The Second Search

The Second Search

When I first decided it was time to start job searching, I was in my third year as a Residence Director.  The timing seemed perfect – at this point I had chaired several committees, was advising a group of students who would all graduate in May, and felt I had accomplished a large part of what I was charged to do when I entered the position, namely strengthen and improve the living-learning program in my building.  I felt confident and prepared.

Job searching after grad school had been so easy.  We were prepared by other professionals for this process as if it were a class.  There were resume reviews, mock interviews, countless question and answer sessions about the job search process and how to prepare.  I went to TPE, I did second round and on campus interviews, and then I had a job.  It all flowed so naturally and easily that when it came time to search again I expected much of the same.  It seemed I’d done what I was supposed to do to prepare myself for the next level as I had back then, so my search should be quick and successful just like the first time right?

Sort of, there were almost success in that first round of searching.  I had a final round interview for a job I really wanted but missed by a hair, and had offers for jobs that turned out to be more of a lateral move and too similar to my current position. 

By then the second guessing of myself was rampant and nearly constant.  From the practical - Did my cover letter not accurately convey my experience and passion?  Was I annoying or off-putting in interviews?  To the somewhat ridiculous – Maybe this is the world telling me I’m in the wrong profession?  Maybe I’m truly bad at this work and no one has directly told me? I felt sure that if I didn’t find a position and soon I would be trapped and people would start to question why I spent so long in my first position.

I wanted to quit, but with job searching it is so painfully obvious that for any chance of success you have to keep trying.  So, as I entered my fifth year as an RD I resigned myself to the fact that the search would continue but I decided I would make the most of my situation and enjoy my current job as much as I could.

Finally in early September this year I got a call with an offer for an academic advising job.  A position I frankly was surprised to even get an interview for and for which I felt I surely didn’t have a chance.  I happily accepted, ending a search that had started over a year and a half ago. 

I can’t say I was exactly prepared for that second job search, at least not how I was coming out of grad school and I feel as though many professionals I’ve talked to have found this to be the case.  For those who are in the process or nearing it, I’d like to offer some things I learned:

• Be open with your search with your current supervisor(s).  I wasn’t at first as I felt guilty that I was thinking of leaving them.  I only broached the subject with them when I needed to ask for references.  To my surprise my supervisors were understanding and excited for me.  As my search went on they even sent me postings for things they thought I might be interested in or was qualified for.  This turned into a big confidence boost.
• Don’t be afraid to discuss your job search with others.  I found the more people I talked about it with (even when I was feeling like a failure) the more help and suggestions I received.
• Stretch the scope of your search.  There were some positions I applied to that seemed so matched with my experience and skills that I found it hard to believe I wouldn’t get an interview and I interviewed for positions that when I applied I felt I was doing so on a whim or in desperation as my experience was only minimally matched and I would have to rely heavily on “transferable skills.”
• Do not compare yourself to others.  A large part of my insecurity came from comparing myself to friends from who were on second or third positions already.
• Enjoy the experiences you’re having in your current position while searching. After four years in a position, there were some things I could put on auto-pilot and this allowed me time and energy to try new things, think critically about them, and really relish in experiences.  The additional time in my position also allowed me to advise another organization and see the law student I was supervising through to his graduation.
• Be confident and don’t give up on what you’re looking for (within reason).  Objectively, I knew I was qualified and ready to move on but when I didn’t find success right away or even after some time I really questioned if I was trying for too much and should I just make a lateral move.  In the end, not doing this paid off.
• Relax.  I can’t say it’s completely analogous to the old dating advice “when you stop looking it’ll happen,” but it helped when I finally loosened up about the whole process and accepted it’ll happen when it happens. I think this mentality led me to be more open in my options and more relaxed when I interviewed.
• Expect nothing and everything.  Especially for those who have followed a very traditional path into student affairs, it can be easy to think one thing naturally comes from another, it doesn’t.  This can be both frustrating and wonderful at the same time.

It may have taken a year and a half, but in the end I am very happy with where I ended up and wish the same for anyone in the process or thinking about it!

Kristin Glinzak is in her first year academic advising at the University of Connecticut and previously spent four years as a residence director at Western New England University. Her twitter handle is @kglinzak.