Take Me as I am, Hire Me, or Leave Me 21

Trust the Process.


I have heard these words over and over again since I've started grad school. Trust the process, trust the process. What does that mean exactly? These were words spoken to me,  which I never understood until Friday. After waiting, and waiting and more waiting I finally got a phone call in the  afternoon. "Congratulations, we would love for you to join our team!" My stomach did a few flip-flops, a smile appeared on my face, tears were rolled down my face as I said YES on the spot! There was no need of negotiation or time to think about it, this IS the perfect fit for me. Words can not express my excitement. After getting off the phone I let out a very loud WOOOHOOOO!! My co-workers came running to my office.. "What happened"  they asked at once!  "I got the job!!" I told them with tears in my eyes! After all the hugs, high fives and congratulations it was time to call my mentors & friends.  The best moment of the day was watching my family's reaction to my announcement. It was priceless, words cannot describe it.   




As I spent the weekend on cloud 9 reflecting,  I wondered how I got so lucky. This job is everything I wanted: a small private Catholic women's college,  in res life working in a first year hall in a great region both for NASPA and housing.   Only 48 women's colleges remain and only 7 positions were open.. and I got one of them. AMAZING. . I don't think this happens very often.. I mean everything I want, one interview and a job offer.  So this is what it means to trust the process. 


My advice for those still searching is:  know what you want,  do your research, be proactive, and trust the process. There is a job for everyone, just keep an open mind and a positive attitude:) 



I will have to say  I am very, very blessed. For the experiences I've had in undergrad and grad school, the support from my mentors and from the Twitter community. Thank you. 


There's a quote that says:
"You are exactly where you are supposed to be at this moment, no matter where you are and no matter what you have done – you are right where you are supposed to be. " Unknown


I am right where I am suppose to be; moving to the Midwest, with a wonderful staff, at a wonderful university. They took me for who I am, and HIRED ME!!!


Thank you for joining me on my very short journey, I hope you enjoyed it. 

Small Town, Big (City) Dreams #19

On-Campus Time

On Wednesday, I was offered my first on-campus interview!  The position incorporates residence life hall responsibilities and judicial affairs for a small campus located in an east coast city!  Perhaps this small town, big city dreams has the potential to come true, after all! I will have a little under two weeks to prepare for the interview, including a 20 minute presentation.  I am very excited about the interview, but am nervous that the location is too far from my hometown, and my network of supportive friends and family.  Venturing far from what is familiar will be something that I have to strongly consider after the interview experience.

On top of on-campuses, I am preparing for the last week of my graduate career. The feeling is actually unreal—it feels like I have been here longer than two years, investing more time and energy that I did in my undergraduate experience.  The feeling is bittersweet, as I prepare to say goodbye to a cohort of individuals that have meant so much to me over the past few years. 

Take me as I am, Hire me, Or Leave Me 20

Welcome to the Waiting Game!

Tomorrow could be the day that changes my life for the next three to four years. I am excited, nervous, and fearful all rolled into one. Over the past two weeks, I've had some self doubt. Not because I didn't think I did well in my interview, but  I am having some self doubt. Did this university really feel like a good fit or am I making things up in my head because I don't have any other leads?  Or maybe the interview really didn't go as well as I thought it did. Yes, all these questions lead to one thing, I am scared of commitment when I don't have any other options on the table.  There I said it. I scared... scared of commitment... scared of commitment with no other choices...
There have been many "what if" questions flying through my head. I actually have been making myself sick over it.
 I know this is a wonderful position because it has almost everything I want.

Let me break down the pros:

I can bring my cat with me, the director is amazing and I can see myself growing into a stronger professional, I would be working in a first year hall, I like the type of student that attends the university, the university is very small, its religious, I will have summers off! ( who wouldn't love this?!)

Cons:
The town is very small, I am far from family, I am scared.

Ok, clearly the pro's outweigh the cons, so why am I freaking out? This is my first on campus and I have nothing compare it to. I'm scared something better might come along. Deep down I know I will be happy here. If they offer me the position tomorrow I think I already know the answer!

 "When we have arrived at the question, the answer is already near" Ralph Waldo Emerson


I will keep you posted!

Small Town, Big (City) Dreams #18

Uncertainty 

After hearing back from a potential employer that my candidacy was no longer being considered I solicited feedback from the hiring committee in order to prepare for future interviews. While the person responded quickly to my inquiry about where they were in the search process, they did not respond quickly to my other email. In fact, it has been two weeks and I have not received a response. This is discouraging to me because I find that my mentors, supervisors, and professors have told me that employers are receptive to helping candidates in their job search, and most are receptive to providing such information to candidates.

So far, about 4 people in my cohort have accepted offers. The rest are either in the same spot as me (conducting phone interviews) or attending on campus interviews. There is an air of closure lingering in the air through a lot of our conversations and activities we partake in. I am not sure I am ready to leave the comfort of my cohort, or my University. For many of us, we are at a crossroads—ready to begin our professional careers, but unsure how the experience of embarking on unchartered territory will feel.

With two weeks to graduation, I thought I would be in a much different place right now. I hope within the next week I will have much better news!

Take me As I Am, Hire Me, or Leave Me! #19

For all the job searchers out there, remember who you are and the right job will come along! Keep your head up!

Take me As I Am, Hire Me, or Leave Me! #18

Throwing My Eggs Into One Basket


As I left the beautiful sunshine state to head to the Midwest for my on campus I started to get nervous. Thoughts of what ifs wondered through my head.
What if I don't click with the staff?
What if I hyped up this school so much in my head I don't like it?
What if my luggage gets lost?
What if I don't bring my A game?
What if I don't answer a question?
What if the students don't like me?
They went on and on in my head for the first 45 minutes of the flight.

Then it occurred to me. The director invited me on to campus for a reason. The reason being they enjoyed my phone interview and liked my experiences on my resume. At that point, I calmed down and put on some Celine Dion :)

As the wheels touched the ground, I put a smile on my face, read a encouraging text from my mentor and hit the ground running. I was greeted by a smiling face of one of the hall directors. She waited with me until I got my bag and off we went back to the hotel. After I settled in I met the director, the same hall director and we went to dinner.
As snow flurries hit my face and I was freezing the director said" Where is that FL sunshine you promised me?" I laughed and knew everything was going to be ok!
We had a great dinner. We spoke about traveling, our pets, my grad program, the Easter holiday, and so much more. I slowly started to see myself working here.

After they dropped me off at the hotel, I  called my mentor. I  told her everything! Her excitement and encouraging words prepared me for the next day!

I interviewed from 8:30-4:00. it is a very long day but I really enjoyed myself. I met with 6 members of the university who I'd be working closely with. That was my hardest round of interviews. It was the first of the day and I didn't feel  I answered all the questions to the best of my ability. I had trouble with some of the faith based questions. But it's ok, I pushed through.

Next, I met with the hall directors, HR, 2 groups of students, VPSA, toured the campus and finally more time with the director. By the end of the day I was exhausted! But as I was departing the director said, "I've heard nothing but good things from everyone you interviewed with today and I feel like I already know so much about you!" Wow! I guess I didn't do so bad!

I also found out I am one of two candidates and the director will be making an offer next week!! The pressure is on!!

I can see myself working here:)


So, Take me as I am and HIRE me  please!!!

Small Town, Big (City) Dreams #17

Anything Goes!

This week I had three phone interviews: two pre-scheduled and one impromptu. The two pre-scheduled interviews went really well, although the two campuses in terms of student population, size, and positions are NOTHING ALIKE. This has created a little bit of a dilemma for me, as I prepared to answer the questions “Why University X and why position X?” Other than that, I feel as though I performed very well in the interviews, and I expect to hear back within the week about them.

As for the one impromptu interview…I had applied to a Career Services position at a small, liberal arts college a few weeks ago and received a voice message from the director of the office telling me that she’d like to schedule a time to talk to me about the position a little bit more. When I called her back, I was walking from one meeting to another—the only free time I had that day. That conversation, which I had envisioned as a phone call to schedule a future phone interview, turned into a fifteen minute “mini-interview”, where the director asked me my availability for an on-campus, permission to contact my references, and my salary requirements! Needless to say, I was not prepared for such a conversation to occur during my first interaction with that office!

I’m not sure what this occurrence taught me other than that it is necessary to be prepared for anything in the interview process. I hadn’t been asked before about a salary requirement, but in hindsight, I should have thought this out before giving the director a call back.

Moral of the story: Anything goes in the job search!

Take Me As I Am, Hire Me, or Leave Me! #17

The Prep

Over the past week my mentors, students, friends and boss have been helping me prep for the big interview that will take place on Wednesday. I received my schedule last Thursday,  and for some reason that made everything feel "official"! That's when my excitement turned into a ball of nerves. EEEK!  There is so much to think about when you accept an on campus. From reading the school newspaper to the policies of on campus living to the strategic plan.  I  believe my mentors have done a fantastic job prepping me, now it's time for me to take control, be confident and just be myself.
 Deep in my gut I know this is THE job, however  I know that I shouldn't put all my eggs in one basket. Thus far this position feels like a good fit. After my phone interview, I wanted go work for this university NOW! We clicked so well.  I can't wait to meet all the students, staff and take a tour of the campus! Lets hope they take me as I am :)

I will keep you posted!

Small Town, Big (City) Dreams #16

For res life friends who are searching now or in the future, you should check out the Horowitz Live-On Report! It was really helpful to see salary, willingness to accommodate pets, whether they require a Masters degree, the number of student staff under supervision, and the number of residents.

Hope this is helpful in your searches!

http://www.vacuho.org/resources/2010_live-in_live-on_Report_by_horowitz%20.pdf

Small Town, Big (City) Dreams #15

The Waiting Game

The past week has been a waiting game. While friends have gotten offers to interview on campus at various institutions, I’ve been writing new cover letters. While friends have been arranging travel plans and preparing for presentations, I have been day dreaming about getting my first phone call, offering an on-campus interview. This time is uncertain. Before, I was OK with the uncertainty, but the closer in proximity May becomes, the more I begin to question my current path.

There’s something to be said about uncertainty. Some are able to dwell in possibilities, others in fear. For me, I dwell in memories of being a student and reflect upon what life will be like next year without class, the faculty, and homework assignments. I reflect upon what it will be like without having a cohort of 25 people who are truly supportive, and have been my partners through the past two transformative years of my life. The thought of the “real world”, making new friends, orienting myself to a new network of colleagues is both terrifying and exciting. These challenges are certainly not ones that I have experienced before, nor are they ones that my past reflection has truly prepared me for.

So far, I have ten active applications out. I'm waiting to hear back from two second round interviews, have declined one on-campus offer, and have been removed from the candidate process from two positions. This semester has been quite the whirlwind! I can't wait to see what else is in store!