Everything You Wanted
To Know About Getting
Hired For a Job
Presented by:
David S. Clurman,
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
MACUHO Annual Conference, 10.27.2011
First Things First
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Introductions
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About me
About you
What do you want to do?
O What do you need to do to
get there?
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Typical Titles in
Housing/Residence Life
Entry Level Titles
Mid-Management Titles
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Apartment Manager
Area Coordinator
Area Director
Facilities Manager
Hall Director
House Advisor
Housefellow
Quad Director
Residence Hall Coordinator
Residence Hall Director
Residence Life Coordinator
Resident Director
Resident Life Specialist
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Area Coordinator
Area Director
Assistant Dean
Assistant Director
Assistant to the Director
Associate Dean
Associate Director
Complex Coordinator
Complex Director
Director
Housing Coordinator
Competencies - What are they?
Entry-level
O Supervision
O Managing Multiple
O Staff Selection
O Crisis Management
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O Written Communication
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O Goal Setting
O Evaluating Staff
O Assessing Needs of
Students/ Diversity
O Developing
Relationships with Peers
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Priorities
Oral Communication
Working with Change
Mission Implementation
Accountability
Accessibility/
Availability
Understanding
“Political” Environment
Competencies - What are they?
Mid-Management Level
O Written
Recognizing Needs of
Diverse Staff
O Creating Vision
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O Supervision
O Crisis Management
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Communication
Evaluating Staff
Working with Change
Staff Selection
Understanding Political
Environment
Managing Multiple
Priorities
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O Assess Student Needs
Organizational
Management
O Accountability
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Policy Development
O Accessibility/
Availability
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Customer Service
Being an Entry-Level Staff
Member: Obstacles to Overcome
O Why are you doing the work you do?
O You must find a job that you enjoy
O Recent graduate?…still in “theory” mode?
O Learn to how delegate
O Learn about the finances
O We know that our jobs are important
O Dream of making those “important” decisions
O Be prepared for the political environment
O Fear of change
O Money
Some Research
What are some the best and worst
things that you have seen a
candidate do within a search
process (cover letters, resumes,
references, dress, etc.)?
The Interview Process
O Cover Letters
O Resumes
O References
O Dress & Non-Verbal Behavior
O Interviews
O Food & Travel
O Communication
The Interview Process
Cover Letters
Customize them to the
institution
O Add something more than just
repeating your resume
O Match desired skills with yours
O Form letters – don’t use them
O Send as a PDF if possible
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The Interview Process
Resumes & References
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Keep to 1-2 pages
Don’t embellish or lie
Have them reviewed by many people
Update at least once a year
List your current supervisor
Explain your relationship
Proofread and then do it again!
The Interview Process
Dress & Non-Verbals
O Professional dress
O Better than business casual (no khakis,
sweaters, boots, or non-dress shoes
O For women – skirts that are too short
O Don’t slump or lay back in a chair
O Don’t appear too familiar, laid back, overly
confident, bored, or disengaged
O Don’t act like a comedian
O Turn off your cell phone
The Interview Process
Interviews
O Prepare & incorporate experiences
O Give specific examples
O Answer questions completely
O Bring a portfolio
O Have institution-specific questions prepared
O Name drop appropriately
O It is often about fit
The Interview Process
Food & Travel
O Confirm address & directions
O Provide plenty of travel time
O Eat appropriately
O No alcohol
O Don’t overeat
O Watch out for sauces
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Ask about travel costs
The Interview Process
Communication
O Well-written Thank You notes
O Provide timely response to e-mail and
phone messages
O Explain why you want that specific
position
O Ask important questions prior to an oncampus interview
O For graduate positions – know about the
graduate programs
Red Flags
O Bashing your current or previous
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supervisor or institution
Asking no questions
Not doing research about position,
department, or institution
Making things up
Focusing on salary, apartment, perks, etc.
Taking too long to answer a question
Not preparing references
Want That Next Position?
Be Sure to…
O Learn as much as you can about the various
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jobs
Be able to learn the job on your own
Make presentations
Own up to your mistakes
Learn how to effectively communicate
Make good first impressions
Read
Look for your next job
Share your accomplishments
Keep your resume up-to-date
RELI:
Regional Entry-Level Institute
O What is it?
O An intensive two and a half day professional
development seminar spotlighting activities for
entry-level professionals who aspire to attain a midlevel position in housing or residential life.
O When/Where…
O Towson University
O June 2012
Some Upcoming Conferences
O MAPC – Reading, PA
O OPE – Oshkosh, WI
Feb 23-24
Mar 1-4
O TPE – Phoenix, AZ
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Mar 7-11
NASPA – Phoenix, AZ
ACPA – Louisville, KY
NHTI – Athens, GA
ACUHO-I – Anaheim, CA
Mar 10-14
Mar 24-28
Jun 12-16
Jul 7-10
Conference Interviews
O Know what you are looking for
O Bring copies of resumes and references
O Stay hydrated
O Watch what you say and what you do
O Pace yourself
O Be strategic about scheduling interviews
O Review materials that are given to you
O Practice
Helpful Job Search Sites
O Jobs.Studentaffairs.com
O HigherEdJobs.com
O Chronicle.com/Jobs
O Academic360.com
O Tedjob.com
O Simplyhired.com
O Others?
Questions?