Into the Wild...Let the Hunt Begin #3

Taking the plunge!

I've done it. I submitted my first application for a job! Well...two jobs actually! And now the worry sets in. These two jobs are the at the top of my list so far. Is that bad? Should I have not submitted applications to my top choices FIRST? Should I have applied to other jobs I found that were maybe #3 or #4? No, that's silly. Why should I spend all that time preparing applications for jobs I find that are just "so-so?" I think I made the right choices. And I don't want these jobs to be "the one that got away!" I decided quickly to apply to them so I can be one of the first applicants. At least I won't have any regrets about that. So now we wait. I really just hope I get an interview.

Speaking of interviews, let's talk about what I think I can expect. I am in a little bit of a different search than most of the students in my cohort. I am not looking for residential life positions, mainly because I have no residential life experience (like, ZERO). Most of my experience (and passion) actually has to do with a blend of student affairs and academic affairs. So the jobs that are most appealing to me are the ones that are not being promoted at the national conferences like NASPA or ACPA placement exchanges. That's a little bit of a bummer because I wanted that crazy interview experience. So I think what I can look forward to are phone interviews.

I hate phone interviews. Who likes phone interviews, really? I like reading people and the energy in a room. In a face-to-face interview, you can tell if you mesh with the staff in the office. All of the non-verbals are helpful to the interview itself. Removing that piece just makes me feel awkward (it's hard to read people on the phone!). But anyway, I am looking for academic advising positions. I love academic advising so much. But I've been hearing that it isn't really an area that will, say, fly you out for an interview. Oh and did I mention I'm doing a national search? Yeah, so I've been researching the areas online because I am not sure how likely it will be to get an invitation to fly cross-country for an interview for an advising position. Fingers crossed, though, because I love meeting people face-to-face. But I'm pretty confident a phone interview is what I should be expecting at this moment... so fingers crossed for THAT first.

I guess practicing my phone interview skills is another thing to add to my "to do" list.