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Prep For the Interview: Review These Questions

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Job Seeker preparing for an interview by reviewing behavioral questions on their laptop.

You have now been invited to your first interview and need to prepare so that you stand out to the employer in a positive way.

Included with your typical interview questions, such as a review of your experience and the reason you are interested in this position, interviewers may also ask ‘behavioral type questions’.  These questions serve to help the interviewer(s) better understand how you have acted in specific situations, as past behaviors are often a good predictor of future behavior. These questions allow them to gauge how you react under stress, how you conduct yourself in the workplace, and your experience with collaboration and leading projects. While questions will center around your actual work experience and achievements, they may also inquire about times when you failed and how you handled failure or making mistakes as well as demonstrated innovative thinking.

Preparing for the interview is critical. Steps to take include:

  1. 1. Studying the job posting and how your experience directly relates to the vacation position’s responsibilities.
  2. 2. Review past projects you have worked on.
  3. 3. Make a list of professional achievements.
  4. 4. Use the STAR Method (below) to help structure your responses.
  5. 5. Practice interviewing and make sure to keep responses under two minutes for each question.

One way to prepare for behavioral questions is to use the STAR method:

S for Situation. Describe the situation where everything happened.

T for Task. Describe the task you had to complete to solve the problem/issue.

A for Action. Explain what actions you took to complete the task.

R for Results. Talk about the results of your actions and try to be as detailed as possible. How did your actions lead to the organization to function better?

While there is no foolproof list of what types of behavioral questions may be asked, we have developed a short list of questions that will aid you in preparing and feeling more confident that you have strong qualifications and meet the requirements of the job.

As you prepare for your interview, take the time to consider how you would respond to certain questions.  While the actual questions that you are asked may be different from our list, try to identify an example for each of the questions below. This will allow you to go into the interview with confidence and a strong recall of your experiences and expertise.

Decision Making/Problem-Solving

  • What process do you use to examine a problem or issue before making a decision?
  • What was the most difficult decision you had to make in the past 3 months, and what made it difficult?
  • Describe a situation that called for you to make a decision that challenged fairness or equity.
  • Have you ever had to make a decision that was unpopular, and if so, what was it? And how did you handle the aftermath of the decision?
  • Describe a problem that you solved for your current or previous employer.  Were others involved and if so, what were their roles and what was the outcome of the decision?
  • Have you ever made a decision that in the end was the wrong one, and if so, how did you handle the outcome?

Leadership

  • What is your leadership style?
  • Describe a time when you demonstrated leadership skills at your employer.
  • How do you manage conflict?
  • Describe the toughest decision that you have had to make as a leader. How did you manage the decision-making process to get to the end result?
  • How do you motivate employees that are underperforming?
  • What approach do you use for delegating?
  • What do you do to promote a positive work culture?
  • Describe a situation or decision that in retrospect you would have handled differently.
  • Describe a decision where you pulled others in to aid in the process.
  • How do you reward or recognize employees for their work? 
  • When choosing to reward or recognize employees what are you looking for to make this decision?
  • What efforts have you made to create diversity in your organization?
  • What efforts have you made to ensure you have an inclusive environment?

Supervision

  • What steps do you take to empower employees?
  • Describe a situation where you had to make an unpopular decision. Or a decision that benefited a few employees but not everyone in the department.
  • Describe a situation where you had to take corrective action with an employee. What was the situation? How did you approach the conversation? What steps and timelines did you put in place for the employee to correct the issue?  Was this process successful?
  • Have you ever had to discharge/fire an employee, and if so, how did you handle the conversation?
  • Describe your experience with an employee that did not have the adequate skills to perform their work, what did you do?
  • How have you handled morale issues in your department? Describe a situation that was occurring and what steps did you take to turn morale around.
  • How do you engage employees to create SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound) goals, and what process do you take to evaluate their performance?
  • Share a situation or problem that you handled where you failed.  What happened and what did you do to change or fix it?
  • What has been your biggest mistake in hiring or promoting someone? What was the scenario that made it a mistake? How did you deal with the situation?

Development – Employee and Yourself

  • What are your thoughts on mentoring? Have you ever mentored an employee? If so, please share the process you have used and what were the outcomes.
  • Do you seek out mentors for yourself? If so, how did you find and approach them to serve as mentors?  What were the benefits?
  • How have you handled an employee that did not want to continue to learn in their field?
  • What do you do to keep yourself abreast of changes in your field, new trends, and innovative ideas? 
  • What have you done in the past year to further your personal/professional development? How did you apply what you learned in your position?

Achievements

  • Describe an important goal that you set in the past and share how you went about achieving that goal.
  • What would you say your three greatest accomplishments have been in your career?
  • What style of supervisor do you work best for? What style is more challenging to work for?
  • How do you define success?

Teamwork

  • Describe the types of teams that you have been a member of. What were you tasked to solve or create? What was your role? Was the team successful?
  • Describe an experience working on a team that was disappointing or where the team failed in the task given to them.  In reflection, what could you have done to have changed the outcome?
  • What has been your experience in both gaining the acceptance of ideas and having your ideas rejected? 

Initiative

  • Describe something that you have done that was innovative or creative.
  • Describe projects or tasks that you developed without being asked or directed.
  • Describe a suggestion you made to improve the way job processes/operations worked. What was the result?
  • How do you deal with employees or colleagues that are resistant to change?
  • Describe a time when you went above and beyond to get the task completed.
  • Describe a situation when you took a risk to accomplish a task or goal. What was the outcome?

Communication

  • Share an example of when you had to present complex information to your supervisor or a group.
  • Share an example of when you had to resolve a difference of opinion with a colleague or supervisor. How did you handle the situation while continuing to show respect to them?
  • Have you ever had to “sell” an idea to your supervisor or colleagues? How did you do it? Were you successful?  If not, what could you have done differently?
  • Share an example of a sensitive situation that you encountered that required you to communicate with intention and empathy.
  • Describe a time when you leveraged your written communication skills to make your point of view clear. 
  • How do you ensure that your colleagues feel they are heard when you are interacting with them in person?  And virtually?
  • Have you encountered a time when actively listening to a colleague was difficult?  What was the result of that interaction?  What would you do differently in the event this happened again?
  • Share an example of a time when you were able to control and filter your emotions in a constructive way amid a difficult situation.

Interpersonal Skills

  • Describe a situation where you had to address an angry employee or manager/supervisor/senior leader. What was the problem, what role did you play in defusing the emotions that were involved and what was the eventual outcome?
  • Share an example of a difficult or frustrating employee that you have worked with, and how did you manage working with them?

Adapting to Change/Flexibility

  • How do you manage stress?
  • How do you manage conflict with colleagues? With supervisors? With senior leaders?
  • Describe a situation where you faced stresses that tested your coping skills.
  • How do you handle when your priorities change quickly? Give an example of when this happened and what the outcome was.
  • Have you encountered a situation where you had to conform to a process or policy that you did not agree with?  Describe the situation and how you navigated it.

Time Management

  • What is more important, meeting a deadline, or missing a deadline to submit quality or accurate information? 
  • How do you prioritize your work?  And how do you manage competing priorities?
  • How do you ensure that you have proper balance in your day? And balance between work and personal life?  How do you do the same for your employees?

Check out Top Articles on HERC Jobs.

Interested in higher ed job opportunities? Explore our job board with about 50,000 job postings and sign up for a free job seeker account.

About the Author: Sara Ermeti has worked in HR leadership for nearly 30 years in various industries such as higher education, NFP, Religious, Financial, Entertainment, and Transportation. She is also an adjunct professor teaching courses in HR and Business. Sara is a certified coach and resume writer offering individual and business consulting through Esperto HR Office.

3 Ways to Help Staff Feel Valued and Heard

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Staff Meeting: How to Help Staff Feel Valued and Heard

Good benefits and a healthy work-life balance are important for employee retention, but toward the end of my 18-year career working in Student Affairs supervising teams that supported student wellness, academic success, and career development, these perks were not enough to counteract the pervasive lack of feeling valued that I experienced from my employer. In addition, I was connected to colleagues in social media spaces that were discussing these same feelings, which validated how I felt and forced me to reflect on what I needed in a workplace to feel purpose, self-worth, and enjoyment.

What factors could contribute to a decrease in an employee’s feeling of self-worth? Based on my experience, the following are tips on how to help staff feel valued:

1. Acknowledge and celebrate employee contributions

According to the CUPA-HR 2022 Higher Education Employee Retention Survey, 25% of respondents do not feel that their institution recognizes their contributions. In higher education, there is an inherent focus on academic staff achievement due to scholarship opportunities and requirements. Professional staff’s contribution to student retention and success is often overlooked. We are often invisible labor, because we may not be applying for grants, researching, or publishing. However, our contributions are just as important and vital to the success of the university.

One way to celebrate staff contributions could include creating a culture that acknowledges areas that are running well and not just areas that need improvement.  Each year we review climate surveys and focus on areas that need improvement without celebrating the work done by staff to improve previously weak areas or even areas that continue to run well. In addition, time may not be used to review what is working well to inform how to improve other areas. Taking time to congratulate colleagues and debrief what was done to improve services begins to nurture a culture that celebrates staff achievement.

2. Set employees up for success through clear communications, goal setting, and progress check-ins

In a recent study on employee turnover in higher ed, “[deans] and human resource personnel stated the importance of communication among their coworkers is essential for maintaining employee satisfaction and reducing employee turnover.” Also, “[w]hen management effectively communicates the expectations of employees, they often feel motivated, which can assist in increasing productivity within an organization.”

In addition, the study found that open communication between all levels within an organization increases trust between all employees, which increases staff morale and their sense of value. Organizations that hold town halls, leadership “office hours” for staff to discuss concerns, and supervisors that consistently meet one on one with staff are more likely to retain employees because these are all opportunities for employees to ask questions about the expectations and goals of their work as well as the institution’s goals and strategic plans.

3. Include employees in the decision-making and planning process

Involving employees in planning and decision-making bolsters engagement. According to the Society for Human Resource Management, “Engaged employees are satisfied with their jobs, enjoy their work and the organization, believe that their job is important, take pride in their company, and believe that their employer values their contributions. One study found that highly engaged employees were five times less likely to quit than employees who were not engaged.”

During the uncertain and constantly changing time of the early pandemic, staff were asked to be flexible with changing priorities and quick project turnarounds in order to keep colleges and universities open. Often, decisions were made without input from my team or other areas with more experience than the leadership making decisions.  We were also asked to complete deliverables on short timelines or we would receive communication that the request had changed, eventually leading my team and me to burnout.

Early on, my team and I were open to this style of leadership because we wanted the school to remain open as well as provide excellent services for students, however as the pandemic continued and workplaces evolved, this leadership style did not. As a result, my team and I became fatigued with the constantly changing priorities and the lack of communication related to the rationale for these requests. To efficiently meet the institution’s needs and understand leadership’s rationale for projects, my team and I wanted to be part of the conversation making these decisions.

This quote from a National Association of Colleges and Employers piece resonated with me: “To see a long-term future in the field, staff members want and need reminders of whom they are putting in so much effort to impact; why their work matters to their supervisor(s), department, division, and institution; and how their own values align with the core values of the institution.”

I continue to believe in the power that education has to change people’s lives for the better. However, the future of higher education is uncertain and I hope institutions are able to address employees’ concerns quickly enough so they are able to retain a quality workforce that can help education evolve.

Check out more Top Articles on HERC Jobs.

Interested in higher ed job opportunities? Explore our job board with over 60,000 job postings and sign up for a free job seeker account.

About the Author: Kathryn Ward, AMFT, is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist who worked in Student Affairs creating wellness, academic success, and career development programs for 18 years before transitioning to the mental health industry. Kathryn is passionate about creating spaces and opportunities where people can improve their quality of life.

How to Get In and Show Up During the Hiring Process

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Part of the Hiring Process - A job seeker is interviewed by a hiring committee

Applying for a college or university job can be daunting: thick application packets, lengthy timelines, and multiple rounds of panel interviews are all common. The hiring process is a lot, I know; I’ve seen the process unfold from the perspective of an applicant, a hiring committee member, and a hiring committee chair.

There is a method at work here; the hiring process is an important expression of a higher education institution’s commitment to its educational mission and shared governance model for decision-making. This means it is to your benefit as an applicant to think about how to show up throughout the process.  Foremost, it is important that you build and maintain the confidence and trust of the members of the hiring committee.  Read on for a few tips about how to do so.

Do write a professional and error-free resume and cover letter // Don’t assume your comprehensive cover letter will be sufficient to get you the job

Your candidacy will be judged first based on the quality of the documents you submit in the hiring process. These documents are your initial opportunity to show — rather than tell  — the committee members that you are qualified. So, your resume and cover letter should be comprehensive and error-free.  Please note that some institutions may disqualify you from getting an interview if your documents are not professional in appearance or if they show errors in grammar, spelling, formatting, or punctuation. This goes for any other materials you submit too, such as slides and lecture notes.

Next, your cover letter must do more than just express your interest in the position. Ideally, it will provide substantial evidence of how you meet or exceed all the requirements of the job. In my experience, it is common that the cover letter written by successful candidates will be 3 or 4 pages in length. This should allow you to address each and every aspect of the position description without losing your audience.

Finally, remember that the committee can ask questions about anything you put down on paper. If you submit it in writing, it is fair game for the interview.

Do research the students, the college, and the program // Don’t think that all colleges are alike; each higher education institution is unique

After you decide that you want to work in a college or university, take the time to decide which specific institution you want to work at. Then demonstrate your interest by familiarizing yourself with the institution’s mission statement, main initiatives, and the demographics of the student body. Read the website! During the interview, you can distinguish yourself by showing that you have thought about how you will contribute to the college’s efforts to achieve its mission and initiatives and how you will interpret your role and responsibilities in light of the student populations served.

Do consider what your role is in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion // Don’t ignore your role in building an aware, welcoming, and supportive culture

As part of the process of applying for a job in higher education, you will likely be required to write a statement that explains your experiences with and commitments to serving diverse populations of students. This is one of the most important parts of the application, both for your own self-reflection and to prove that you are qualified and eager to support all students. There are many useful guides online on how to write a diversity statement and I suggest you read them before you begin to write your own. Use this statement as an opportunity to demonstrate that you have the desire to work with diverse students and the desire and level of humility needed to hone this aspect of your craft.

Finally, an education employee’s first responsibility is to students. Whether your role requires you to work in or out of the classroom, your success should ultimately be judged by whether you enhance the learning environment.

In this article, I have tried to share a few of the ways you can focus on this aspect of the job in your application process. I hope the lessons I’ve learned in my decade of sitting as a panelist on hiring committees in higher education will be useful to you as you pursue a college or university career. Happy job hunting!

Check out more Top Articles on HERC Jobs.

About the Author: Jesse W. Raskin, J.D., State of California Single Subject Teaching Credential, is a student-centered Professor at Skyline College in San Bruno, CA, where he received the Meyer Excellence in Teaching Award. Professor Raskin teaches across disciplines in Administration of Justice, Business Law, Paralegal Studies, and Political Science. In addition, he has served as the faculty lead for professional learning and has presented across the state of California on topics including Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice and Career Education for 21st Century Students.

LinkedIn Poll Results: What We Learned From You

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Get to LinkedIn polls through the LinkedIn app

Setting actionable goals for the higher ed workplace can be a daunting task. One of our objectives in the past year was to better utilize LinkedIn polls to learn from job seekers and share our findings with HERC members.

In case you didn’t know, the Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (HERC) is a non-profit coalition of over 700 colleges, universities, hospitals, research labs, government agencies, and related non- and for-profit organizations, committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the higher education workforce.

With over 20,000 followers, LinkedIn is our largest social media channel to reach our community of job seekers and higher ed professionals. If you participated in any of our polls, we are truly grateful for your input!

Below are some highlighted poll results and actions that we encouraged our members to take in their recruitment and retention efforts:

1. Offer work-from-home and/or flexible schedules

HERC Jobs LinkedIn Poll: What benefit would help you achieve work-life satisfaction?

In the past few years, many offices have seen how work can be taken home and managed successfully. HERC’s LinkedIn poll takers reported that working from home and a flexible schedule are two leading factors in achieving work-life satisfaction. While both may not be options depending on the position, offering either when possible can be a factor in retaining employees who are mostly satisfied with their workplace.

2. Promote interdepartmental hiring

HERC Jobs LinkedIn Poll: Does your workplace support interdepartmental/lateral moves?

A strong number of those polled (54%) said that their workplace either does not support interdepartmental moves, or they are unsure if it is supported. This movement within an organization can offer several benefits to an institution, including talent retention and less onboarding and training time. If an institution already supports this, communicating it to current employees can be an easy way to find candidates.

3. Create a clear understanding of open positions

HERC Jobs LinkedIn Poll: Which part of the job interviewing process is the most important to you?

Surprisingly, for poll respondents, reviewing salary and benefits was not the most important topic to discuss during job interviews. Understanding the role (48%) and learning about office culture (31%) were the priority topics that candidates wanted to address during a job interview. Job seekers want a clear understanding of what the role will entail as well as what type of workplace culture this role will be performing in. Taking steps to alleviate any confusion about the role or workplace can lead to a better candidate pool.

4. Build a healthy workplace

HERC Jobs LinkedIn Poll: What does a healthy workplace culture look like to you?

Having respectful colleagues and collaborative team members were both polled as the highest factors in determining a healthy workplace. Building strong teams and respectful work environments can be some of the most challenging tasks for a human resources department, however dedicating resources to this can easily lead to less turnover.

5. Provide salary transparency

HERC Jobs LinkedIn Poll: Would you be open to your workplace sharing how much every employee makes?

Salary transparency was favorably ranked in HERC’s LinkedIn poll. 74% of users responded, ‘yes, it creates pay equity’ when asked about comfort level with salary transparency in the workplace. In addition to pay equity, it can build a sense of trust between employees and the institution. If an institution is willing, having an open salary workplace can provide a positive benefit to employees. A great way to start engaging job candidates is by including a salary range in job postings.

Check out more Top Articles on HERC Jobs.

About the Author: Connie Castellucci is a higher ed data analyst consultant. Previously she has worked within higher ed departments and nonprofit organizations addressing recruitment, new school development, and member recruitment needs. 

8 Ways to Reboot Your Career Development

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Higher ed professional reflecting on their career development

When was the last time you thought about your career development? If you’re currently looking for a new opportunity or thinking ahead to position yourself for life changes, now is a good time to review your career goals and take steps to shore up your skills, relationships, and other competencies.

Here are 8 tips on how to refresh your career development:

1. Assess Where You Are and Identify Goals

Take some time, even just an hour or two, to reflect on where you are in your career development. Consider where you’d like to see yourself in 6 months or a year. Let your reflection include not only your job(s), but also your existing skill set, network, accomplishments, and activities. Write your goals down so that you can review them and see how you’ve done in meeting them, or reflect on how your thinking may change over time.

2. Update Your Resume

When was the last time you found yourself at an event, chatting with someone you’d just met, who said “Hey, can you send me your resume?” Instead of going into a state of anxiety and stress and having to revise your resume in a pinch, be prepared by updating your resume on a regular basis. At the very least, track all professional activities and accomplishments (courses taught, attendance at workshops/conferences, publications, participation in panels, awards received, etc.) in one place so that you can easily update your resume as needed.

3. Revise Your LinkedIn Profile

Many professional contacts and potential employers conduct initial reviews of job candidates via an informal scan of their LinkedIn profiles. Make sure that yours is updated, reflecting what kind of work you do, what opportunities you may be seeking, and who you are in a way that is professional and authentic. Consider updating the skills section of your profile since the LinkedIn job search function can be set to alert you to open positions that match your stated skills.

4. Stay in Touch With Past Mentors and Colleagues

Ideally, you engage with your network of professional contacts before you need them to do something. Maintaining contact with people you like and respect is beneficial for many reasons, including the fact that they already know your professional capacities. Reach out to meet one-on-one or in small groups if you are already attending the same conference or workshops. Or send an email sharing a relevant article or information that might be helpful to your contact. These personal touchpoints remind people that you are out there, and they may think of you more readily if they hear of opportunities that are a fit.

5. Keep Your Network Informed

Although discretion may be preferred in some instances, remember that people can’t help you get to where you’re going if they don’t know where you want to go. Because word of mouth and referrals are a powerful means of accessing jobs, including jobs that are not yet publicly posted, you should let people know if you are looking for a new position. Be prepared with an answer when they ask how they can help you and what you are looking for.

6. Develop Your Skills Through a Class

Consider signing up for a course in a skill that you want to develop for professional or personal reasons. There are so many educational providers out there, with a wide range of offerings–everything from language instruction to coding to graphic design to writing to public speaking. Participation in a course will provide you with not only hard skill development, but also an opportunity to expand your network.

7. Ask for Opportunities at Work

There may be opportunities for you to expand your professional skills in your workplace. Let your supervisors know if you are open to learning or taking on new roles and responsibilities. Check with HR about any affinity groups or committees that you can join to grow your internal network and strengthen your skills.

8. Stay Positive and Remember to Pace Yourself

Remember, keeping excited and grounded in your career requires both vigilance and a long game. Make sure you take time to nurture yourself and the important aspects of your life, like friends, family, and health.

Check out more Top Articles on HERC Jobs.

About the Author: Shirley Huey, J.D., is a consultant providing research, writing, and strategic development assistance to organizational clients. Her experience includes service on academic and professional hiring, diversity, and professional development committees as well as coaching peers and mentees. She is also a freelance writer, with a focus on her passions: food and culture.

5 Reasons Why You Really Should Have a LinkedIn Profile

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Higher ed professional creating her LinkedIn profile

Recently, multiple people have told me that while they use LinkedIn to search for job opportunities, they do not have an actual LinkedIn profile, which surprised me. When I asked why they didn’t, the most frequent answer was that they didn’t see the value of having one.

If you are starting your career or are an experienced professional looking to make a change, having a profile on LinkedIn can be a useful tool to support your career goals. Here are 5 reasons why you should create a LinkedIn profile today:

1. Help Hiring Managers and Recruiters Find You

In addition to posting job opportunities, many hiring managers and recruiters also use LinkedIn to search for potential candidates. By having a completed LinkedIn profile, you’re putting yourself out there and offering hiring managers and recruiters an easy way to find and reach you about their job openings that match your background and experience.

2. Strengthen Your Resume/Application

Including a link to your LinkedIn profile in your resume or application materials provides a chance to quickly show that you have a strong professional network and social media skills. You can also share information that you couldn’t include in your resume or application at this early stage in the process, such as samples of your work or people who’ve given you recommendations.

3. Manage Your Professional Contacts, Past and Present

Colleagues come and go over the years. Whether it’s someone you met at a conference or a person you’ve worked with, having a LinkedIn profile helps you stay connected and get in touch with them if you ever need to.

4. Network, Network, Network

A key benefit of using LinkedIn is being able to leverage your connections for referrals and resources. You can look at your contacts’ connections to see if they or someone they know works at a higher ed institution that you’re trying to get a job at. You can join LinkedIn Groups that align with your experience (e.g., higher ed marketers) or what you’re seeking (e.g., experts in multicultural marketing).

5. Build Your Professional Brand

By being active and engaged on LinkedIn, you are demonstrating your expertise and potentially influencing others. Use your LinkedIn profile to share stories and resources that matter to you to build trust and credibility within your network and beyond.

Make sure you keep your LinkedIn profile updated with your activities and experience. Check out this HERC article on how to use your LinkedIn profile to tell your story.

Check out more Top Articles on HERC Jobs.

About the Author: Marcia Silva is the director of marketing and communications at the Higher Education Recruitment Consortium. She strives to create engaging, research-informed content that empowers job seekers and employers committed to creating inclusive workplaces. She is passionate about using digital media and technology to encourage participation and strengthen communities.

From Industry to Educator: How to Land a Higher Ed Job

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Instructor using her industry experience in the classroom

The struggle is real for an industry professional switching to a career as a teacher in higher education. Full and part-time positions in colleges and universities are in high demand and turnover among teaching faculty in particular is often low. This article shares a few pointers on how to stand out in a crowd by showing how your real-world, industry experience can benefit students and the institution you seek to join.

First, consider this: your experience on the job does not automatically translate to success as an educator. Neither does your experience as a student. But there is good news: teaching is not an innate skill, but a craft that can be learned and improved over time. One way to begin is to observe a few classrooms to see what works. Another is to read about teaching; you could start with the “On Teaching” Series by The Atlantic Magazine.

Although you may not have a background in classroom teaching, you have a lot to offer based on your experience and expertise. Here are some tips on what you can do to showcase your real-world experience during the job application and interview process.

Demonstrate Your Added Value

As an instructor, you will make choices every week about how to help students gain relevant skills and knowledge. An asset you bring, beyond anything a textbook or software package can, is knowledge of what works in your workplace and an awareness of trends in the industry. Be ready to talk about how you will provide opportunities for students to prepare for this environment. Think about projects you worked on, the technology you used, the directions your field is headed in, and the ways you collaborated with colleagues. Can you teach students to excel in these areas?

You can also come up with authentic assessments. As an instructor, you have the freedom to decide how students will demonstrate their learning. In your profession, do managers use multiple choice tests and term papers to determine if employees are accomplishing their goals?  If not, what do they use?  Can you design a “test” that replicates or simulates how adults are assessed in the workplace or in civic or personal life?  Be mindful of the needs of different learners. It is your responsibility to ensure that all students have the support they need to perform the tasks you set before them.

Leverage Your Professional Networks

Very few students will know as many working industry professionals as you do; you might be the most accomplished professional that your students connect with. Communicate how you will use your network to benefit students seeking opportunities such as jobs, internships, and informational interviews. Consider how you will be inclusive of underrepresented minority and first-generation students as you share access to your contacts.

Serve as an Informal Career Advisor

Think back to when you were looking for your first job out of college. What do you wish you knew then that you might take for granted now? Is there practical advice you can share on how to choose a career, prepare for interviews, and thrive in a professional environment?  Although many colleges and universities have career counselors, these professionals may have little or no experience in your field.

Show Off Your Growth Mindset

Sometimes the best candidate is the one willing to share about a time they were humbled and how they grew from the experience. Similarly, otherwise qualified candidates can get passed over because they could not articulate a meaningful answer to questions like, “Tell us about a time when you experienced conflict in the workplace” or “Share with us a time when you failed to meet a goal at work”. If you cannot articulate a time when you picked yourself up and tried again, how can the hiring committee trust that you can support students through their trying moments?

There is no one way to get your foot in the door of higher education and no exact process or set of rules to be followed to get your dream job as a college instructor. But there are steps you can take towards becoming a competitive candidate. Hopefully the tips shared above will get you further along on your journey.

Check out some Top Articles on HERC Jobs.

Interested in higher ed job opportunities? Explore our job board with over 60,000 job postings and sign up for a free job seeker account.

About the Author: Jesse W. Raskin, J.D., State of California Single Subject Teaching Credential, is a student-centered Professor at Skyline College in San Bruno, CA, where he received the Meyer Excellence in Teaching Award. Professor Raskin teaches across disciplines in Administration of Justice, Business Law, Paralegal Studies, and Political Science. In addition, he has served as the faculty lead for professional learning and has presented across the state of California on topics including Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice and Career Education for 21st Century Students.

Optimize Your Resume and Cover Letter

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Hiring manager reviewing resumes and cover letters.

Retired U.S. Army veteran Adam Potter applied to multiple HR positions at a higher education institution prior to receiving a response. Now that he works for the University of Iowa as a Senior Human Resource Specialist, he has a better understanding of why he wasn’t considered the first few times he applied—he wasn’t addressing the specific requirements of the position in his resume. Potter offers these tips on how to optimize your resume and cover letter to break into higher ed:

What must be in your resume:

When a university posts a job it will typically list the required qualifications for this position: education, experience, and a few other qualifications needed to be successful in the role. Well, those required qualifications, we have to be able to see those in the resume. They have to be addressed. Otherwise, it can’t be determined you’re qualified for a role. Institutions will typically screen your resume submitted based on the qualifications listed in the job posting.

The biggest mistake people make with their resume:

When I go to job fairs or do a career counseling session, I’ll ask you point blank, “Are you using the same exact resume for every position you apply for?” Typically the answer is yes. The job seeker is going to struggle when they do that. Job seekers need to tailor their resume to each position they’re going to apply to, specifically addressing those qualifications.

When it comes to addressing qualifications on a resume, the way I coach is, you’re going to put your company, job title, and dates, then a very brief one to two sentences, what do you do in this role. And then develop your bullet points under that position that address the specific qualifications of the job you’re going to apply to. So if I need somebody that has excellent communication skills, is proficient with Microsoft Office suite, and has an excellent track record of excellent customer service, I should see bullets under that position that matches the qualifications I’m looking for.

And make them quantifiable as well. A lot of people will say yes, I have excellent communication skills, and that’s it. But that’s not quantifiable. It’s one thing to say it—how can you quantify it? So the bullet points should address one of three things—outcomes, achievements, or metrics. Take metrics, for example. I performed this action, and it resulted in $50 million in cost savings, or increased productivity by 50%. An achievement-based bullet would be, I received superior marks on my performance evaluation. Outcome-based would be I did this action, it resulted in (outcome).

Differentiate your cover letter from your resume:

A resume and a cover letter are meant to do two different things. And I think a lot of job seekers get those confused. The resume is designed to inform the employer of your qualifications, and the cover letter is meant to persuade the employer to bring you in for an interview. I think cover letters are very generic. Many of them are identical in nature. Typically it’s “I’m interested in a position here at (Insert Company Name), here’s a list of all my qualifications you’re already going to read on my resume, thank you for your time and consideration, I look forward to speaking with you.” It’s a typical cookie-cutter cover letter, you see it all the time. You need to create a personalized cover letter for each position.

That introduction, try to tell the story a little bit, or address some of the potential bias you might be subject to. When I was applying for positions in Iowa I was living in Wyoming and I would have employers send me feedback, it wasn’t really a rejection, but it was like, “You understand this position’s in Iowa?” So I think there was some geographical bias there, so I started putting in my cover letter in that first paragraph, “I am looking to relocate to Iowa.” Start addressing that question.

Your cover letter should be personalized:

Job seekers need to create a personalized cover letter and avoid duplicating their resume. Consider setting the stage in your introductory paragraph and address why you may be seeking a new opportunity. Then consider answering three “why” questions in the body of the cover letter.

The first “why” you need to address is, Why are you applying for this job? What is it that makes you excited to submit your application for this role? I think that speaks volumes and it sets the stage for the interview, because nine times out of 10 it’s an interview question. You’re already setting the stage when you address that in the cover letter.

The second paragraph is, Why are you interested in working for that specific company or that department or that organization? Go to their website, find out what their mission statement is or value statement. What jumps out at you and makes you excited to go join that team?

The third “why” is, Why are you the best-qualified candidate for this role? What are you bringing to the table? What major contribution will you bring to the team? And I would stick to no more than two things, so again not restating your whole resume, just quick highlights. Here’s my biggest strength. Something that’s gonna jump out and grab somebody’s attention.

And then your closing paragraph, this is where I say put in a soft close. I look forward to discussing my qualifications further during our interview. Just putting yourself in the interview seat. This basic formula will help in creating a personalized cover letter that will prove deeper insight into candidacy.

Want more CV/resume and cover letter tips? Download our free ebook, How to Apply for Higher Education Careers (Revised Edition).

Check out some Top Articles on HERC Jobs.

About the Author: Harold Gutmann is the director of brand and marketing strategy at Santa Clara University. He is a longtime writer and editor who is proud to work in higher education, and encourages all job seekers to consider it.

How Sponsors Differ From Mentors

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Higher ed professional meeting with their sponsor

Early in Shelly Sherman’s career at an insurance company, a senior-level executive at the organization was a friend of her father.

He took it upon himself to introduce Sherman to key leaders in the company and he recommended her for projects so that colleagues could see what she was capable of doing. He asked her to speak at a conference with more than 500 people in attendance, despite her inexperience with public speaking, and coached her through how to do it.

“He made those things happen for me, knowing full well that I could deliver,” Sherman said.

Sherman called this person her sponsor, and it’s a reason she’s an advocate for sponsorship in the workforce now.

What is a Sponsor?

While many people are familiar with the role of a mentor, a sponsor takes that relationship to another level. A mentor will give you advice, but a sponsor will take extra steps to vouch for you and back you – making sure you get on the right projects or are exposed to the right people so that you can advance in your career.

“They not only give you advice, but also they are there to help make sure things happen for you,” said Sherman, who is now the senior director of talent management at a large, metropolitan pediatric health care organization, but spent several years in the higher education industry.

How to Get a Sponsor

Having a sponsor can be a critical factor in helping employees succeed, but hardly any employers offer formal ways for sponsorships to occur. Mentors can be assigned, but since sponsors often put their reputations on the line in advocating for the person they’re sponsoring, the connections must be genuine.

“You don’t really have that same kind of conversation where you walk up to someone and say, ‘I would love for you to sponsor me,’” Sherman said. “It doesn’t quite happen.”

Instead, the best way to gain a sponsor is to network within the organization and find ways to showcase your value. Sherman recommends volunteering for projects that allow potential sponsors to see your skills and abilities. Once an experienced member of the organization sees you’re a talented person who can benefit the company, they will be more likely to become your sponsor.

Of course, finding a sponsor isn’t the endgame. You still have to take advantage of the opportunities your sponsor may provide. In Sherman’s case, she still had to make the speech in front of a large crowd. She eventually become the president of the professional organization that held that conference.

“They might open the doors, but you have to walk through them,” Sherman said. “You have to do the work.”

Check out some Top Articles on HERC Jobs.

About the Author: Harold Gutmann is the director of brand and marketing strategy at Santa Clara University. He is a longtime writer and editor who is proud to work in higher education, and encourages all job seekers to consider it.

How to Support Introverts and Extroverts at Work

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Confident introverted higher ed professional posing in front of campus building

Being mindful of and proactive in how you work with and support introverts and extroverts helps foster a sense of belonging in the workplace.

As an introvert, I think I’ve truly benefited from the impact of the COVID pandemic on the workplace. During that initial lockdown, my extroverted colleagues were not as happy as I was about shifting to working remotely. Despite our difference in feelings about the situation, we worked hard to support each other during a particularly harrowing, uncertain time.

So how can you help introverts and extroverts on your team feel accepted and supported? Don’t be distracted by the stereotypes that introverts are shy and reserved, while extroverts are social and loud.

Remember that everyone needs to feel connected and valued to be engaged and productive. How to accomplish that for each group may differ. One difference to keep in mind is the contrasting ways that they process information and restore their energy: introverts process information, focus best, and reenergize when they are alone or in a quiet space, whereas extroverts want conversations to process thoughts and ideas and thrive in social settings.

How does that play out in the workplace? Here are some quick tips:

How to Support Introverts

Give Time

Introverts need time to reflect before responding. If you want feedback on something, send it and give them a deadline for when you need feedback. If you’re hosting a meeting, provide an agenda and state meeting goals or objectives in advance. Set aside time during the meeting for any last-minute thoughts – this gives introverts an opportunity to speak up without having to compete with their extroverted colleagues.

Be Flexible

Everyone appreciates flexibility, but when it comes to collaborating and engaging at work, introverts may be more grateful. During work meetings – in-person or virtual – offer a variety of ways for interaction. Provide post-it notes or encourage the use of the chat function to share their thoughts with the group. When defining and delegating tasks, provide opportunities for both group and solo work.

Mind How You Communicate

Written communication is often preferred by introverts – through writing, they get the needed time to be thoughtful about what they say. But it never hurts to ask about communication preferences. You may come to an agreement on the appropriate communication channel for different types of messages, like if it’s urgent, a phone call or an unannounced office visit might be warranted. Lastly, if you’re thinking about scheduling a meeting, consider if the goals or objectives can be accomplished by email instead.

How to Support Extroverts

Let Them Share

Extroverts are energized by interactions with people. They’ll want to bounce their ideas off others and have brainstorming sessions. Don’t be afraid to interrupt with your own ideas – extroverts will not be offended by interjections. If anything, your input will inspire them to produce more ideas. Consider scheduling regular check-in meetings that give your extroverted colleagues an opportunity to speak their minds and engage with you.

Set Goals, Expectations, and Boundaries

Extroverts can get distracted by their many ideas or need for social interaction. Be clear about what needs to be accomplished and by when to help them focus and be more productive. During group meetings, extroverts can take over the floor, making it challenging for others to contribute.  By establishing boundaries, you will help extroverts know when they need to give space for others to share or lead.

Give Encouragement

Positive feedback and recognition can really motivate an extrovert to work harder and better. As noted many times in this article, extroverts thrive on social engagement – adding praise is like the cherry on top of a sundae of regular human interaction. Your efforts to avoid expressing negative thoughts and instead focus on solutions and lessons learned will provide a positive environment where extroverts can flourish.

Check out some Top Articles on HERC Jobs.

Interested in higher ed job opportunities? Explore our job board with over 60,000 job postings and sign up for a free job seeker account.

About the Author: Marcia Silva is the director of marketing and communications at the Higher Education Recruitment Consortium. She strives to create engaging, research-informed content that empowers job seekers and employers committed to creating inclusive workplaces. She is passionate about using digital media and technology to encourage participation and strengthen communities.

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