Monday, March 23rd 1:15- 2:05pm

Meghan Godorov, Mount Holyoke College Sarah Bollinger, Muhlenberg College

HIRED! Navigating the

Interview Process as a Graduate Student

Getting to Know You

#NASPAHired

Getting HIRED: 8 Tips

1. Research• Reflect on your skills

• Learn more about institution/department

• Conduct informational interviews

•Know what to expect in the process

2. Online Presence

• Importance o Permalance societyo Messaging/ownershipo Visibility/brand

• Definition: any existence of an individual/business that can be found via an online search (google search)

2. Online Presence (cont.)

Appeal & Exclusivity

Creativity

Clarity

3. Netiquette

3. Netiquette (cont.)Phone Interview

•Use a landline/ Turn off your cell phone•Use speakerphone•Be patient•Prepare notes•Use a quiet location/no distractions•SMILE

3. Netiquette (cont.)

Skype

•Provide a Professional Username•Background/View of Webcam•Practice•Eye contact

–Look at the camera – not the screen•No Distractions

4. Sell Yourself

Tell me about yourself?

4. Sell Yourself (cont.)

Why do you want to work at XYZ College?

4. Sell Yourself (cont.)

Why do you want to work in xyz functional area?

4. Sell Yourself (cont.)

STAR •Situation: give an example of a situation •Task: describe the tasks involved in that situation

•Action: talk about the various steps you took

•Results: what results directly followed

4. Sell Yourself (cont.)

Tell me about a new program you implemented.

4. Sell Yourself (cont.)

Now it’s your turn.

•Practice mock interview questions with a partner for the next 3 minutes.

•Your partner will give you feedback for 1 minute.

•Repeat.

4. Sell Yourself (cont.)

• Tell me about yourself.

• What are your long and short term goals?

• Tell me about a new program you implemented.

• How would your previous supervisor describe you?

• Why do you want to work in XYZ (functional area)?

5. Prepared Questions

6. Thank you

Whom should I send it to?When should I send it?What should I include?Does it really matter?Email/Card?

6. Thank you (cont.)

Dear Mr/Ms. Last Name:It was a pleasure to meet with you on Wednesday, October 10 in the XYZ Center. Thank you for taking the time to discuss my qualifications for the Assistant Director of ABC position. After our meeting, I am even more enthusiastic about a position with your office.  

< Sell yourself again: Remind them you are the one!>

I look forward to hearing from you in the near future regarding my status. Again, thank you for your interest in me as a candidate.

Sincerely, Your Name

7. References• Choose wisely.

• Don’t assume your supervisor will be a good reference.

• Keep your references in the loop.

• Provide accurate contact information.

• Send your references a Thank You after you secure a position.

8. Negotiating Offers

Reflection/Discussion

• Top takeaway(s)

• How prepared are you for your job search?

• Write final action item for search, interview prep or negotiation/Share with peer

Additional Resources• Interview Questions

–Student Affairs General–Student Activities & Unions–The Muse- 51 Questions you Should be Asking

• Netiquette: Phone & Email• Thank You: Thank You is Not Dead• Negotiation

–Salary- Wage Project, Higher Ed Jobs- Salary, Simply Hired

–Cost of Living- NerdWallet, CNN Money

References• Bresciani, M., Todd, D.K., et al. (2010, July 24). Professional Competency Areas for Student Affairs Practitioners. Retrieved from https://www.naspa.org/images/uploads/main/Profes sional_Competencies.pdf

• Charalambous, A. (2013, September 8). Developing Your Personal Brand for Career Success Branding. Retrieved from http://www.business2community.com/branding/developing-personal-brand-career-success-0608696#1Zzd3wm01l9gFuvs.99

• Guiseppi, M. (2010, February 12). 10 Steps to an Authentic, Magnetic Personal Brand. Retrieved from http://executivecareerbrand.com/10-steps-to-an-authentic-magnetic-personal-brand/

• Schulzke, M. (2010, June 2). How to make your travels part of your career brand. Retrieved from http://b2b.meetplango.com/2010/06/how-to-make-your-travels-part-of-your-career-brand/

References• Kolb, D. (1983). Experiential Learning: Experience as the source of learning and development. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.

• Krumboltz, J. D., Foley, P. F. and Cotter, E. W. (2013). Applying the Happenstance Learning Theory to Involuntary Career Transitions. The Career Development Quarterly, 61: 15–26

• PriceWaterhouseCoopers, LLP. Step up to Stand Out: Your Personal Brand Workshop [PDF document]. Retrieved from http://www.pwc.com/us/en/careers/campus/assets/img/programs/personal-brand-workbook.pdf

• Simko, J. (2012). What is a career brand? Retrieved from http://www.jessicasimko.com/1092-2/?awt_l=E2pww&awt_m=Kf4bhDT12UJfzB

• Super, D.E. (1990). A life-span, life-space approach to career development. In D. Brown L. Brooks, & Associates, Career choice and development: Applying contemporary theories to development (2nd ed). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Connect with Us!Meghan Godorovmgodorov@mtholyoke.edu@MeghanGodorovwww.linkedin/in/meghanlynngodorov

Sarah Bollingersbollinger@muhlenberg.eduwww.linkedin.com/in/sarahbollinger

© Sarah Bollinger and Meghan Godorov, 2015