "major" or degree. I have an MS in Administration with a Concentration in Higher Education Student Affairs, or Higher Education Administration for short.

The next question, or statement, is about what I want to do. People hear the word "education" and assume I want to teach or work in administration in a secondary education institution. That's a tricky question to answer in Higher Ed terms, but I usually explain it that I want to work with college students. Technically I do want to teach, but not necessarily in a traditional classroom setting, I want to teach through advising, mentoring, and experiencing. I want to help students develop into better people, students, and community members, which is a form of teaching. But, I want to "teach" while sitting in a supportive office, not by standing in front of a class (with my current job, I've had enough of standing anyway).

My Master's degree taught me a lot about student development, leadership, administration, and post-secondary/higher education. Student development theory is an incredible thing, especially when you have people around you still "developing" into their identities. My professor for development theory taught the class in a way I really appreciated (although a lot of people didn't, but I'm sure I'll discuss that later). We talked with some guidance, we did the reading and then applied it to activities and discussions, we literally used the theories we had learned about the week(s) before. It was mind-blowing that I could learn that much in just a few hours a week. I miss that about grad school actually.

Leadership and administration are two separate things, not something commonly thought about. My instructor for my Management and Leadership course is a well-respected professional in a local institution, who was and is amazing. I hope some day to be a leader like her. I also learned about leadership through my Graduate Assistantship, the only one I participated in due to poor timing on a lot of people's parts (including my own).

The next thing people wonder is about my Master's Thesis (if they haven't fallen asleep by the time I've explained the rest of my education). I focused on veterans attending a traditional four-year institution and the transition they experience from active duty to full-time student. Such a small focus, really. There was little research done, and I combined theory along with previous research to provide advice to institutions on how to support veterans. It's really super interesting, if you're me, interested in student development theory or military students, or are somehow related to me. Otherwise it's just a long paper that sits on a bookshelf in the house.

But, the whole point of this rambling explanation is why I even have a Master's Degree. When I started my degree in 2009, a Master's Degree but not a lot of experience was required for most positions. Then the world economy crashed and higher ed. was hit (which many people thought would be safe). Now, especially in this area, most positions want a Master's along with 3-5 years of experience. So, essentially I picked a really bad year to be born and then choose another bad time to get my advanced degree. In other words, I have a lot of expensive pieces of paper sitting on a shelf.

Ground rules

2011-08-21T18:10:00.000-07:00

Well, I didn't get the job. So the Job Hunt continues! This post isn't going to be about disappointment or frustration, but about ground rules. I recently discovered that not having rules in place works only when the other party plays by similar rules. For example, if a personal rule is to not have raw meat on the bathroom counter, a living situation doesn't work out well when another party uses the bathroom to thaw meat.

During my job search I've placed a few rules upon myself. The following list isn't in any particular order, except for the first one. 1) Only apply to positions that I will enjoy doing. I went to school in order to do my job well and to do something I love. I will continue to search for a position that allows me to fulfill those criteria. 2) Apply to positions in certain locations. I started in the Rochester and Buffalo areas, and have now expanded to Florida and the Virginia/D.C. region. 3) Money. I will not work for less than $30,000 a year for a full-time position. I am well educated, and with that comes student loans and debts which need to be paid. That minimum changes upon location (I did not apply for a position in the Boston area that paid $60,000) which can affect cost of living and other factors.

I found that without considering those three (there are more, but most can fit into those three main ideas) I could apply to hundreds of jobs just in the Buffalo/Rochester area in a matter of 8 months. I've applied to quite a few, but I hope that by keeping my search focused, although still pretty broad, that when I do get offered a position, it will be one I not only thrive at doing, but one I will want to stay at for several years.

There are certain considerations that I don't generally think about, as they don't often come into play. A major one is the "occasional nights and weekends". I currently work any number of nights or weekends in a month, so working a constant schedule with the one night event that I'll know about for several weeks isn't going to bother me. Another is if the position is part of a union or not. So far, by following the three main rules, I've only found one position in which I was interested that was represented by a union. I think the final one is the type of institution. I would much rather work for a public institution, as they generally serve the public good better and they offer services in which I have a professional interest (such a first-generation students, adult students, and veteran/military students). However, I have applied to several (most of my applications are to private institutions) non-public institutions, mostly non-profit, too.

Optimism and Hope

2011-08-17T05:15:00.000-07:00

I had the second interview with the community college this week. It was truly a great experience. I met a leader with whom I hope to truly work. He was the true "macromanager", as I read about in an article a few weeks ago. He has a creative (a.k.a. liberal arts) background, not administrative. He believes and trusts in his people, and the focus is both getting the job done as well as supporting the people who do that job. While it is only a part-time position, I would happily and gratefully accept the position if it is offered to me.

We talked about a lot of things, leadership style, learning style, as well as personal likes, dislikes and hobbies. I learned about him as a person and as a leader, and I hope he learned something as well. He asked about my long-term goals, and I was pretty frank with him, although that's not always something recommended. I told him right now I'm looking for just about anything that will help me get into the profession, part-time or full-time. That I eventually want to work with students, specifically military veterans. I briefly discussed my Master's Thesis and my inspiration for doing the research and the writing of it. He seemed genuinely interested in everything I had to say, which was incredibly refreshing.

This week I have also had an internal battle: during this job search, this particular one that I am excited about, should I continue to look for and apply to other opportunities? I have two positions that I applied for that are currently in the screening process, which I will withdraw from if offered the community college position. However, what about new positions? There is an admissions counselor position located (literally) right up the road from where my husband works. Should I apply? Should I sit on it, with all of my materials ready, and apply only if I do not get offered the position? Should I even keep looking?

I'm sure the feedback I would get from someone in a professional HR position would be that I should probably keep looking, and even applying. But, I don't want to. I really want this community college position. It would make my life and commute, a lot easier. It would allow me to begin a professional career at a local, friendly, welcoming environment. I could work another part-time job to supplement my income, and the position would allow me to have incredibly flexible hours. It offers a lot of what I would really like, even if it is a part-time position. So, my decision is that I will keep looking, but I won't apply. I won't even write a cover letter or record the opportunities that I might be able to apply to. I will enjoy a week off from applications, and a week of optimism and hope. And, if necessary, begin next week with more of the same: applications but with a touch of hope this time.

A week of new things

2011-08-14T13:28:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago this Monday (tomorrow) I had my second interview of the job search. It was with a small community college in the area for a part-time job.

The interview was an interesting experience. There were five professional staff members on the interview panel, most of who have worked at the college for about five years, and many of who have done the job the interview was for. I had to ask for some of the essential information, such as how many hours the position required and where the position would be located (as there is more than one location for the institution). Most of the people in the interview wore very casual clothing, such as Capri pants and flip-flops, which was surprising, but also shows a relaxed work culture. There were beverages available as well as a few food items, mostly muffins. During the interview they told me that they would forward their recommendations onto the position's supervisor and that he would call me if interested in a second interview. The position starts September 1st, so if they wanted to contact me it would have to be soon, no point in worrying about it.

Three days after the interview I sent in a hand-written thank you, and then forgot, or rather, I stopped worrying about it. There has been much rejection, and even more experiences of no contact, so I wasn't hopeful. However, Friday brought good tidings, as I was called in for a second interview. This is very exciting news, but I am still not hopeful. The last (and only other) interview I have participated in was rather informal and I was not contacted again for several weeks. That was disappointing, even though I did not particularly want that position.

This past week I have also submitted my first serious out-of-state position, located in Orlando, Florida. It was exciting to do some research on a new institution. I almost want to hear back about that posting, but I also have a few positions at other local institutions pending, as well as the one I'm interviewing for on Monday.

Welcome to the frustration

2011-08-07T14:56:00.000-07:00

I received my Master's Degree in December of 2010, and have been searching for a position since then. As of this posting I have applied to 30 different postings since January first, and have had only two interviews.

Back to the beginning: I want to work in Higher Education/Student Affairs. Meaning: I want to work with college students in some capacity. At first I wanted to work specifically with veterans (as that was the focus of my thesis), and then I expanded my search to adults, veterans, and first-year students. Now, I look for anything interesting for which I might be qualified.

I have applied to several local institutions, some of which post on national job search websites and other which only accept application materials through email. Since we are working on Month 8 of my job hunt, I figured I would start writing about it. I won't mention institution names or specific job postings, but I hope that the few people who will read this blog will find my insights and frustrations helpful.