Gerber's Gab

• I bid you adieu!

  by Stephanie Gerber | May 03, 2012

  Today is the last day of classes! It’s also my last official day interning with Career Services. *sniff sniff*As I set out to compose this final entry to Gerber’s Gab, there are so many things I want to say, but none of them can make it through to my fingers. My thoughts are a jumble of excitement and sadness and gratitude and relief and worry, and they’re all clogging the flow of writing. Obviously I haven’t spent enough time yet processing all the upcoming changes and emotions …

  To avoid turning this into a therapeutic “Dear Diary” kind of entry, I’ll stick to the most important point by sending a huge THANK YOU, GRACIAS, SHOKRIA to all my family and better half, classmates, friends, co-workers, supervisors, and mentors! I never thought I would earn a master’s degree, but next week I’m walking across a stage to prove I did it. These last two years have been quite a ride, and there were definitely times when I thought about quitting. I’m so glad I didn’t, because now I know I’m ready for the challenges of student affairs work. You all have been the tremendous support system that I needed to find motivation and inspiration.

  If I could offer advice to those considering graduate school, it would be this: Commit. A master’s is only two years, and a Ph.D. is as long as you make it, but they will push to places you haven’t been. If you’re serious about it, you have to commit to this education. You might forego social outings, a livable income, and most aspects of pop culture (When was the last time I saw a movie…?). “Fun” will be redefined as “reading and writing.” But that’s okay, because in the end, you will have a new, critical perspective to offer your chosen profession. It will be worth it.

  Lastly, special thanks go to the amazing people at Career Services, who were gracious enough to let me hang around here an extra semester and fiddle with their Facebook account. Mz Liz and I have entered a verbal agreement that if I find a job in Tucson, I will write periodic blogs from a new professional’s perspective in exchange for a hoard of cookies (chocolate chip, please). I think that’s fair.

  Really, this just marks the end of the past two years. Heck, it may not even be the last entry. So until the next one, I wish you well!
  
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• One word, many meanings

  by Stephanie Gerber | Apr 25, 2012

  This morning I had a good conversation about mentorship with someone in Career Services. He told me that when he was a student, he found an unlikely mentor in his academic advisor, who helped him gain access to major-related work experience. Later, as a professional, he attempted to serve as a mentor in a matching program, but he found the process to be lackluster and instead now prefers to develop the organic kind of relationships that bloom of their own accord. It got me thinking…

  As students, we are often told to find a mentor, someone to help guide us along our educational or career paths. Formal networks in professional organizations and on-campus departments are relatively easy to tap into. Mentorship can also begin with just asking someone you trust, “Would you be a mentor?” Though we each have different interpretations of how a mentor actually does this thing called “mentoring,” we would probably agree that the main goal is relationship formation. Whether formally through a matching process, or informally by letting it grow organically, mentorship can be short-lived or last for years. It’s the kind of thing that can reassure your goals, shake you up and set you straight, or get your foot in the right door.

  I myself have found mentors in a number of supervisors and friends (perhaps unbeknownst to them). My current boss is definitely one of these, as he has modeled leadership, placed me in situations where I can be successful, and given me lots of feedback. I have even watched bosses’ bosses for behavior that think I want to adopt (or avoid). Although some formal mentor relationships involve a sort of hierarchy, in which the seasoned pro coaches the young novice, I have been fortunate to derive the benefits of informal mentorship from a number of unsuspecting people. My better half, for example, has had an enormous influence on my increased ability to maintain a sunny disposition in cloudy moments. Many of my classmates and professors have also inspired motivation and perseverance these last two years.

  Now on the cusp of graduation (16 days! Yes, I’m counting.), I am looking forward to finding more mentors along this path. I will need them to help me acculturate to a new environment and make important career/life decisions. I’m even considering signing up for one of the mentorship networks available through a student affairs professional association. And one day I hope to return some of the favors and act as a mentor for others.

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• What do exams have to do with anything?

  by Stephanie Gerber | Apr 19, 2012

  With only 23 days until graduation, and my self-disclosed senioritis infection, I’m pulling straws today to come up with a blog idea. A nod to Poetry Month? A sigh of relief that Tom Petty’s guitar was recovered just in time for the tour? A funny story about storming out of a job? (Just kidding. I haven’t done that…yet…)

  I’ll just go with what I know – comprehensive exams.

  They were last Friday. The mother of exams. Half the culmination of our master’s education (the other half is still to come…). Three questions in four hours standing between us all and graduation. We had been warned during orientation. Professors alluded to them in class. They said our final exams were practice. “You’ll do fine,” they cooed. We knew the Ph.D. students would have it even harder (written comps + oral comps + dissertation), but there was nothing anyone could do to release some of the pressure.

  Needless to say, I haven’t felt so much stress over an exam in my life. The GRE had nothing on this. I passed up any and all manifestations of fun for weeks. Some people lost sleep. There were nightmares of missing the exams and not being able to graduate. The heat was on. At least I wasn’t alone in my plight – two friends and I formed a study group a month in advance. And that’s where the story turns into a moral.

  As a high school student, I didn’t need to study much. Not really at all, in fact. Then, as an undergrad, I quickly learned I had to read a lot to stay on top of my classes. But again, studying for exams wasn’t a major concern. Well, the game changes in graduate level courses. Reading loads increase exponentially and exams turn into papers and presentations. Thus, comprehensive exams are designed as a way for you to draw upon everything you learned in a set of courses and apply it in an essay answer to one question per course.

  When the two friends and I first got together, we knew we needed a game plan. We decided to devote one weekend to each of the three courses we were taking exams in. We also took a “divide and conquer” approach to the course themes, so we were each responsible for a part. When we met together each weekend, we reviewed content for a few hours. Then, abiding by the mantra “Study long, study wrong,” we broke for the afternoon and regrouped in the evening. By that time, we were ready to compose answers to practice questions. Other groups took different approaches – some wrote all-inclusive study guides, while others made flashcards for each major theme/author. Everybody did what he or she needed to.

  The day before the exams, I knew I needed to relax and conserve energy, much like what athletes do to prepare for a competition. I took off work, slept in, and ate well throughout the day. I studied with my group in the morning to iron out last-minute doubts, and in the afternoon I went shopping (hey, it was for distraction purposes only). That night I had a good dinner, put on some relaxing music, and did some yoga stretches before bed.

  It might sound a little crazy, doing all this just for exams, but in the morning, I felt great! When I sat down and saw my questions, I gave an enormous sigh of relief – I was ready to show those comps who was boss! Four hours later, my classmates and I regrouped to share our reactions. Everyone seemed satisfied with the outcome. We won’t have the results for another couple weeks, but I’m confident we’ll all be graduating.

  Lessoned learned – prepare. And prepare in advance. This is true of exams, interviews, and work assignments. Good preparation has helped me perform well in countless situations; comps were probably just the most stressful. With that said, I’m going to get ready for next week’s presentation…!

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• No one is immune.

  by Stephanie Gerber | Apr 16, 2012

  Graduation is a month away. Just 30 days! Not that I’m counting or anything. And I’m sure you seniors aren’t, either.

  This will be my third (and hopefully last) graduation ceremony. You’d think by now I would be immune to that nasty viral infection, senioritis. But no! I’ve recently come down with it, and it’s as nasty an attack as ever – bouts of listless daydreaming, fits of procrastination, and severe writer’s block.

  This illness has awful timing and typically appears alongside allergy and finals seasons, if not before. Unlike some viruses, hand washing has no preventative power against an infection. Actually, if you’re within at least 30 days of graduating (sometimes more), there’s a 99.99% chance you’ll catch it. And I’m here to warn you that graduation is the only known cure. That’s right. You must wait it out. There is no option but to barrel through the end of this last semester. Write the papers, take the exams, give the presentations, submit the job applications, and make a plan for the recovery period after graduation. If you can stay busy until the end, the effects of senioritis will feel less intense.

  There are some small measures that can be taken to alleviate the symptoms. One of my favorites is making lists, which is nothing new. I always carry a small notebook with me so I can write down to-dos. When I feel feverish, though, the list-making may become more desperate. Some days I will write down everything I have to do – from “Eat breakfast” and “Write just 1 page” to “Take a break at 3p.” I feel tremendously productive throughout the day as I put a clean X through each item.

  I’ve also recently turned to make “post-graduation plans” lists. Go to the Grand Canyon with the fam. Finally read the book my mom bought me for Christmas. Buy more books and read them, too (but only novels!). Travel around India (and everything that entails). Go see a movie. Sleep in on the weekend. Oh, yeah, and get a job! It feels good to know that these things are in my near future, and I find motivation to knock out the end of this semester in order to get there.

  Until May 11^th, we’ll all be suffering a little. Those of us with senioritis, though, will be having an extra special time. Be patient with us, and we’ll do our best to remain normal human beings until we’re finally cured.

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• I quit!

  by Stephanie Gerber | Apr 05, 2012

  Well-meaning parents, friends, career counselors, and professors have plenty of advice to offer during the Great Job Search Adventure – Network. Polish the resume. Wear a suit. Smile. We are asked to conform to what we might call “job search etiquette,” a set of expectations specific to a work context. It covers everything from how you dress and carry yourself to what you say. Ever heard of “playing the game”? Yeah, it’s like that.

  In my personal opinion, business etiquette typically serves a limited, less-than-egalitarian purpose, but exist it does. As social and socialized creatures, people sometimes hold beliefs that aren’t necessary valid or that stem from obscure origins. (Does that tattoo really affect how you perform at a given task? No, but it’s been stigmatized as such.) All right, enough with the soapbox! So we have a few options: know the rules and play by them, know the rules and reject them, or just don’t know the rules. If you choose to breach etiquette (or have the “misfortune” of not knowing), consequences range from a passing moment of discomfort to outright rejection from the job.

  With these things in mind, it’s important for young professionals to be aware of the other end of business etiquette. You know how to conduct a five-star job search (and yay! you got the job), but how do you leave in a professional manner? Yes, you will leave your best-ever job someday; it’s more or less inevitable. No matter what the reason for resigning (and you might have many), there is a set of expectations that your supervisor has about how you should quit and still leave your name intact.

  Every industry, company, and department has its own work culture, so there might be special requirements for how to leave a given job (e.g., your contract requires 4 weeks’ notice). Despite differences, it’s not usually in your best interest to go out in an emotional blaze of glory. The following are some tidbits I gathered from a number of websites (and personal experience):

  To avoid a spontaneous mistake you might regret later, don’t be spontaneous. Spend time in honest self-assessment. Is the job really the problem, or are there actually other things that have you stressed out?

  Be kind, even when you don’t want to. If something about the job really has you upset, let your supervisor know so he/she at least has a chance to fix it. When you’ve decided resigning is the best for all involved, your boss and co-workers will become part of your professional network. Leaving angry puts a terrible ending to your story.

  Give your resignation in writing with an appropriate amount of notice. Two weeks’ notice is typical. You don’t need to compose an essay. “[date] will be my last day of work with [company]” works just fine. Know that your employer will need to replace you, which means time and money, as well as extra work for your co-workers. If you want to maintain positive rapport with these people, don’t put them in a tight spot by walking out.

  Not everyone quits because of an abusive environment, a negligent boss, and poor working conditions. Sometimes there’s a conflict in philosophy, or a poor match in objectives. You might have to move or leave to take care of a loved one. You may have even received another offer too good to pass up. It is entirely possible to quit and still maintain great relationships with your former boss and co-workers. Whatever the logic in your decision, know that you are responsible for the consequences of how you choose to resign.
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• Two-Way Streets

  by Stephanie Gerber | Mar 30, 2012

  During my brief career thus far in student affairs, I’ve had the opportunity to advise, mentor, and supervise a number of students. I love building relationships and getting to know people, because I really, truly care. I derive great pleasure from finding consensus and working on a team. But I hate conflict! I’ve spent most of my life avoiding it. Ironically, these parts of my personality have posed some of the greatest challenges during my evolution into a supervisor.

  At first, it was difficult to step out of my youthful identity and take on the role of a good boss, because I really just wanted everyone to play nice and do their jobs. I tried being a friend. When that didn’t work, I went the opposite route – smite them with discipline! I wonder why that didn’t work, either.

  Unfortunately, I haven‘t yet found a “professionalism and supervision” course. I’ve had to make some mistakes (okay, a lot of mistakes) and learn on a case-by-case basis. If I’ve understood anything, it’s this: supervision is a two-way relationship. “What is that supposed to mean?” you may ask. It means that both parties have needs, and both parties have obligations.

  As a supervisor, I am obligated to maintain the integrity of our department, which means spending time with employees to learn about their strengths and weaknesses. I want to make them superstars, so I will assign tasks at which I know they will succeed. I will also help point out things for them to work on. I’ll even provide the resources to address those things. My greatest interest is to see my employees do well, grow, and move on to the next best thing.

  But I need some things in order to fulfill my obligations. I need my employees to satisfy the basic demands of the job, which exist for good reason (even if they don’t know it). Though they may seem meaningless, there are parts of the job that require paperwork, communication, and doing things a certain way. If done incorrectly, we talk about it. If they still don’t get it, I resort to punitive action. Believe me, I don’t like that part. In fact, I dislike it so much that I tend to either turn into a robot, or I overreact and end up sounding too authoritarian. Either way, I can seem intimidating. I’m still working on finding a balance here.

  Similarly, employees have needs and obligations. For example, I need my supervisor to give me constructive feedback. I need some space to do my job and make decisions. I also like a challenge, so I want opportunities for development. At the same time, I’m going to fulfill my responsibilities to my supervisor. These include things like being prepared for our meetings, maintaining open communication, and upholding a respectful, professional attitude. Simple, yes, but these all have gone a long way toward cultivating a healthy relationship with my supervisor.

  Every industry and every job is different, but my perception is that supervisor-employee relationships transcend those differences. We need professional relationships in order to function well, to evolve, and to see work as more than “just a job.” As lifelong learners, we will experience bumps along whatever trajectory we choose, but we can’t get stuck in the potholes. What did they used to say in Texas? “Get back in the saddle!”

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• Attending a Professional Conference

  by Stephanie Gerber | Mar 21, 2012

  It’s always mixed in there with the other tidbits of career/life advice – Join a professional association, and go to a conference. Right, right. I attended some conferences in my previous lives as an undergrad then as a full-time employee, and some of them weren’t that special. Some of them weren’t even relevant. And that made for a boring experience.

  Then, when I started grad school, all the professors said, “There are 2 major professional associations for student affairs people. Pick one and join!” So I did. I mean, I paid the membership fee. And then proceeded to do nothing. I’ll admit I was a little incredulous. Based on my previous experiences, I really didn’t think I had much to gain, so I sidestepped around the resources and avoided getting involved. But when one of the associations was hosting its annual, mega, super-huge conference in Phoenix, I thought, “Eh, why not go and see?”

  That was my Spring Break – Running around the Phoenix Convention Center with 2,000 other people from morning till night for 3 days. It was fantastic. My only regret was having waited so long to get on board!

  Networking is one of the biggest reasons people attend these things, and it was surprisingly easy. People were so friendly and excited to be there, all I had to do was stand in a line or sit down for 2 minutes, and *BAM* I was in a conversation. This particular association is a nice mix of students (who are looking for jobs) and professionals (who are hiring for entry-level positions), so I took advantage of the opportunity to say, “I’m about to finish my master’s and I’m excited to start my career.” The reply was either good advice about job searching or information about a vacancy. So simple!

  The other great part of the convention was actually the sessions. From 7:30am until 5:30pm, there were at least 15 sessions to choose from each hour, with a motivating “featured speaker” to start each day. There were also meetings and socials until 10 or 11 pm, for those so inclined. The plethora of options was a bit overwhelming, but I decided to pick the ones I was most interested in and catch up with my friends later. That turned out to be a good decision, because I’m still thinking about a few of the presentations that sparked student affairs inspiration for me.

  As with any other professional association, there are many other ways to get involved, like volunteering at events and joining subcommittees or interest groups.  This particular association has 25 such groups! Many of them sponsor events and publications, and several even have a mentor matching program. After hearing a friend wax eloquent about the benefits of involvement, I knew I wanted to commit more time to next year’s event.

  All in all, it was a great experience that I highly recommend, with one caveat – Don’t jump off the cliff just because everyone else is a conference junkie. Join an organization and attend an event when you’re ready, when you’re motivated enough to take something from it. As for myself, I would go so far as to say that I am now a “conference convert” and can’t wait for next year!
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• The Mock Interview – Pt. 2

  by Stephanie Gerber | Mar 07, 2012

  Remember the good ol’ days? The era of part-time student work, when the greatest effort you had to make in securing a job was setting up a schedule that didn’t conflict with classes or clubs? Those days are long gone (for me, at least). It’s time for what I like to call a “big girl job,” the objective of my Great Job Search Adventure.

  These days, I’ve been reflecting a lot on what I value in a big girl job, but I can’t just stop there. The job search is competitive, even in student affairs, so I’m also doing what I can to prepare myself as a successful candidate. After getting my resume and cover letter skills sharp, I’m ready for the interview phase. That’s why several weeks ago, I scheduled a mock interview in Career Services.

  In my last entry, I shared how I was preparing for the mock; in this second part, I’ll describe how it went.

  It was a chaotic Friday morning. Without going into the messy details, let’s just say that I arrived at Career Services exactly on time (in other words, late! 15 minutes early is on time.). I told you there would be mistakes. Luckily, my suit was so stunning that it distracted the career counselor from my faux pas.

  She introduced herself and walked me to her office. She had prepared a special set of student affairs-focused questions, which she immediately began to fire off. I was in interview mode (i.e., serious and nervous) and started by word-vomiting the first things that came to mind. A few questions in, I started to mellow out and was giving longer, more detailed answers. Thirty minutes later, it was over and we debriefed. I had survived!

  What I learned was this:

  1. The interview is a time to talk about yourself – You have lived an interesting life and picked up skills from a variety of experiences that qualify you for this job. Draw from all those experiences in crafting your answers.
  2. Think of the interview as a conversation between two people meeting for the first time. You want the interviewer to know you well in a short time, so you have to share details and specific examples to quantify your answers. If you say “I’m a good communicator,” follow up with a story that proves it.
  3. In person or by phone, your voice inflection and body language give cues about who you are. I’m relatively expressive (and sometimes goofy) in real life, but in the mock, I was on “formal” lockdown. I missed the opportunity to show my “zesty” side.

  All told, the mock was a great experience. The career counselor gave me constructive feedback and let me know she was cheering me on to success. I have a second one scheduled later this month, at which time I hope to apply these lessons learned.

  This closes out Gerber’s Gab until after Spring Break. I’ll be at a professional conference (hmm, I think I have my next topic…). I hope you all have a fun, restful week!

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• The Mock Interview, Pt. 1

  by Stephanie Gerber | Mar 01, 2012

  Part of The Great Job Search Adventure requires that we need not only apply to jobs – we must also interview for them. Sorry, no freebies. So far this semester, I’ve submitted a handful of applications, and I’m checking job boards regularly for positions I would be interested in. Now it’s time to bring my game face to the Search – I scheduled a mock interview with one of the fabulous career counselors here at Career Services, and it will take place later this week. The timing couldn’t be better, because yesterday I scheduled my first phone interview for next week. Thus begins a new phase in the Adventure!

  In this 2-part series, I’ll share my idealistic perspective (I mean, infinite wisdom) about the mock – how I’m preparing for it and how I execute. Hopefully you gain some insight and don’t repeat my mistakes; there will be many to learn from.

  Prep Step 1: Buy a suit (no, a legit one). Check. Several department stores have outrageous post-Christmas suit sales as they clear the racks. Highly recommended. A gift card from my sister was more than enough to fund that purchase. (Thanks, Lo!)

  Prep Step 2: Schedule the mock, well in advance. You will need prep time. Check.

  Prep Step 3: Find some questions appropriate to your job search (assuming you know where you’re headed), and practice. Check (-ish). That’s where I am now in the process. My first instinct was to search the Internet.  A quick query for “student affairs job interview questions” dug up some of the following golden nuggets:

  What’s your favorite color M&M?
  What cereal best describes you as a person?

  If you were planning a meeting, how would you arrange the chairs?

  Questions like this aren’t necessarily designed to dig up some deep, underlying truth about who you are. I think they keep the mood light, give you a chance to show off some creativity, and give clues to both parties about organizational/personal values. Actually, most interview questions are trying to get at 1 of 3 things: strengths, motivation, or fit, as explained in this article. Can you do the job? Will you love the job? and Can we tolerate working with you? Take the following questions from the same query as before:

  Describe a supervisory relationship that has been unsuccessful and why. (strengths)
  How do you stay engaged and passionate about your work responsibilities? (motivation)

  What have you learned about our institution while investigating this employment opportunity? (fit)

  It’s never too early to start contemplating answers to possible interview questions. If you’re in the early stages of your career search, Career Services has a great Interviewing Guidelines document to help you get ready and practice some questions common to any field.

  Speaking of practice – I’d better get back to it!

  
  

  
  

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• Life-Altering Vows

  by Christopher Jansmann | Jan 18, 2012

  Welcome back to a new season of Gab! If you haven’t noticed, we’re already 3 weeks into 2012 (buh-bye, January!). Did you make a New Year’s resolution? …Do you still remember what it was?

  Every January 1^st, many Americans “resolve” to do something outrageously important and life-changing. You’ve heard them all – Lose 100 pounds. Go to the gym every day for 2 hours. Read more. Call your mom. Volunteer. Be a better person. They’re either too unrealistic or too vague to attain (I challenge you to define “Be a better person.”).

  Nevertheless, this year I have made not one, but TWO 2012 resolutions! Yes, after years of lounging around and being a bad person, I have resolved to solve my problems in two simple steps:

  1. Get a job.
  2. Reduce my use of emoticons.

  Not necessarily in that order. I’m pretty sure these two things will lead to improved well-being and happiness, and I’ve mapped out a plan to achieve them. This week, I’m practicing resume- and cover letter-writing skills in one of my courses. On February 3^rd, you can bet I’ll be doing a Mock Interview (at Career Services, of course). In March, it’s game-time, as I start applying to open positions. If I can land a full-time job by December, twenty-twelve will have been a success!

   

  As for the emoticons… I admit to smiley-face abuse. It’s got to stop.

  So if the world doesn’t end this year, I’ll keep you in the loop about these resolutions…!  :-) *doh!*

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