Pick Me-Choose Me-Hire Me #10-Communication
Communication. It's the first thing we really learn in life. Funny thing is, once we grow up, learn our words and really start talking the harder it becomes to know what to say. Or how to ask for what we really need. ~Grey's Anatomy
I think I am officially on the road to adulthood. I had my first phone interview for a position at my dream school today. It. went. so. well!!! I was super nervous, but I realized that the great thing about a phone interview is that the people on the other side can't see you, so I definitely used that to my advantage. I had my resume, cover letter, along with the institutional goals, mission, and vision statements covering my desk. I also had my list of questions ready and the department's website pulled up on my computer. I had a huge sign on my office door that said "I'm phone interviewing. If you interrupt me, I will take your first born child" so my RAs couldn't interrupt me. I was prepared. I was pumped. I was ready for the interview throw down.
Although I was ready for a total and complete interrogation, the entire time I was on the phone, I felt right at home. It was much more of a conversation than an interview which was refreshing! I learned a lot more about the institution, had some of my concerns addressed, and was still answering their questions about my supervisory style, view of diversity, and other interview-ish topics. However, how are you ever really sure if you are giving the answers that are needed or required by the person on the other side? This type of communication becomes especially difficult with phone interviews since there are no non-verbal cues. No smiles, frown, looks of confusion, looking at watches, shifting of weight, wandering eyes, or crossing of the arms. You don't know if you are rambling or not giving enough information. You don't know if you have fully answered the question or if they were looking for something different because there aren't those looks of encouragement or confusion. Even though phone interviews are rough, I must have done something right because they offered me an interview at ACPA/NASPA on the phone! This is a good sign, right? I hope so!
Also, in one of my classes today we were talking about the job search, and all of a sudden our professor asked each of us to share our job leads and how many interviews we had lined up so far. One word for this: AWKWARD! Not only were some of the people in the room going into the same functional areas, but a lot of people in my program are looking in the same geographic region. Everyone shared a little bit, but you could tell that people were being guarded. Many people shared that they had lined up 1 or 2 interviews with schools which is GREAT! Then when it came to me, I felt super awkward because I have substantially more interviews scheduled than other people. Do I tell people how many I have because I'm proud of myself for working my ass off with applications, or do I keep my mouth shut so people don't think I'm bragging or get nervous about their own search? I decided to go with the MBTI "F" in me and simply say that I was happy with the leads that I had so far.
However, since this is an anonymous space, I want to shout it from the rooftops! I HAVE TWELVE INTERVIEWS LINED UP FOR ACPA/NASPA! I hope all of the readers out there don't think that I'm being cocky or full of myself or just lining up interviews to say that I have interviews. All of the appointments are with institutions that I am actually interested in and have done my research on their departments. I hate that there is a competitive nature to the job search since we are in such a "person first" profession, but when it comes down to it. If a member of my cohort applies for the same job that I do, I don't see myself backing off just because of the relationship that I have with this person. There has to come a point where you have a right, and also an obligation to your own happiness, to ask for what you really need.
Pick Me-Choose Me-Hire Me #9- Priorities
If you knew this was your last day on Earth, how would you wanna spend it? ~Grey's Anatomy
It has been (simultaneously) a great and horrific week for me. There was an incident on campus that I somehow found myself to be in the middle of, even though it really didn't have anything to do with me or my position. It made me clarify many of my professional values which, I suppose, is a good thing, but it isn't exactly a fun process. The whole thing was just very draining. Thankfully, the situation worked itself out and in turn, I have been absolutely amazed and in awe of many students in my professional world. They mobilized themselves in ways that I have never seen before and the end result was something that I didn't really think was possible. In turn, my faith in the profession has been restored.
On a much lighter note, I think I've realized that I actually do want to go into Residence Life. As I was reading the last entry by Media Res, I realized that I actually like the unexpected aspects to Residence Life. While I am a hard-core MBTI "J" I like not ever having a typical day at work. A perfect example of this was a blog by Makenzie, one of my new RAs:
"At one point this evening, I was eating a warm chocolate chip cookie and wandering around the back room wearing a plastic police vest and attempting to pronounce the warnings written in foreign languages on a shredder box. So were Riley and our supervisor. Just another day in the life of an Res. Life staff member. Who knew a job could be so fun?"
Riley's recent Xanga post:
"I finally let a little bit of it sink in and I just started to cry...these people have become my family, this building my home. I started thinking how we warned all the new people, etc. that once training is over we never see as much of each other, and while that may be true for a few staff members, for the majority of us, the opposite of that has occurred. We're ALWAYS down in the back room, we've all become so comfortable with each other. Tonight after a Taco Bell run, when I was just chatting it up with two of the guy RAs about random stuff, I realized how much they have become like brothers to me. I am going to miss everyone so much. Uhhhh I can't even fathom not being here! I mean I know I will still see a lot of these people, but it won't be the same, and some won't even be in the state anymore!"
The combination of these two posts pretty much sum up how I feel about Residence Life. I love the random, unexpected nature of this job. Additionally, the bonds that are created and the feeling of becoming a family is (in my opinion) unrivaled in other functional areas of Student Affairs. I think there is an unspoken bond that occurs within staff members in a residence hall and it is something that I want to continue to be a part of as I grow as a professional. In short, if I knew this was my last day on Earth, I would want to be surrounded by the people that I love and the people that I consider to be my family. I would want to be surrounded by my staff.
PS I have my first phone interview this week with my dream school! Scary/exciting/thrilling/nerve racking!
In Medias Res #9: Culinary school was not an option
One of the things I really love to do that tends to get way laid in the process of getting a masters degree is cooking. Since the last few weeks have been an utter marathon, and the next few weeks seem to be more of the same, I decided to carve out a little bit of time for myself and mess around in the kitchen this weekend. I did this because I have some solid job prospects, OPE is right around the corner, and my final comp is more or less done. I need something to simultaneously reward and distract myself.
I grew up in a house with lots of picky eaters. So while both of my parents were pretty good cooks it was a lot of the same. When I got out on my own and had my own kitchen I liked to be a little more adventurous. In college, because I lived so close to a farmer’s market, I would take cookbooks out of the library and make fun exotic stuff. As far as Grad school goes it’s a little bit harder to come by some of the more esoteric ingredients (hell, it’s hard to come by fresh ginger) so I tend to cook a little more traditionalist.
Last week I found a recipe for General Tso’s chicken on the web, and I knew that this was what I was going to make this weekend. I love Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Indian flavors…anything from the Asian continent I’m pretty much a fan of. General Tso’s is my absolute favorite though, and especially where I live now it’s hard to come by a good iteration. (We actually have some decent food in town. The Chinese restaurants seem for some reason to really slack on this dish. The breading is neither crunchy nor sticky. It basically just falls of the chicken, and the sauce is loaded with sugar).
I mention all this because as I’m cooking I reflect. I cook alone, without music or the TV, and so I’m basically left with my thoughts. One of the things that has been bugging me a lot lately was whether I really want to go into residence life. When I have lived and worked in the halls I loved it, but I worry that it’s one of those jobs that consumes too much of your life. I know that in Student Affairs I’m never going to work strictly 9 to 5, but I would like to have a life post-graduate school. Last night I went out with a bunch of Hall Directors and although they are a happy and lively bunch I think that evening was sort of atypical for them. There were no emergency calls. There was no need to rush back to the building. Most of the concerns that I’m mulling are being raised by people who were Res Lifers and got out. For whatever reason the job burned through them, and now they are
When I started looking I was almost exclusively interested in Residence Life. Now that I’m a candidate for these two other positions the prospect of moving back in is less exciting. I suppose this is a natural part of the process, at least for individuals like myself who are not completely tied to one aspect of student affairs. I didn’t figure out what I wanted, but I did make some fabulous General Tso’s. Here’s the recipe for those of you who cook:
Ingredients for the sauce:
1 tablespoon double-concentrate tomato paste, mixed with 1 tablespoon water
1/2 teaspoon potato starch (corn starch can be substituted)
1/2 teaspoon dark soy sauce
11/2 teaspoons light soy sauce
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
3 tablespoons chicken stock or water
Ingredients for the chicken:
12 ounces (about 4 to 5) boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1/2 teaspoon dark soy sauce
2 teaspoons light soy sauce
1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons potato starch (corn starch can be substituted)
1 quart peanut oil, more as needed, for frying
6 to 10 dried red chile peppers
2 teaspoons finely chopped ginger
2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 teaspoons sesame oil
Scallions, sliced thinly, for garnish.
Procedure
1. Make the sauce: Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl, and set aside.
2. Make the chicken: Unfold the chicken thighs; lay on a cutting board. Remove as much of the sinew as possible. (If some parts are very thick, cut in half horizontally.) Slice a few shallow crosshatches into the meat; cut each thigh into roughly 1/4-inch slices, and place in a large bowl. Add the soy sauces and egg yolk; mix well. Stir in the potato starch and 2 teaspoons peanut oil; set aside.
3. Using scissors, snip the chile peppers into 1/4-inch pieces, discarding seeds. Set aside.
4. Pour 3 1/2 cups peanut oil into a large wok or deep saucepan or enough oil to rise 1 1/2 inches from the bottom. Set over high heat until oil reaches 350 to 400 degrees. Add half the chicken; fry until crisp and deep golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer chicken to a plate. Repeat with second batch of chicken. Pour oil into a heatproof container, and wipe the wok or saucepan clean.
5. Place wok or saucepan over high heat. Add 2 tablespoons peanut oil. When hot, add chile peppers and stir-fry for a few seconds, until they just begin to change color. Add the ginger and garlic; stir-fry for a few seconds longer, until fragrant. Add the sauce, stirring as it thickens. Return chicken to wok, and stir vigorously to coat. Remove from heat; stir in the sesame oil, and top with scallions. Serve with rice.
It’s incredibly easy and almost certainly is one of the best things I’ve ever made. And don’t take this to mean I have a secret longing to be a chef. For anyone who has ever worked in a kitchen, you know the pace is about 400x faster than what a slow methodical cook like myself enjoys. Next time I post will probably be with updates from OPE.
In Medias Res# 8.5: Good news for people who love good news
Some thoughts:
The programming intensity is mostly over. Just jobs and school from here on out.
When it rains it pours: I have a phone interview tomorrow that I just set up and the other day I got invited to come out for a campus interview.
Yet, so far: only one ACPA/NASPA interview.
In Medias Res # 8: The 2008 Student Affairs Job Hunt and other things I want to avoid
This weekend I threw a bunch of students in a van and drove for a couple hours to a conference. I mention this because it was my first time supervising students outside of a campus context. It was also really fun. It was also really boring.
“What now?”, you say to me. How can I have fun and be bored? Well this is the subtle and complex nature of one such as myself, In Medias Res. It was fun to watch the students become engaged, empowered, make connections, discover resources, and generally be filled with lots of new ideas. It was boring because there were maybe two sessions for advisors (one of which I missed), and on the whole I was not the target audience. But I had a good time, and the students had a GREAT time which made it all worthwhile.
One of the things I did get to do at the conference was facilitate a discussion regarding spirituality development. That process really reinforced for me the desire to being doing that sort of work, and although I keep getting politely declined when I apply for those sorts of jobs I’m going to keep at it. I’m hoping to be pleasantly surprised.
Of course, despite my being out of town the job search didn’t really stop. My OPE schedule is pretty full (I’m not nearly as scheduled as some of my friends, but I can simultaneously be choosier-I don’t have to find a job near a partner- and coy-I have a pretty clear idea of what I want- so I’m not racking up 14 schools). I am excited about placement even though its sneaking up on me faster than I would like.
NASPA/ACPA is a whole other matter (as are the jobs I’ve applied for that aren’t attending a placement). No one seems in a hurry to set up interviews, at least not with me. Lots of the jobs I want I can’t even apply for yet, because they aren’t up on HR sites. It will be interesting to see how that plays out, if it will be a rush to schedule interview the week before.
The one main thing I got done for the search this week was an involved application. I had to have people submit multiple letters of recommendation, the coordination of which was a major pain in the ass. I mean, I’m still technically entry level. How serious can this process be?
The nice thing about going away this weekend was I got to spend time with a practitioner who I really respect and admire. This person is the sort of student affairs pro that I want to be when I grow up. They are confident, knowledgeable, compassionate, and engaged (despite being in the field for quite some time). It was great to pick their brain regarding ideas and concerns about the job search.
The next two weeks I’m focusing on getting more and more apps out for NASPA/ACPA. I would like to have three to four really solid prospects set up going into OPE to keep the desperation level down. I also really need to sit down and start researching programs. Some of these schools I applied to based on reputation alone, and so I don’t really know why I want to work there (other than that someone has told me I would).
A last thought: a good friend of mine got his dream job last year, and after 10 months in the position he’s job searching again. This bothers me for a couple of reasons (among them is the fact that we will now be competing for the same jobs). I look at the resources that were available to him though, and what he did and did not take advantage of and I can see why he might have one foot out the door. It is always hard to move to a new place, to make new friends, and start a new(er) life. There are, though, things that can make that easier. Like getting involved in community organizations outside of the campus. His experience has really highlighted for me the need to do my due diligence on future jobs so that I know it’s possible to have a life outside of work. Because good lord, I don’t want to be doing this again next year.
Pick Me-Choose Me-Hire Me #8 Life is Good!
Today is the day people, today is the day when Dark and Twisty Meredith disappears forever, and Bright and Shiny Meredith takes her place! You're probably not gonna want to be friends with me anymore, because the sheer intensity of my happiness will make your teeth hurt, but that's OK, because life is good. Life is good. ~Meredith Grey
I am happy! Happy, happy, happy, happy, happy! First, my staff is absolutely amazing. I was recently talking with one of my RAs (who will most likely be going into CSP) about getting a "real job." Her response was "Whatever, when I'm a Hall Director it won't really be a real job. You are surrounded by college students 24/7! You get snow days and summers off and random stuff all day and night. I don't know any 'real job' where you could be awoken at 3am to the sounds of a 4 piece male acapella group practicing in the hallway." I have to say that I agree!
While my staff is amazing, there have been other developments in my life that have led to my ridiculous amount of happiness. This week I set up a phone interview with my dream school! Okay, I know everyone has their "dream school," but this really does fit EVERY category that I could ever think of for a school. It is my dream location, dream size, dream residence life department, dream job description, dream salary, and it would allow me to experience a different type of institution.
Although my dream school has asked for a phone interview, I find it extraordinarily ironic that, of the five schools that have requested to speak with me further about my qualifications, my dream school was the only one who requested a phone interview. All of the other schools have gone straight to interviews at ACPA/NASPA. Hopefully, I can woo them with my wit and intellect in order to woo them even further in Orlando! Wish me luck!
Life, is indeed, good!
PS Another reason for my extreme happiness is that I've received my first response post from a loyal reader! Thanks for the sympathies about being single!!!
Pick Me-Choose Me-Hire Me #7- Too Much
How do you know when how much is too much? Too much too soon. Too much information. Too much fun. Too much love. Too much to ask... And when is it all just too much to bear? ~Meredith GreySince my co-blogger has logged four posts after my last one, I've decided that it was time to update the world (or the 400 people who have read this...yay!) on what has happened in approximately a week and a half. First, I now have a total of FOUR interviews set up for ACPA. I have no idea if this is good, weak, or somewhere in the middle. I just know that they are all with schools that I am actually interested in and I could see myself working at in the future, so by my standards, I'm kicking butt and taking names.Second, there has been a true-to-life blizzard, and I can't remember the last time I have had more fun with students! We have been buried the last few days and my institution actually cancelled classes for a day, which as you know is basically unheard of in higher ed! I have been sledding, made an attempt at a snowman, declared war in a snowball fight, made snow art with spray paint and some artistic residents, and warmed myself up with a cozy residence hall lounge and some steaming hot chocolate. It is days like this when I think I could be okay working in colder climates!Third, and finally, in case you weren't aware, today is Valentine's/Singles Awareness Day. Yes that's right, I will let the world know that I am indeed single. I have been for awhile and after reading some of Media Res' posts as well as the Dual Job Search blog, I have to say that I think this is probably a good time to be single. No one else to think about. No reason not to be selfish. No one else that is depending on you to make a good decision not only for yourself, but also for a relationship. Although all of this makes perfect logical sense, I have to say that I wish I was in a relationship now more than ever. Yes, a dual job search would be rough, but at least you wouldn't be alone. You would have someone to confide in, scream at after a botched interview, or simply sit in silence with after getting a rejection letter. I'm sure it would make my life more complicated, but aren't life's complications what makes it so fun and interesting? When is it all too much to bear?
In Medias Res #7: Over and over and over and over. Like a Monkey with a miniature cymbal
5 points to the first person who can identify the blog title. I'll give you a hint: Its a British band.
Whoo. Another phone interview behind me. This one was for the dream job. At the dream school. It went better than the last one. I was happier with my answers this time around, although of course there’s still stuff I’d change. It seems no matter what there is always a question that just trips me up. I think a lot of it is nerves and a lot of it is a desire to sound intelligent, rather than to just say something worthwhile. I hear myself during these interviews and sometimes with my word choices I just cringe.
The timeline for this job is pretty fast. They are looking to do campus interview in the next couple of weeks, which means on the off chance they want to bring me to campus I will have to squeeze it in around class and Oshkosh. That’s’ sort of a nightmare in itself, but honestly I want this job so bad I’d do cartwheels onto the plane if they asked me.
I spent the weekend getting caught up on stuff, but the applications have really suffered. I went on the website for the joint conference today and I have 40 positions saved on my profile. I think I’ve applied to maybe five. When am I supposed to find the time to fill out forty applications? And why do I think it’s a good idea to have forty applications out there? Do I want to do forty interviews? I don’t think so. One of my goals for tonight is to pick the fifteen that I want the most and get those done, and then I’ll see where I am with the other twenty five.
In Medias Res #6: Like a bolt of lightning
Last night I was sort of manic over the slow progress of my search. This morning I got two more interviews. One of which is with one of my dream schools in my dream job that I applied for just as a fluke. Honestly, never anticipated that I'd get a call back, let alone an interview. So I am feeling good.
Despite the fact that I need to work on my final comp, that I have programs every night this week and next, and that I'm taking students to a conference next weekend (and somewhere in there I have to take my boyfriend out for valentine's day). In fact, the convergence of all these things is reminding me why I love student affairs!
Given that, the posts are probably going to slow down for the next 2+ weeks. Something's gotta give dear reader. Ok, I have interviews to prepare for.
In Medias Rex #5: Half measures
Not quite up to snuffSo the phone interview was okay. Not great. Not burn the sky with your brilliance. Not awecollent ™. Just okay.
This is sort of disappointing. Granted I had never considered the school before they contacted me, but after quite a bit of internet research I really started to envision myself there. I think it would be a great place to work. I think I would be really happy there.
Now, my hopes are not completely dashed. I still haven’t even spoken with my two dream schools yet (those interviews are in the offing). I also feel like having gone through the gauntlet once, I am much better prepared for next time.
Last year, when I was doing phone interviews it took me three or four of them before I hit my stride. About midway through the interviews I really started to understand what people wanted. I became much more confident and comfortable having hour long conversations over the phone with multiple people, and I had thoughtful answers (because going through the other interviews made me think about them).
I prepared for this interview, don’t get me wrong. I looked over practice interviews. I did background research on the school (and found a couple of really cool programs). But there is something about the anxiety and build up of the first interview. I was completely off my game. I think at one point I even said, “This is my first interview. So be gentle.”
When people ask you questions in an interview, they are looking for a specific answer. You can disagree with me reader, but you would be wrong. Interviewers are looking to hire someone who reflects the mission and values of their institution. And they should! Later, on the bus I realized what the interviewers really wanted to hear (or what they needed to hear, I suppose) and regretted some of the answers I provided. It’s not that I gave the wrong answer, but that I gave an insubstantial answer. There are so many things I would do differently.
And in the next interview I will. Hopefully I redeemed myself later in the interview when I really started to feel confident about the interaction. The interviewers were really kind, and so maybe they’ll give me a little bit of leeway when they make their recommendations.
Alright. There’s still five more interviews I have lined up at various placements as well as all the jobs I haven’t even applied for yet.
In Medias Res #4.75: The gauntlet is thrown!
Had my first phone interview this morning. Still decompressing from all of the adrenaline I burned through in the interview and the anxiety I built up waiting for the call, so I can’t really say anything interesting about it. But that feeling of anticipation is over. Oh yeah it’s here. And I am wiped out.
Pick Me-Choose Me-Hire Me #6-
I just need something to happen, I need a sign that things are going to change. I need a reason to go on. I need some hope! ~Meredith GreyTwo words:DUKE INTERVIEWAnd that's all I have to say about that!(PS In my previous post, I refered to my best friend's alias as Clarissa, but he/she quickly reminded me this morning that he/she wanted his/her moniker to be Chloe. My apologies. Chloe is soooooo much cooler than Clarissa.)
Pick Me! Choose Me! Hire Me! #5- Secrets
I'm gonna leak all the wrong secrets. I'm a bad liar. I can't even lie about talking to myself. ~George O'Malley
Well, somebody knows that I write this thing. I have NEVER been able to keep secrets, so I don't know why I thought this would be any different. I was told that the only people who would know my identity would be the people that I chose to tell. (The cat's out the bag, loose lips sink ships, a bad case of word vomit, and all of those other secret-telling analogies will fit perfectly here.) While I decided to tell him/her about this blog, it was more out of hope that I would be able to connect my fear, anguish, apprehension, and frustration with another person in my life. While I love Media Res.' additions, I have no clue where they live, what program they are in, or anything else about them. I think by telling "Clarissa" (it was his/her idea for a fake name, not mine. Trust me, I would have not chosen Clarissa. I would have gone for something sassier like Natasha...or Borat.) this whole job search process became real and exponetially scarier.
Before I dwell on the scary factor of the job search, I need to vent. I decided to devote tonight to the job search process. I figured I could spend some time adding to my Excel spreadsheet of positions, do some online applications, and of course, revise some cover letters. Little did I know that it would take over an HOUR to fill out one online application!!! This thing was ridiculous!!! I understand that the Human Resources department needs to know certain information, but was is it really necessary to do a personal credit check as part of the application process! At one point I really thought they were going to ask for a blood sample. Could you imagine the instructions?
"As part of Generic University's application process, we ask that each application prick their finger, press it to the box on the screen, and then hope that you have a specialized biomedical computer screen that can check for genetic abnormalities that would make you an unsuitable candidate for the position of Residence Hall Director. We seek out diverse candidates, but not if we know you are going to drop dead in the next 1-3 years."
Ridiculous.
I still love life. I just don't love crazy applications.
In Medias Res # 4.5: Briefs
- Two of my dream schools have gotten back to me, and so now all I can think about is how amazing it would be to work there. Is this possible? Could I actually get what I want?
- Some of the other schools I wasn’t even considering have become more attractive through exploration. I could very easily see myself moving, buying a bike, and exploring trails in my newfound free time. I come from a bike family. We can’t park our cars in the garage because of all the bikes (and there’s only four of us).
- I have my first phone interview on Monday. Wish me luck!
Pick Me! Choose Me! Hire Me! #4- Are You Happy Now?
Gratitude, appreciation, giving thanks. No matter what words you use, they all mean the same thing. Happy. We're supposed to be happy. Grateful for friends, family. Happy just to be alive. Whether we like it or not. ~Meredith Gray
I would like all of my loyal readers (all 2 of you) that I have made a momentous decision in my life. I've decided to be happy. Sure, it doesn't sound like a big deal, but I can feel my happiness and gratefulness slowly being sucked away from me in the craziness of the job search. I recently received an e-mail over my program's listproc that my semi-mortal enemy of the program had gotten his dream job. My immediate reaction wasn't happiness or excitement for him and his new life with a great new job. My reaction was jealously. Where in the HELL did that emotion come from? That's simply not me! That is not who I am! I am a happy person dammit, and I don't like that my first reaction was one of judgment and jealously instead of happiness.
After that startling revelation, I started to think about how I came to this point in my life. I have decided that my program is to blame. Sure, I've probably fed into the beast a little bit, but this program truly breeds competition. We are an entire field of leaders. We are used to being the best at everything and leading everything as well. This become problematic when dozens of these personalities are put in the same classrooms, assistantships, and are constantly in competition for grades, attention from professors, and everything else under the sun. In turn, this environment has turned me into someone that I don't like very much.
With that being said, I am going to fully embrace one of my favorite tenets of the FISH Philosophy which is "Choose Your Attitude." I always tell my RAs that they need to choose their attitude and make the best of any situation, so it is about time that I start following my advice.
