The #SASearch

Welcome to the #SASearch, a site dedicated to job searching and transitions in the field of student affairs. We share stories both wonderful and horrible, advice, best practices and red flags - all from both sides of the interview table, so to speak. We're always looking for new contributors, which can have named authorship or not. Check out the About the #SASearch Project link below for more about the project. Use the "Contribute" link above, or drop me an email. function googleTranslateElementInit() { new google.translate.TranslateElement({ pageLanguage: 'en' }, 'google_translate_element'); } new TWTR.Widget({ version: 2, type: 'profile', rpp: 15, interval: 30000, width: 'auto', height: 300, theme: { shell: { background: '#AFC7C7', color: '#333333' }, tweets: { background: '#ffffff', color: '#07313a', links: '#9c2133' } }, features: { scrollbar: true, loop: false, live: true, hashtags: true, timestamp: true, avatars: false, behavior: 'all' } }).render().setUser('TheSASearch').start();

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I'm really loving this image going around the Internet today. (Anyone know the original source?) This Careers in Student Affairs Month, are you working for your purpose? If not, how are you taking steps to do it? Do you know how?

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My supervisor is horrible. She's nice, but is lazy, negligent, and inattentive to everything work-related. She revels in this, proudly proclaiming to everyone (including students) that she "just doesn't pay attention" or "is too lazy to care." This has been tolerated by the upper administration for 8 years, with no sign of it changing. I intend to start looking for a new job in the Fall; should I bother bringing my unhappiness to anyone or just wait until my exit interview?

ugh. I'm sorry this is happening to you. 

I'm a bit of an overachiever, personally. I would have a REALLY hard time not saying something about this. Actually, I'm having a hard time fathoming that these kinds of comments and behavior would fly for that long - and it makes me wonder if there is some part of her performance that you're not privy to, or even if these comments are a (very) misguided attempt at connecting - like when I downplay my enthusiasm for something out of fear of seeming like "too much."

Have you talked to your supervisor about the way that her behavior and comments impact you and your ability to do your job? Ideally, this would be your first step. Framing this in a nonjudgmental, non-accusatory way that is focused on how it impacts you is probably a safe place to start, since this is long-standing behavior. Having the conversation allows you to be heard and lets your supervisor show all that is going on for her, if she wants to take that opportunity. It isn't really your job to hold her accountable for this (even though, as an overachiever it sounds very frustrating to "let her get away with this") - instead, your focus should be on how this is impacting you. Why is it that this bothers you? Why would you like it to change? 

Anyway - the question to ask yourself is, what would you like to happen? It sounds like there isn't anything about this job situation that feels "salvage-able" for you - so what will both make it tolerable for the fall, and what can help you in your search for a new position? 

Specifically, is there a way to "befriend" your supervisor's supervisor, or someone else who is further up the food chain? My thinking is - without intentionally or maliciously going around your supervisor, can you build a productive relationship with someone who might be able to influence your supervisor to, you know, do her job, and provide a decent reference as well? This is a somewhat tricky situation to navigate politically - depending on your relationship with your supervisor and how you handle it, complaining about her could have negative impacts on how she'd reply to a reference check. Building a relationship with someone above her allows you to have someone else from your institution to speak to your work. 

Also - tread carefully with how you speak about your supervisor, to others on your campus or outside your current institution. Student affairs is such a small field - your supervisor could have folks "on her side" in unexpected places, and you want to appear diplomatic, gracious, and competent. Even if folks don't know your supervisor, I know I definitely don't want to hire someone who spreads rumors, gossips, or otherwise "trash-talks" their current institution or supervisor.

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Search-Induced Guilt

I'm approaching the 2-year mark at my current job, and honestly thought I'd never make it this long because I'm rather miserable; but life circumstances kept placing the search on hiatus.If my direct supervisor finds out, my life will become more miserable, and I don't feel any guilt about leaving her.

The real issue is with my Dean, (to whom I report for about a third of my work) who has some huge project expectations for me and is taking a mini-sabbatical for the summer--I hope to not be here when she returns in October. Do I confess my guilt away, or keep her living in a dream world? If I do confide in her (I trust her discretion), do I leave it as a general "oh, well...professional growth...better fit" platitudes, or come clean about my supervisor, who is already a joke within the department?

It's kind of eating at me to talk about these huge plans with her, then hang out on HR websites and write cover letters that very night.

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On Authenticity, Networking & Mentorship

This is a guest post from our contributor Bossy Clementine. For more of their posts, check out this link.

There. I’ve said it. Networking terrifies and exhausts me. I have officially announced it. My years and years of covering have now been unveiled. I also must juxtapose these statements and reinforce that I have benefitted personally and professionally from building community and relationships. The mentorship and social/cultural capital that has come from meeting people and continuing the connection post-conference has made me a better and more compassionate administrator.

As a new professional that aspires to continue to grow and develop in administration, I realize the necessity for making connections with others that have a variety of experiences in working with students. But how are graduate students and new professionals being introduced to finding ways to authentically network, utilize those networks (with humility and grace), and to mentor others into the pipeline of student affairs administration? And how do you even network in the first place? Here is a quick list of ways to network and to keep it real as you (yes, you) continue to grow in the field.

Not all networking requires you to be the loudest, most extroverted person the profession. You do you. Trust me. It will benefit you in the end.  Yes. Once again, you’re reading the age-old “be yourself” tip. Dominant leadership paradigms favor the bigger than reality, grand entrance into the room kind of leader. However, networking and meeting people in a way that nourishes your soul will be better in the end. Do not fake it until you make it. I’m a firm believer that doing anything in a way that does not enhance your humanity and realness is a detriment to self and hurts you in the end. Do you, boo. Do you.

Attend conference socials, meetings, programs, and meet-ups that create formal mentoring relationships. When I first joined ACPA and NASPA, I signed up for every mentoring program that was available. Formal mentoring programs such as ones through the NASPA Asian Pacific Islander Knowledge Community program, ACPA Standing Committee for Multicultural Affairs, ACPA Commission for Social Justice Educators, and Standing Committee for Graduate Students and New Professionals paired me up with seasoned professionals in the field based on interests and needs I had/have as a first-year professional. It also took some pressure to socialize and to go “fishing” for mentors off my back for a while. My mentors soon were able to connect me with other professionals and send me ways to get involved with professional organizations. These relationships taught me more about what I might need from other formal or informal mentoring relationships and how to communicate them moving forward. Who knew that when/if I asked for help, so many people would reach out and be there in return? Thank goodness for the formal mentoring and networking programs at convention!

Send follow up e-mails, tweets, FB messages, or “thank you’s” that allow you to continue the conversation post-meeting. I’m a firm believer in one-on-one connection and conversation after an initial meeting, especially if someone has experiences in our field or functional area that I’m interested in. Now, for some people this feels forced. However, this is a way for me to appreciate someone’s contributions, experiences, and knowledge in a way that is comfortable and authentic to my leadership style. Most of the time, I say thank you for someone’s time, what I’ve thought about since we’ve connected, and what are some things I’d love to continue learning about with them if they have time. Then sometimes we Skype, chat on the phone, or meet up for coffee/tea in person about said interest. People who know me well know how much I value relationships and learning, so the maintenance of networking and mentoring relationships can be time consuming. However, the input results in some kind of positive output. And then I know one more person in a room or at convention the next year. Voula. Not as terrifying the next time around.

There is a mentor for everything. You should have multiple mentors and networks according to interests and needs. Sometimes friends make fun of me because I talk about the multiple mentors I have. I have a mentor for multicultural affairs. I have a mentor for social media. I have a mentor that helps me navigate my Multiracial identity. And another for my AAPID identity. And another that supports my Queer identity. And one for my Womyn of Color identity. And the list goes on... and on... and on. I recognize that I can’t be everything for my students (in terms of experience and identity), so why should I put pressure on ONE MENTOR in my network to be everything for me? I met these mentors through formal affinity spaces, from attending meetings, and through follow-up connections (from #3).

Pay it forward. For me, the key to networking and mentorship is about paying it forward. An unfortunate trend I have felt for the past two years is a level of competition between student affairs colleagues. As a relational and community-based leader, I firmly believe that part of creating an accessible and inclusive profession is to continue to pull people into the student affairs pipeline. If I know a friend who is interested in the field or is struggling in a certain aspect of their position, I am the first (or at least I’d like to hope that I am) to search through my virtual and mental rolodex of contacts and friends to connect the two of them. And on the flip side, if I know someone who is a rock star, I’m always trying to connect new folks to them. This creates a culture of celebration that hopefully supports people with a variety of identities in our field. I know that without people bringing me into student affairs, I wouldn’t be who I am today. So it’s time... to pay it forward.

Enjoy. :)

Love,

Bossy Clementine.

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"You are an orchid. it takes a lot of time for orchids to grow and mature into the beautiful flowers they are. if you are in a place that isn't willing to feed you, love you, water you, give you space for sunlight, and sometimes replant you in spaces that help you continue to grow.... and you whither, shrivel, your pigments start to fade... then it's time. it's time to go. because you're precious and rare. and they need to cultivate you so you can grow more and plant new seeds. that's what you do for people like you."

contributed by a new professional, advice they received from a SSAO mentor. Beautiful advice! Thank you for sharing.

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First Year Fumbles

This is a guest post from our friends Bossy Clementine and Prickly Pear (pseudonyms, obvy.)

Fumbling is a necessity in your first year as a student affairs professional. Some of us will have tragic outfit malfunctions and mis­matchings, others might experience a strong­-willed student culture that doesn’t like the concept of challenge by choice. Regardless of the “oops,” there are definitely some points of growth that come from taking off the rosy-­colored first year professional glasses. So, here are some reflections from two young, glamorous professionals who 1.) absolutely love their jobs, 2.) find humor in some of the engagements they have with students, and 3.) wanted to share some precious moments from the first month of working at their current institutions.

"I know more about this school than you do."

One of us is a new professional in residential life who inherited a staff of 11 students. Eleven students with lots of knowledge about their small, private, elite, liberal arts college and the ways they like to get things done can be amazing to work with, but can also provoke the occasional migraine. Students testing your boundaries, limits, and feeling out your professional identity is going to happen. It’s no secret that I have a different supervision style than the previous professional that worked in my complex. However, returners to staff have been fixated on “I know more about this school than you do.” My response to this statement? “Well, yes you do!”

There are pro’s and con’s to this, naturally. Growing moments, learning how to challenge your students to re-examine concepts of professionalism and relationship building, and to utilize their knowledge and experiences to find ways to learn about your institution with them are essential for making it through your first year. Remember to breathe. You’re a great professional... and that’s why you were hired! Stick to humility, learn about the culture with the students you’re working with, laugh a lot, and ask for help. You can get through this. I know it. :)

"You can't change culture."

Personally, this is my favorite thing I’ve heard all year. Schools have traditions, and whether the purpose is to initiate people into a community (or not), the students at my college strongly identify with the culture that exists. I’m not someone to come in to a new place and shake everything up, but I am someone who notices behavior, tracks impact, and tries to find ways to inspire communities to develop healthier ways of interacting. So when I started work and people around me continued to say “You can’t change culture,” I couldn’t help but raise a brow.

What is the distinction between making spaces more inclusive, disrupting systems of oppression, and completely changing culture? One of the houses I oversee is known to have something called the “Lei Party” from year to year. Naturally, it’s the first social event for my students and as a womyn of color who identifies as Chinese­-Hawaiian, I felt conflicted to sign off on the party theme once I found out that part of the event was having pictures of Hawaiian womyn around the house and wearing grass skirts/coconut bras/leis... when most of the students identified as White. Perhaps this was a piece of culture worth challenging?

My question to the students planning the event was “What is the tradition? Having a Lei Party or the first party of the semester?” And what constitutes a tradition? I also knew that if something felt wrong in my gut, to go with it. So with traditional student affairs gusto, I engaged students in some dialogue around power, privilege, race, and cultural appropriation. Now, I don’t know if it really made a huge impact on the community I was working with, but the students agreed to try out a different party theme. Maybe culture wasn’t changed right away, and it took a LOT of meetings and support from my colleagues... But I whole­heartedly believe that the students and I did something right. We’ll see how it goes next year. ;)

"You're not the boss of me!"

One of us was hired instead of an internal candidate. That happens and usually isn’t a big deal... unless one of your student leaders was on the hiring committee, campaigned against your hire, and was OF COURSE! BFF’s with the internal candidate. As in, former­roommates, went­ everywhere­ together, co-­coordinated activities together BFF’s. (PS, search committees: don’t ever do this. It’s not fair to anybody involved.) So, upon starting a new job, unbeknownst to me, I had a small but determined cadre of student leaders hell­bent on refusing to work with me (luckily not spreading the anti­-me sentiments to other students). Everything did work out eventually, but I certainly never anticipated that kind of resistance.

"Back me up, here."

For any of these situations, it is absolutely essential to find support -­ people who will back you up, literally if necessary. In the case of the student leaders refusing to work with a new professional, what would have been ideal is for someone,­ whether the supervisor, or even the VPSA (AKA my boss’s boss) at our very small school,­ to tell those student leaders that their behavior was unacceptable, and to knock it off. (Of course, that student was a spectacularly bad choice for the committee since she was so close to the internal candidate.) Since that didn’t happen, the entire situation was prolonged and more frustrating for everyone.

And, if you can’t get support on campus, finding support from friends is crucial: someone to listen to what’s going on, offer perspective, and validate that no, you’re not crazy! (Oh and a little late­-night road trip for truck stop pie never went amiss, in at least one of our cases...)

(happy ending: said professional got to have a great chat with one of the recalcitrant students after graduation. Not exactly an “I told you so,” but an opportunity for the student to reflect on the challenges she faced and the professional to say, “yes ­ I was hired for a reason and was here to support you. And the choices you made created more difficult circumstances for you.”)

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By request, for all you preparing for conference interviews - from the TPE '12 folks!

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What's the best way to highlight committee work on your resume?

I've seen it done many ways, and of course which you choose will depend on your own circumstances and experience. In particular if you're a grad student the best format may be different than if you are a professional staff - your best bet is always to have a career counselor or coach (and/or a trusted friend in the field) take a look!

One way is if you have your experiences organized by institution - let's say you have multiple positions at the University of Awesome. It might look like: 

University of Awesome, Awesomeville USA My Job (June 2010 - Present)

some stuff I do

more stuff I do

Committee for Increasing Awesomeness, Co-Chair (November 2010 - January 2011)

OPTIONAL bullets here (again depending on what the accomplishments, responsibilities, and roles you had on the committee).

My Department Professional Development Committee (June 2010 - December 2010)

More optional bullets

Or, if you have multiple positions at that institution, it might be: 

University of Awesome, Awesomeville USA Assistant Director of Awesome, July 2012 - Present

duties

duties

Program Coordinator for Awesome, June 2010 - June 2012

accomplishments

accomplishments

COMMITTEE WORK:

Awesome Committee Co-Chair (January 2012 - Present)

Diversity Training Committee (July 2011 - December 2011)

Department Professional Development Committee Member (June 2010 - July 2011) 

Another option is to either create a "Professional Service" or "Committees" section at the end of your resume, or include these with a broader category that includes professional service.

However you choose to present your committee work, make sure that the amount of space and time you spend talking about it is relative to how closely related it is to the job you're applying for. If you're applying for a social justice education position and you've served on lots of related committees, make sure to include it. If you're applying for that same position and have served on other types of committees? Include it if there's room (because it's always good to see how someone serves their institution, skills and other interests they bring to the job, and how "well rounded" a candidate they are), but don't use up valuable resume real estate if it's going to mean more important information gets lost or left out.

Check out our additional posts about resumes!

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Why are you REALLY in the field?

It's job search season. Scratch that, it's always job search time - there is always an opening somewhere! But we're definitely entering the "high season," so to speak. The grad students I work with are polishing their resumes, figuring out their roommates for conference, and doing some (more!) thinking about the kinds of institutions and roles they are hoping for.

I've been thinking a lot about this response (especially since I'm off to coordinate an annual retreat focused on social justice and identity development next weekend). On one level, the job seeker's response is very similar to other conversations I've had: I think a lot of us felt acceptance and safety in our own undergraduate experiences, and that continues in our professional lives. But is one's own development a "good enough" reason?

I can speak for myself here - I certainly felt more comfortable and mentored in my undergraduate experience than I had in earlier educational experiences. This isn't to say I wasn't supported or happy in K-12, but that in college, I found my niche - faculty, student affairs professionals, and peers who were interested in the things I was interested in, loved having deep conversations like I did, were passionate about the same causes, geeked out about the same books and theories. In college, I found people who not only cared what I thought, but believed in me, too. I felt supported and safe enough to dig into my own social identity development - to ask myself hard questions. As a professional (and then a graduate student and now a professional again), I've absolutely been able to continue that development, continue to question and grow. Having the space and support to do that is one of the things I appreciate about the field.

Getting back to the job seeker's response - I think what gave me pause is that we are a service-oriented field, and that was a self-oriented response. (I recognize that this was a social situation and not an interview, of course - and that this person might say something different in an interview.)

The job, regardless of what it is, isn't about YOU and doing your own work. It's about THEM - the students you're working with. So in my case, when I was an undergrad I did love the way that student affairs professionals created space (opened a door, sometimes literally!) for me to explore who I am and what I'm about. Now as a professional, I try to do that for students I work with as often as I can - and sometimes that means sharing a bit of my own journey, but it's always about them.

So how would we turn the job seeker's response into a great interview answer? 

When talking about an experience you had as an undergrad, make it about what the professionals did that was so helpful: was it a listening style, an open door policy, a particular program that worked really well? 

Keep mention of your own development, challenges, or particular experiences brief. Make it short and sweet - use your experience as an introduction to your response. This makes it relatable but doesn't get into "me, me, me!" territory.

Relate it to a specific aspect of the job you're talking about. "I loved the way my advisor did (x) to help me with (y) when I was (z). That seems like it would fit in pretty well with ... and if I were the person to be ... I would try to (x)."

What do you think? Why are you in the field?

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My #SASearch: The Day I Threw My Life Plan Out the Window

Our special guest Bossy Clementine has shared this post with us. 

The summer between my first and second year, I worked orientation at my home institution, and somehow managed to finagle a six-week internship hosted by two institutions of interest for my post-graduate school career choices. I was able to network with professionals during this summer internship, as well as catch wind of any potential leads that would bring me to this prime location of interest. I had planned out my second year of graduate school: the courses, the internship, approach to my assistantship, trainings, retreats, professional development, and so on.

At that point, I had accrued enough cultural capital to know what I wanted for my first professional experience and by all means, I was determined to get it. In my student affairs fantasy, I would be working at a metropolitan, Jesuit Catholic institution, probably in multicultural affairs, with a vibrant social life and perhaps a partner, and of course living in a swanky loft apartment with a view of the city. I’d love my work environment, coworkers, students, and most importantly, the job.

Flash forward to present day. Here I am, humbly one master of education degree later, and employed at a small, private, liberal arts institution located in a suburban hotbed of eccentricity and womynism. What the hell happened to the driven, determined, go-getter of a graduate student from a year ago? What about that oh-so-glamorous life plan?

 I threw it out the window.

At this point, the Myer’s-Briggs “J’s,” the type-A personalities, idealistic and dreamy graduate students are probably saying, “WHAT?!” The people who made the intentional sacrifice to live in a place that would “challenge” them for their graduate career are saying “Oh, there is NO WAY I’m staying here.” I think the J, type-A, idealistic and dreamy version of myself is still in shock and awe of my life decisions.

After the countless hours of drafting my resume, forming cover letters, networking, asking for feedback and guidance, mentorship, and grooming into the student affairs profession, I threw everything I had ever planned for out of the window. Now, this is not to say that all of my preparation had gone to waste. BUT what I am saying is that during my first job search, I realized the seemingly “non-negotiable” factors, the “dealbreakers,” the “must haves” were the very things that were holding me back and preventing me to see the wholer picture. Plus, sometimes everything you have ever thought you wanted wasn’t 1.) all it was cracked up to be and/or 2.) the things you NEEDED to grow and develop into the person you always could become.

So the day that I got an e-mail from my current employer, I decided to give the institution a chance. I followed up, asked big questions, and made lasting connections that affirm and reaffirm that I’m exactly where I need to be for the time being.

I had been so fixated on living in a big city, brand-named institution, and the picture of perfection that I almost overlooked the epitome of “fit” in a job search process. So, what is left to learn from my epic job search tale? Without sounding prescriptive, I offer the following reflection:

As an ambitious 20-something, ultimate millennial, and lover of instant-gratification, know that sometimes reframing you definition of “fit” can be the most empowering, gratifying, and humbling experience to date [for me.] Maybe I didn’t get everything I wanted, BUT I was able to find a place that would give me a reason to fight the good fight each day. It also taught me patience, humility, and the meaning of cohort and community. I also learned the strength of believing in myself, asking for help, and trusting my instincts… especially when everything I wanted conflicted with everything I had neatly planned out within the constraints of my little, itty, bitty box called “My Life Plan.” 

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My Job Search

This is a guest post from Carter G. Roane, Carter tweets at @CarterGRoane and blogs here.

I am currently in the midst of a Student Affairs job search. I decided a few years ago that I wanted to be back in the field after being out for quite a few years. I am not sure when the deciding moment was that I wanted to be back in but I think that feeling had been building for a while when I realized that many of the skills that I have learned and were using were skills that I learned as an RA and RD. I also realized how much I love this field and admire the professionals who work in it. The search has been at times disappointing but much more than that it has been a fantastic learning experience and very, very rewarding. I have learned more about myself and what I can accomplish than I ever thought I could before I started my search. I am glad to have learned and grown from this because I can honestly say that when I was a professional before, I wasn't that great at my job. I might have been good, but I wasn't great. Sure, I handed in my paperwork on time, I did what was required of me by my supervisors and I never, ever did anything unethical. But looking back, I didn't go beyond that, I didn't think outside the box and I didn't do anything in particular that would make me stand out next to my colleagues. I know a lot better now and I think I am a much better professional because I will not take anything for granted and I plan to make the most of whatever opportunity is given to me. I think I've grown up.

Getting a master's degree in student affairs,  joining professional networks, networking with professionals, volunteering, helping with program proposals, helping students whenever I get the chance, even working on a program proposal and using learning outcomes to do that. I never did much of that before. However, I certainly do all that now and I know how much I love this field and how much I want to help a college, in whatever way possible.I I know I am not the typical candidate for some Student Affairs and Residence Life jobs and some people may wonder why I am even doing this at all. I want to make a difference. I am ready to make a difference and I want to help..a staff, students, department and community and do whatever I can to develop a close, successful community and wherever I am needed to do that.

My end goal is to make it back in the field and I have gotten close, occasionally very, very close but just quite haven't been able to be the last candidate standing. Who knows if I will make it? I will never give up but who knows what may or may not happen. I do know that I have gotten help from some amazing professionals and I will always be grateful to them for that. And I also know that my wife has been amazing throughout this whole search and I am so thankful for her. Same with my family. And I know even if I don't make it, I feel better knowing that I have the skills and passion and desire that it takes where I could have been a professional that can be an asset to an department.  To all the new professionals and the ones who just got hired very recently, congratulations! I am sure you will do great and enjoy this experience and make the most of it. And to all the job searchers out there, keep your head up, stay positive and keep on being current and relevant. You will get there soon enough and hopefully, someday I will be right there in the professional ranks there with you.

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On "Professional Authenticity"

I'm typing this while wearing bright aqua nail polish. I know that might seem like a weird place to start, but based on a number of conversations I've had recently, maybe it's not so strange after all. 

A few weeks back, I was talking with a friend about the seemingly contradictory advice she was receiving during her job search: always be professional. And always be yourself. How am I supposed to be relaxed and authentic, she asked, if I'm also being hyper-conscious of professionalism? If I have to be vigilant about every little thing - no hair out of place, sit up straight, polish those shoes - how can I possibly be myself? 

Okay, back to nail polish. This past semester, I attended a great conference* in Florida, and as is typical for me, I stuck around a few extra days for vacation (which was a perfect break from Vermont). On my way home, I got to the airport very early since I had to get the rental car back... and decided to kill time by getting a manicure at the airport spa. I'm not really a manicure kind of person - I typically keep my fingernails sans color and very short (lots of typing and outdoorsiness in my life, so I've never really been into manicures or fake nails, just not my thing). But it seemed like a good way to relax before my flight... and then there was that question of choice of color. 

I saw a beautiful bright blue, between navy and royal, and it stood out (like a sore thumb, ha ha**) among all the reds and pinks. The technician who did my manicure was pretty skeptical about the color - apparently she'd never given one using that shade... and from the way she talked, you'd think no one in the history of nails or polish had ever gotten this color. (Of course, that's not true!) She asked my zodiac sign and chalked it up to my adventurous Leo spirit, and when it was done begrudgingly admitted that it looked pretty good. 

I loved that blue manicure, just like I love my currently aqua fingernails. They make me feel good - even if they are a little unorthodox. Heck, I'm a little unorthodox. Some people might say that wearing blue nail polish is unprofessional. While I might not wear it during an interview, I disagree with the idea that some nail polish colors are automatically inappropriate for the workplace. 

I think sometimes we get caught up in our ideas of "Professionalism" is (or perhaps more accurately, what we think someone else's ideas of "professionalism" might be) - and this isn't a useful preoccupation. It's like my friend's question from the beginning of this post - how can I be relaxed and authentic if I'm hyper-vigilant about "being professional"? That's exactly it, isn't it? If we're too busy trying to live up to what we imagine someone else's idea of what being a professional means, we run the risk of not letting our awesomeness shine through. That fixation on being a perfect professional can distract from being real and being fully present in our interactions. 

If I'm interviewing you for a job or graduate admission, or in a meeting with you as my colleague, I'm not all that interested in what you're wearing - provided it's within the generally accepted limits of not too dressy or too casual (and, in my current and past departments anyway, too casual is pretty much your pajamas) - I want to know about your past experiences, your expertise, your ideas. I'm not going to be focused on your nail polish, your tattoo, or your facial piercing. That goes for that great pair of purple chuck taylors and your favorite mickey mouse watch, too. And I don't really think anyone else should be either. 

However. You do need to think at least a little bit about the institutional culture and accepted norms of the situation. So if you're interviewing, dress up. In some regions of the country and at some institutions, the culture is more formal and more (non-pierced) eyebrows will rise at that blue nail polish. If you're interviewing, you should make sure to research the institutional culture to get a sense for what's acceptable. Overall though, you should be relaxed, comfortable, and confident. So do what works for you, within those limits.

What do you think? How do you balance being Professional with being true to yourself?

You may also like: What Does "Dressing for Success" Mean?

A first in this space! Disclaimers:

*In the interest of full disclosure, I'm such a big fan of the IMPACT conference... that I've joined the board of directors. Although I am admittedly biased, I do think it's a great opportunity for student affairs professionals in civic engagement, service, or social justice programs and the student leaders they work with. This really has nothing to do with this post, but I felt I should mention that my endorsement of it comes with this bias. Of course... you should still come hang out with me in New Mexico next February.

**sorry for the bad pun. I couldn't resist.

[thesasearch]

Is it career suicide to start looking for a new position a year after you start? ESPECIALLY as a new professional? I took the first job that was offered after grad school, and am miserable--my supervisor is less than incompetent, there is no real interest in change, and when they do ask for my opinion, I'm shot down before I even get my ideas out. What few transferable skills I could gain from this position cannot be honed anymore, and I feel I'm stagnating. How can I escape? Should I even try?

Sure, if you really can't grow any more - absolutely start looking for a new position. I'd personally hesitate to leave a position after less than a year, but after that - do what you need to do! You are the only one who knows what's best for you. Leaving a position after one year, especially when you are a new professional, is common enough that most people I know wouldn't consider it a red flag. (Of course, if you had a record of consistently leaving positions after one year or sooner - and they weren't designed as interim positions - it might be a different story.)

I'd recommend sticking around while you are searching for a new position - but don't be one of those people just going through the motions. You still need to be committed enough to do your job well. Otherwise, you're not doing anyone any favors and should just quit. You can choose to be open about the fact that you're searching, or not - whatever you're comfortable with. 

In the meantime, are there additional responsibilities you can take on in your current position? Committees, projects with other departments, or other opportunities outside your typical day-to-day (but still close enough to do it during the work day) that will provide an opportunity for professional growth?

This is a great time to think about your professional goals and where you'd like to go next. Take the opportunity to have (private) conversations with mentors and friends to help you figure it out - if you're currently at point A, and you want to be at point B, how can you get there? Can you go directly there, or do you need to have more experience in C - or build connections along point D, or whatever else? Getting an outside opinion can be very helpful - whether it's someone you know well, or a career counselor or coach you're meeting for the first time. 

You may also like this post from the archive, Knowing When to Fold 'Em.

What do others think? Should our writer take the leap, or tough it out another year or two?

[thesasearch]

Your Power Outfit

Marveling at the outfit - silver lamé pants with leg warmers and flip flops? really? - I remembered the unitard I wore for weeks as a kid. I took dance classes when I was in elementary school, and at some point I got this shiny teal unitard. and I loved it. So much that I wore it all the time. It was comfortable, I suppose, and quite conducive to jumping around (or running around the house, as mom instructed me and my siblings to do when we had too much energy). 

Silliness aside, I loved my unitard because it made me feel good. And I imagine that, for the girl I saw with the lamé pants, the pants and leg warmers made her feel good too. I find that even today, there are those items of clothing or accessories that make me feel good -- and that for many folks I've talked with, they have something like that too. As we go through search processes, it can be helpful to have an item like this - a talisman of sorts to keep our confidence up and boost that mojo. I've long since outgrown the unitard, but do still secretly own a tiara, which makes me feel like a rockstar, but its wear is pretty much confined to house cleaning. 

Of course, it helps if your power outfit or accessory is interview-appropriate attire (which silver lamé pants, like my childhood unitard, are decidedly not). Maybe it's a purple tie, a beautiful red suit, a fun color of nail polish on your toes, or some not-too-outlandish jewelry. For me, it's meaningful jewelry - a bracelet and ring I bought myself after quitting my job to go to graduate school, each engraved with an inspirational message.

What about you? Do you have an accessory or outfit that boosts your confidence and keeps you motivated during a search process?

[thesasearch]

Personal/Professional Identity: We're All Works in Progress.

This weekend, I shared an idea I've been toying with on twitter: That professional identity is personal identity. I got some interesting responses - that yes, professional identity is personal identity, but personal identity isn't professional identity; and of course the ubiquitous "work/life balance!" responses. 

professional identity = personal identity

In talking with folks who are searching (and rounding over a year of searching), as well as grad students just leaving their programs, I've been thinking about the intersections of personal and professional identity a lot.

In our culture, for better or for worse, we are defined by our careers and our jobs. In this sense, professional identity is personal identity. I think of myself as a student affairs educator and that's how others view me. Of course, we all hold many identities (and I think the intersections of our identities and how we make sense of them are fascinating). But stick with me for a minute. 

If we're defined by our jobs, and I don't have a job, what am I? who am I? What if we don't like our jobs? Can we like ourselves? 

I am so happy for my students, watching them graduate, and I am frustrated and confused right along with them as they look for jobs in this tough market. It's not that I'm overly involved in their lives or that I'm not rational about it--but that empathy is a job requirement, and it's tough to turn that off at the end of the day.

I often talk with grad students about personal and professional integrity - that having it, to me, means taking my whole self to work. 100% of my attention is on the person or task in front of me, for the time I have with them. That kind of attention and care is crucial to getting my job done - and it lends itself to that empathy and later difficulty "leaving it at work."

Getting back to that idea - professional identity is personal identity: 

I assume that some readers, like many of the students and young professionals I talk to, are like me: early to mid-career, late twenty-somethings, single, childless (or child-free, as some prefer). Looking for that first job after grad school, or that first job that's a really good fit (sometimes job searching is like being Goldilocks - you need to try out a few before you find the one that's just right). For a lot of my colleagues past and present, I think if you asked them that question-- who are you? --they'd talk about their relationships. I am a partner, I am a parent, I'm an auntie.

In my case, I'm a sister, a daughter, a friend, a dog-mom. I view all of this through a gendered lens. In the general heterosexist pop-culture context, those identities I hold aren't as important as those of wife  partner or mother parent. So without those big archetypal identities, sometimes people assume that I - and those like me demographically - can give more of ourselves to our jobs. Like the time I had an older married colleague tell me, "You know, I applied for your position, but seeing how often you're here at night and on weekends I'm glad I didn't get it. I could never spend that much time away from home." While I could do without the condescension or assumption I don't have a life without a partner or kid, I can begrudgingly admit a tiny kernel of truth there - I have the flexibility to give my whole self (at appropriate times, for as long as needed) to my work. Of course, that doesn't mean I can just give and give and give - I have to sleep and do laundry like everyone else.

I know that sometimes I let my career consume too much of my life - that in a very deep and real and living way, my professional identity is my personal identity. From my conversations and observations, I think this is true for a lot of student affairs professionals, regardless of their relationships outside the office (still, I can only speak for myself).

Someone once shared with me a great story from Robert Fulghum, about how he has answered the question, "So what do you do?" on airplanes. He used to make up stories - telling someone he was a neurosurgeon, a janitor, and a nun - and later created a business card that just read "Fulghum." Which to him meant son, father, husband, friend, singer, dancer, eater, breather, sleeper, janitor, dishwasher... and so on. There's a great quote at the close:

"I and you--we are infinite, rich, large, and contradictory, living, breathing, miracles--free human beings, children of God and the everlasting universe. That's what we do." (Want to read this piece in full? It's from It Was on Fire When I Lay Down On It, 1988.)

It's a great reminder that we are all so much more than our jobs, or our relationships. We are all of that. I wrote a bit of this watching my dog sleep. At rest, he's his essential self: a breathing, living, vulnerable being. He's still himself, and his pose of course shows our special bond - sprawled over the entire couch with me taking up a little corner, leaning on me, twitching occasionally - but at rest, he's that essential self. We're all like that when we sleep (minus the drool). 

How can we be more of that essential self all the time? We all hold multiple identities - both of the large scale social identities like gender, race, and class, as well as our relationships and those basic human "doings" like eater, breather, singer, dancer, dish-washer. The challenge is not to let just one of those identities - student affairs professional, graduate student, job searcher, in a job we don't like - define us. If we're truly living out all of ourselves, when one part isn't going the way we'd hoped, it should be easier to handle. We are all works in progress - and me, I'm working on it. 

What about you? How do you balance your personal and professional identities?

[thesasearch]

Talking About Your Work: SA Job-Seekers Edition

This is the third in a series of posts by contributor Ann G. Knoezer. Ann tweets at @AnnKnoerzer.

“What do you do?”

Like most, I’ve sometimes struggled to describe my work in student affairs to others. Whether I was surrounded by a crowd of cousins at a family party or engaging the person sitting next to me on an airplane in light-hearted conversation, this question inevitably arose. I had a stash of answers saved up for occasions like this and rotated them based on the context of the question. In my experience the simplest answer was typically the one that’s best understood by an inquisitor. I’ve drawn from my job title (“I’m an advisor”), my campus department (“I work in a career center”), and even my job description (“I help people with their resumes”) to answer this question. Some got it, but I know there were others who arrived at their travel destination and told a loved one that they sat next to a teacher during the plane ride.

Answering the “what do you do?” question has sometimes been a point of frustration for me. I love the work that I do so much that, in all honesty, it bothers me when others don’t understand it. For majority of us in student affairs, our work isn’t just a job… it’s a part of who we are. It defines us. We advise. We support. We educate. We develop. We empower. And we wouldn’t have it any other way.

But how do you define who you are and what it is you do in higher education when you’re not actually working in higher education at the present time?

I found myself facing this very real and very scary thought last summer. Two months outside of graduate school, living in a new regional area, and just turned down for my supposed dream job, I didn’t know who I was. No longer was I struggling with work/life balance like so many of my colleagues; I was struggling to find meaning in the day-to-day. I was a job-seeker, not an advisor. I wasn’t helping others on their resumes; I was rewriting and making edits to my own. And I didn’t like it one bit.

I knew that, if I didn’t want to stay down in the dumps for the entire duration of unemployment, I had better figure out a way to talk positively about who I was and what I wanted to do. More importantly, I had to believe it. I came up with a simple adage for myself:

My job is not who I am; it is how I help others. My job does not define me; it defines how I give back to the world.

While this saying often brought a tiny smile to the darkest days and weeks as a job-seeker, it also provided me with a framework for answering the inevitable question, “what do you do?” and his new evil unemployment counterpart, “where are you searching for work?” Rather than drawing from my previous job title, my previous campus department, or my previous job description, I answer these questions based on the context of how I want to help students in the future. My answer resembles something like, “I’d like to work as an advisor for college students to help them prepare for their careers,” or “I’d like to help students work through the decision-making opportunities they have during college.”

I have noticed a change in how others receive and react to my answers. I often get a much more interested look from the inquisitor. Sure, there are some who will still politely nod and then go tell their loved one that they sat next to a teacher on the plane ride. But, more often than not, my new answers elicit additional questions. They want to know more about what I hope to do, how I got into this kind of work. Rather than sharing with them the job title I’d like to have someday, I’ve given them a better picture of who I am and the kind of positive impact I’d like to have on the students with whom I will work.

For those of you out there that are searching for a job right now, I want you to think outside of titles, functional areas, and job descriptions when you’re asked the questions,

“What do you do?” “Where are you searching for work?”

[thesasearch]

#SASearch Chat Transcript - Evaluating Job Openings, 2/22/12

Check out the transcript from our chat on evaluating job openings, after the jump.