Graduate Students: Advice for Job Seekers

Juicy Advice for Job Seekers

Anticipating that graduate students are looking to find internship placements and employment around this time of year, CCPA would like to offer you – job and internship seekers – both resources and advice to help you in the exciting process of starting and/or re-positioning your professional career in student affairs!  With dozens of cumulative years of experience working (and interviewing) in the field, your CCPA Leadership Team presents our best and juiciest personal tips for applicants in higher education:

While Job Searching

• My own personal mantra when looking at jobs – “Don’t eliminate yourself from this possibility, let them (the institution) take you out of the applicant pool.” – Basically, if I look at a job description and am unsure of my qualifications (maybe something like years of experience, or even a required skill), I coach myself to still apply because I may actually have enough of what they are looking for to be successful.  Don’t be your own obstacle in the job search process.
• Look up a “dream job” description and then cut out the qualifications needed for that position.  Keep in mind where you want to go, and shape your experiences to help you get there.  When there is something in your current job that comes up as an opportunity, ask to be a part of it because of how it relates to your career goals.
• Keep a list of all your skills and accomplishments, in addition to what you put in your resume.  You never know when you will be mention that experience from a long time ago in an interview.  Update this list every 6 months so that you don’t forget what you are doing.  Even if something seems trivial, you never know when it can help you get a leg up in a future interview, resume, or cover letter.
• When writing your resume and cover letter, attempt to utilize the language that is used in the job posting – don’t make the hiring committee figure out why you are qualified for the position – use their terms and vocabulary to clearly illuminate why you are qualified.
• Don’t forget about Student Affairs positions in the California Community Colleges!  Visit https://www.cccregistry.org/jobs/index.aspx to search job openings by Region, District or Job Title… with 112 campuses in the state, there are plenty of places to work.
• Take advantage of ACPA’s many convention resources: Attend orientation sessions (see http://convention.myacpa.org/career_central_at_convention/additional_resources.php#orientation) and the professional development snapshots (see http://convention.myacpa.org/career_central_at_convention/additional_resources.php#snapshots) or attend a program session (see http://cdms.myacpa.org/programs/book/)!

Preparing for Your Interview

• Get advice and support from friends and mentors to help prep you for a job. This will help you calm nerves in preparation for phone or on-campus interviews, or even reviving your resume and cover letter. Asking for feedback from more than one set of eyes is best.
• Make sure to research the institution and ALWAYS have a few questions prepared – I like to have a few institutional-related questions as well as a few questions that are specific to where I would be working. This shows you are interested in hearing more about the institution and that you have done your research!
• Job seekers looking to work in college student affairs need to know about current events on the campuses they’re applying to. Read student newspapers, websites, and student blogs from those schools to learn about what’s going on!
• Anyone can create a free account and log into bettertalking.com to practice and hear how they sound when responding to generic interview questions. Did I mention it’s free?

During the Interview

• Use your resume as a way to answer interview questions
• Use the STAR method when answering questions: talk about examples that focus on the Situation/problem, your Tasks, your Actions, and the Result.
• Feel free to breathe and compose yourself before answering a question.
• Ask about professional development funding and release time for professional development events/conferences/etc., as well as possible moving expenses if the new job is a considerable distance from where you currently live.  Most institutions (at least back when I was searching) have moving expenses available for new employees, but they may come with restrictions.  For example, if you choose to leave the institution within the first year of employment, you may have to re-pay a portion of the moving expenses that were allotted to you.
• Pet peeve – When a candidate starts off answers to questions by saying, “I have the perfect answer for this question…” Most of the time, it’s not the perfect answer to the question.
• Be yourself… don’t “fake it ’til you make it”. I prefer seeing candidates who I know have a vested interest in working at the institution and the functional area they are apply for. Sharing personal stories and being yourself goes a lot farther than trying to fit in. Take time to reflect on your experiences, how your professional journey has brought you apply for this job, and how this position fits your professional and personal interests.

Extra Tips!

• Don’t settle. If you don’t get that dream job right away, stay calm and be patient. Yes, the economy is not so great and there are budget cuts and hiring freezes, but stay positive. Something that fits you will come along. Just because it’s a job and a paycheck doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll be happy.
• If you’re feeling inexperienced in salary negotiation, this website provides an objective view of what (and what not) to bring up: http://careerplanning.about.com/od/negotiatingoffers/a/negotiat_salary.htm
• Get a Mentor. Whether it be someone from your current institution or someone you meet at ACPA, it is important to find a seasoned professional with whom you can develop a relationship.  This person will be able to answer your questions honestly when you don’t know what to think!  Even if it is awkward at first, it will really help you in tough situations.  Having more than one mentor can really help to balance different opinions as well.

Wishing you all well in your job searches,
The CCPA Leadership Team: Alex (Loyola Marymount University), Amanda (UC Berkeley), Jon (Sierra College), Keegan (University of San Francisco), Kim (CSU Long Beach), Leslie (UC Davis), Marissa (UC Berkeley), Meredith (Loyola Marymount University), Noki (California College of the Arts), Sheila (CSU Long Beach), and Tina (Mills College)

- Compiled & Submitted by Tina Jung, Your Graduate Students Constituency Representative