Into the Wild...Let the Hunt Begin #10

Let's Talk Professional Development

Okay, I need to get something off of my chest. It is so discouraging to find that an institution, a department, an office, and so on, does not support professional development or does not even have that kind of opportunity on its radar. I was at a conference for the past few days learning and chatting with great people and came to find that some of those people really had no support from their places of business, whether it be financial or moral support. I actually think I've found my "fit" with a professional organization now and I want to continue to go to those conferences (either regional or national) because I got so much out of this one professionally, and personally (yay for new friends!). Now I'm starting to wonder about some of the jobs I've spoken to who appeared to be just "so-so" on the professional development front. While staff meetings can certainly be great ways to develop as a professional, and that's what they say they do, it is no substitution for the support to go to a conference or stay up-to-date on organizational materials/resources. In addition, I love to present (a shocker for an introvert I suppose) and I want to know that my future institution will help me in some way develop presentations for my functional area. I know money is tight everywhere, but where you put it matters and says something. Talking to people who work in offices where they spend the time and the small amount of money to listen to webinars (the entire staff!) was just admirable. I want that. I want an office culture that really values the research out there and the networking that can lead to a great sharing of ideas.

So this conference was a form of my own professional development, right? Let me share what I learned. Top advice from seasoned professionals about job searching:

1) If you have the opportunity at a conference to meet someone who knows a lot of people in your functional area, be sure to stay in touch. One of the people I met apparently remembers everyone he meets, and knows everyone in the functional area. Bet your bottom dollar that I emailed him right when I got home! Great person to have on your side when looking for jobs.

2) If a job interview agenda doesn't include something you'd really want to do, ask for it! As one professional told me, "If the school doesn't give you time to talk to students or see the campus, which does happen unfortunately in our functional area, ask them. As a person who hires entry-level professionals in this area all the time, I would LOVE to hear a candidate say, 'Could you help me set up a campus tour?' or 'How could I incorporate time to talk to some students?' That says a lot about you."

3) As I have heard time and time again, and the seasoned professionals reiterated: You're interviewing the school and much as they are interviewing you. If you ask to meet with students and they are opposed to it, or don't help you with that, well, that right there may be an answer for you as to whether or not that school is for you.

4) Give the people opportunities to get to know you. What I liked about this conference was that, while it was very professional, there was a calmness in the air. It was laid-back at the same time. The professionals got to take the time to know the graduate students attending and really took that stuffy "I must be on my guard all the time to impress you" vibe out of the conference. They said that we will always worry about being professional, and we should be! But there are candidates who are good interviewers...and they want to get past that "interview mode" with graduate students and see your personality and who you really are. If you have the chance to go to dinner with them for example, do so because you can't be on your guard all the time and they want to see that guard drop down.

5) As usual, be yourself. If you are not, then you are interviewing for that job for SOMEONE ELSE and if you accept that offer, YOU won't be happy.

Maybe advice you've all heard, maybe not. But I know this: I have always included questions about professional development opportunities in my interviews and will continue to do so, because conferences like the one I just went to are so valuable in my opinion and I know now that I want to continue my involvement.