Hi, Curtis! Let's start by your reacting to some of the same questions that Alicia answered, as below.
1.) Describe your path to your current position. What led you to make the choices (staying for an extended time) that you did? Were there any triggering factors that motivated your choices?
2.) Think of a difficult situation that you've faced in your career. How did you respond to it? Would you have done anything differently if you could have?
3.) What would you say are the keys to success in the field? What do you like most about the work and what do you like least?
If there are other points of advice you'd like to offer, feel free
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Hello all! Dr. Miller, thanks for the introduction.
ReplyDeleteI suppose I'll begin with a brief introduction of myself and launch into the questions provided. As I'm sure Dr. Miller has shared with you, I am a 2005 alumnus of the CSA program and currently work as assistant director for programs in the Office of Campus Activities & Programs at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. This is my first and only position following grad school, so I've been in this role nearly five years. With that, I'll segue into the first question (I'll use separate comments)
As I mentioned, I came into this position following grad school. I first met with my current supervisor at NASPA's placement (I was fortunate in that it was in Tampa that year) and after phone and on-campus interviews, I was offered the position. What made it particularly attractive is that my responsibilities include something with which I was already familiar and comfortable, as well as something new. My graduate assistantship was with the Campus Activities Board, and my position includes advising UNCG's Campus Activities Board, as well as overseeing the art gallery and game room in the Elliott University Center, our student union.
ReplyDeleteI'm nearing my fifth year in my current position, which by most standards is a long time for an entry level student affairs position. I don't think I initially intended to be here quite this long, but a number of factors contributed to my staying, and though it wasn't my original plan, I wouldn't currently have it any other way.
One of the largest factors contributing to remaining in the area, if not the same position, is that my fiancee first began working and later began a graduate program here at UNCG. She obtained her MS/Ed.S. in counseling this past December and is currently working and seeking licensure here in NC. That is an additional tie to the area, but perhaps the largest--physically and financially--is the fact that we purchased a house here in Greensboro about two years ago, so we will be remaining in the area at least a little while longer.
That said, I understand the challenges and potential limitations to remaining in the same position for an extended period of time, especially when it comes time to job search again. My supervisor has been really good about allowing me a breadth of experience on campus so that it does not look as though my five years here--more by the time I leave--were spent stagnant. Perhaps my largest such opportunity was the opportunity to write a position piece detailing a vision for campus programming here at UNCG, which ultimately led to a significant increase in our programming budget. With that comes additional responsibilities, as our programming landscape will increase quite a bit next year.
In addition, I've had the opportunity to seek out experiences for myself. One hole I recognize from my current experience is the opportunity to supervise. I will have responsibilities for a graduate assistant this coming academic year, but in addition to that, I've been able to seize comparable opportunities in other places. For example, through getting involved in the National Association for Campus Activities (NACA), my professional organization, I now have the opportunity to supervise three of my colleagues across the South region as a part of the Regional Conference Program Committee. In addition, I have served on our Division of Student Affairs' staff development committee, of which I am currently chair-elect. Next year, as chair, I will be overseeing the functions of seven subcommittees and the professional staff members who have responsibility for those areas.
Regarding a difficult situation, I have one that occurred fairly recently. I mentioned that my job responsibilities include supervising the game room; however, that will only remain true for a few more weeks. A decision was made, without the input of me or my supervisor, to do away with the game room and convert it into food service space. This had a number of implications, but the most pressing for me was informing my student staff--while a commitment was made to keep them employed through this semester and make every effort to place them beyond that, their employment situation was preparing to change drastically. What was difficult was that while we (professional staff) were made aware the change was coming during Winter Break, uncertain timelines and procedures mandated that we keep things quiet for nearly two months--or tried to. As can perhaps be expected on a college campus, inevitably word began to get out, and I had to let our union director know that I was going to have to inform my students. It was important to me that they hear it form me rather than elsewhere. Luckily, while some were suspicious, none were aware the change was taking place.
ReplyDeleteIn this situation, the one change I would have made was to have been a little more persistent about when I was able to inform my students. It was difficult for me to have kept something from them that would affect them so majorly, and yet I stood idly by, awaiting word from our union director to release the word until it became apparent to me that we simply couldn't keep it secret any longer. In retrospect, I would have liked to have worked with my supervisor to have been proactive about informing them instead of simply being reactive to the fact that we knew rumors were out there.
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ReplyDeleteHi Curtis!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for participating! It was helpful for me to hear your story about your entry-level job at UNC. I am facing the same concerns as I'm job searching; I received my undergrad and now my graduate degree at USF, but a fiance and a lease are going to keep me here in Tampa even longer.
Since you have bought a house and your fiance is just starting her career (I'm assuming since she recently graduated), do you plan to stay as assistant director for a few more years, or do you see room to grow and/or change titles? I think many fields would consider 5+ years a good thing (commitment, loyalty, etc.), but when does it start to look negative?
I honestly appreciate your posts! You have already given me helpful tips in regards to finding other opportunities, like joining professional organizations, even if you're tied to one location.
-Leslie Martinez
Hi Curtis, I want to thank you for your participation in this blog. My name is Lauren Kaplan and I am currently a GA for the Employer Relations Team in the Career Center.
ReplyDeleteI think that’s great that you have found such fulfillment in your current position. What a wonderful treat that you have been able to learn and grow from UNC-Greensboro. I am glad that that your current supervisor has allowed you to add dimension to your position over these past five years. Which is something I hope to have in the future.
With that being said, how did you deal with the transition of going from a graduate student to an entry level position? Since your GA position in the CSA program was in Campus Activities Board and now that you’re in a similar position, what attracted you to stay in same department?
Thank you again for your participation,
Lauren
With regards to keys to success, one of my biggest ones is: Never stop learning. I'll admit, there will be a short time following the completion of your degree where you won't want to look at another book, much less one in student affairs, but that time will pass. Seize opportunities for professional development through reading, and conferences, be they statewide, regional or national. I used to joke once my former classmates and I began our professional positions, IMing one another (I'd likely use Facebook for the analogy now) was no longer simply "chatting with friends", it was "consulting with colleagues". And while I was partially joking, my former classmates, as well as those in adjacent classes, have become valuable pieces of my professional network and people I trust who I can bounce things off of if need be. Even through this project, I was able to read and learn from what Alicia--who graduated the year before me and is still a friend and colleague of mine--has offered.
ReplyDeleteWhat I like most about the work I do, while it may seem cliche, is working with students. There is a subset of UNCG's student's I'd consider "my" students--members of CAB, game room employees, my art gallery manager, members of the fraternity I advise, etc.--and the extended time I get to spend with them throughout their academic careers is most fruitful. For my CAB students in particular, I always enjoy seeing them tackle issues larger than themselves. For example, as a programming board, they take very seriously their responsibility for planning events for the entire campus. UNCG is incredibly diverse, while CAB is considerably less so, being overwhelmingly black and female. Seeing my executive board members also take it upon themselves to educate the rest of the general body is quite valuable to me.
Another thing I like the most is my coworkers. While I've enjoyed each of the iterations of the current office with whom I've gotten to work, this year's group clicks particularly well, making our office quite the fun place to work. What we do for students is important, and the fact that we all get along so well and are able to support one another, especially through the challenging times we all face, makes the work that much more enjoyable.
What I would say I like least is that there are still a significant amount of folks in the university--some of whom I work with quite a bit--who have no idea what it is we, as a Division of Student Affairs and specifically as an Office of Campus Activities & Programs, do. I serve on quite a few university-wide committees with members of faculty, other divisions, administration, deans, and the like. One such experience that was particularly came when working on a committee dedicated to raising the profile of our athletics program, specifically men's basketball, our most visible sport, which last year made a move from our on-campus facility to the Greensboro Coliseum, a major, city-owned arena which you saw on TV last weekend if you watched any of the ACC tournament. It was a huge step, and there were charges to increase attendance all around. To hear some parties tell it, I had a pocket of students that I had a pocket of students that I had the ability to pick up and place wherever I wanted them, including basketball games. Some even stopped just short of suggesting I make attendance a "requirement", as though such were possible. Similarly, there are some who think that because I am the advisor for the Campus Activities Board, I simply tell them what to do. Little could be further from the truth!
Hopefully these answers have been helpful, and I look forward to answering whatever else you may have to ask. In terms of additional advice, I will leave you with this one nugget: Never doubt for a second that you are in one of the finest grad programs in the nation and that you are well-prepared to enter the field. I have never had reason to doubt in the first place, but currently, two of my coworkers and friends are alumni of the programs at Bowling Green and Maryland-College Park, two quintessential student affairs programs. I'm proud of the fact that I've been prepared well enough to more than hold my own among them.
ReplyDeleteHi Leslie,
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear this has been helpful thus far. To answer your question, it is currently my plan to stay in my current role for as long as they'll have me, for as long as I still have something to gain from it and I still have something to give to it, which I currently feel is still the case. While I'm not actively looking, I'd welcome an opportunity either at UNCG or another nearby school if one were to become evident.
I'm sure at USF, you've heard the backronym "U Stay Forever". Here at UNCG, it's "U Never Can Graduate", though that seems to apply some to the professional staff as well. There are others in our division who have been in their roles for extended periods of time, but I don't think any of them are in a position that's grown "stale". If I feel such is the case for my current role, I would certainly look elsewhere, as I wouldn't be any good to anyone, much less myself.
My current office structure doesn't leave much room for upward movement, unless my supervisor, our director, were to leave her role. That said, it is currently a time of change for UNCG: We are in our second year with a new chancellor; we have just undergone a transition that moved the Division of Student Affairs into Academic Affairs; and our Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs has announced her retirement, so our current Associate VC will be interim VCSA for 2010-2011 and a search will be done. While I can't say what the future will hold, there is the potential that things could change and opportunities will open up. I hope that answered your question!
Hi Lauren,
ReplyDeleteFor me, I remained in the same functional area because I felt I had found my "home" in student affairs. I actually came into the field from an undergraduate experience in residence life, but I made the switch to campus programming when I took my assistantship and never looked back. When I was job searching, I looked at student activities positions--primarily programming, leadership, and student organizations--and it was ultimately the programming position at UNCG that was the best fit.
Regarding the transition between being a grad student and a professional staff member, my largest transition issue probably occurred off the job--making friends. When I moved to Tampa in the summer of 2003, I didn't know a soul in Tampa, but that quickly changed when I met my cohort and others in the program. But when I moved to Greensboro in 2005 there was no such built-in mechanism. It was tough making new friends at first. I was fortunate in that one of my coworkers was my social conduit and got me introduced to several of the other young professionals throughout the division, and I eventually also made friends with others who began when I did. My fiancee moved down here about a month and a half after I did, and now my friends also include those who were in her graduate program with her, but it was tough goings in the very beginning.
Hello Curtis!
ReplyDeleteYour story is so encouraging and it seems as if you are leaving professional fingerprints among many different areas with your work experience at UNCG! I currently am one of the graduate students who work for USF housing and must say it has been quite the experience! I was also a Resident Assistant for 5 years previous, and although I have been in the housing "world" for quite some time, every week seems to bring about new experiences and changes that enhance my passion for this lifestyle and work! I think it's great that you have been able to consistently enhance your skills and professional experience within your job and it emphasizes to me the importance of having a strong job support network.
I have been relating the job search experience with the saying, "If the shoe fits, wear it!" It is apparent that your job "shoe" fit your work feet well and is offering constant room for growth, but we all know that we can "grow out" of shoes-especially if it is one of the first shoes we ever wear. When that time comes for you, do you have a long term goal of where you want to be professionally? And with that goal, would it require you to attain your PhD? As I forecast my own futuristic idea of work, it almost seems imperative to have that degree to open an entire new caliber of doors!
Thank you for your insight and participation with our class' blog!
-Janelle Kolk
Hello Curtis,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for taking the time out to chat with us. It is great to hear about the success of Alumni, it really gives great hope. I think it is great that you have found a position you are really comfortable in and are still able to grow with.
One of the recent stats I have read said that many new professionals leave the student life field after the first five years. It is believed that this is usually because of professional and personal burn out. How do you handle burn out? Have you ever noticed yourself turning cynical about the profession?
As a soon to be CSA graduate one of my biggest worries is beginning to hate the profession I believe is my true calling. How do you remind yourself of the importance of our profession and the wonderful things we do?
Thanks agaiN!
Amanda
Hi Janelle,
ReplyDeleteMy long-term goal in student affairs is remaining in student activities, rising to a director level and potentially--depending on any given school's structure--an assistant vice chancellor/president role. While these roles may or may not require a doctorate, I know having one would certainly make me more attractive of a candidate, particularly as the field continues to professionalize and others up for similar roles are more likely to have doctorates themselves. It is my intent to seek a doctoral degree; one of the things I currently struggle with is when and where. For example, since I know I'll be here in Greensboro for at least the next few years, do I go ahead and start it here? Or may that keep me here in Greensboro even longer than I expected, and should I then wait until I get to my next stop? I am leaning towards starting here; I've seen one former coworker in my office and several others throughout our division pursue their doctorates while employed here and be well supported in that endeavor. I also know that the longer I wait, the more chance there may be for "life" to get in the way. On the flip side, I struggle with buckling down and getting on with it. One thing that I know I need to do for myself is to take a good look at our higher ed program and figure out a realistic pace and timeline for myself so that I can begin and continue progress towards a degree without burning myself out--and, logistically, maximize my ability to take advantage of tuition assistance I get as a condition of my employment. Ideally, I'd like to strike a balance between a manageable workload and completing a program in a reasonable amount of time. Hope that answered your question!
Hi Amanda,
ReplyDeleteRegarding burnout and work-life balance, I can definitely see how professionals in our field can get burned out and thankfully, it is something which I have not had affect me, at least not for any prolonged period of time. This isn't to say I don't feel it at times, but I haven't encountered anything that can't be "cured" by taking a day or two to myself. For example, during my Fall semesters, I almost always have a murderer's row during which our Homecoming and my NACA conference responsibilities run back to back. It is always imperative that I take a few days off around that time, otherwise I'm a zombie once all is said and done.
One of the things that I believe keeps me energized--with no disrespect meant to any other functional areas--is that I'm working with students who truly want to be part of our programs, which energizes them and in turn energizes me. I think regardless of what area you may be in, a key to avoiding burnout is knowing which things give you energy and which drain your energy and, to the degree that your position allows, maximizing the former and minimizing the latter. For example, I know from previous and current experiences that dealing with disciplinary issues tends to drain me, while working with students with campus programming--while it can also be challenging--tends to energize me. For someone in another area, this may be the opposite, or perhaps two different experiences entirely fill those drain/energize roles. It's like being a Myers-Briggs I or E--you've just got to know what works for you.
That's not to saw that life in student activities is all tie-dye t-shirts and ice cream socials, however. I've certainly got issues to deal with on this end of things as well, but to me, keeping the "love to"s exceeding the "just have to"s is a key to success and the best way to keep loving what you're doing.
The other piece is maintaining a good work-life balance. I'd be lying if I told you that positions in student activities are 40-hour-a-week jobs, but what works best for me is being sure to keep work at work. While I may be on campus until 11pm on some nights, I make sure that when I get home, I'm not still doing work (save for necessary emergencies). One of the things I do to ensure this is making a commitment to myself not to check work e-mail at home. When I'm at home, I'm still on my computer quite a bit, so certainly it would be easy to open up my work e-mail and address emergent issues. I don't do that, except on the rare occasions when I know there is something in the pipeline that will require that additional time. Part of maintaining this separation requires informing my students as well (again, "my" students being CAB exec board, gallery manager, game room employees, and my fraternity men)--they each have my cell phone number, home number, and home e-mail address, but they are aware that the first line of communication is always my office phone/e-mail, and to reach out to me on one of the personal means only if it is something urgent that can't wait until I arrive in the morning. I've had a good deal of success setting these boundaries and both adhering to them myself and getting my students to do the same.
Curtis,
ReplyDeleteHello. Thank you so much for sharing with us!
Knowing that you have been in the same functional area, and the difficulty it might be to change areas, what suggestions would you give to someone who has remained in the same functional area throughout her time in students affairs, and at some point would like to branch out.
Hi Lindsey,
ReplyDeleteAdmittedly, I may not be the best for answering this since I've been in just one functional area as a grad/professional, but I'll give it a shot. To me, it would seem the biggest thing to showcase is transferable skills. While you are obtaining a degree that has vast reach, it is easy for one to see the work that an individual has been doing and pigeonhole them into one functional area. To combat this, be sure to articulate how your skillsets match up for the position you seek. I'd also be sure to address the question you'll inevitably receive when looking towards a new area: Why? Hope this helps!
Hey Curtis!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your incredibly informative insight in regard to your experiences as a professional in student affairs.
I work in the Office of New Student Connections (with Keri Riegler), and I was wondering if you might share some professional supervising experiences you may have had that presented a challenge. How did you manage your way through it? What advice would you impart on us to navigate through such situations?
Also, I was wondering if you might give some insight/advice regarding the search process for positions similar to yours. I've found that there are very few positions such as student activities out there right now. Do they come along a little later in the search process? You mentioned that you connected with your supervisor at NASPA, yet I was wondering if you found that other cohort members or colleagues perhaps had an experience in which they really had to play the waiting game....
I can't thank you enough for your incredibly helpful dialogue on this blog. Thank you so much!
Hi Joey,
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I'll say that if you want an example of an excellent supervisor, look no further than your own. Keri was my supervisor when I was in grad school (she was working with CAB at the time) and was an amazing advisor, supervisor, and mentor for me.
For supervising experiences that presented a challenge, I'll first reach back to my first year here. First, a quick reader's digest summary of UNCG's Campus Activities Board in the few years before I came: CAB as I know it today was a recent re-establishment of a campus programming board that grew out of a class project. Immediately prior to that, campus programming was planned by the person in my position, and students called program assistants were employed to help with the execution of these events. While CAB was slowly going towards student-initiated programming, the older model still largely prevailed.
It is a fundamental belief of mine that campus programming should student initiated, planned, and run, and so I think by making that transition more quickly than it had previously been happening, some of my older students got "whiplash". I had one student in particular who was resistant to her new role and the fact that it meant more than simply showing up the night of an event. It was a struggle to get her to work, particularly in the second semester (first semester was planned before I began here) and there was strife between her and me, and between her and other segments of the board who had bought in. While she was never removed from her position, she did decide not to reapply the following year. When it came time for the board to select the following year's board--also a first for them--they were able to put together a body that was dedicated to programming.
Regarding the job search, I think some of the best advice I had through the process was from Dr. Miller himself, so you may have heard these already: Don't worry if jobs don't seem to be showing up. In fact, a lot of the really neat jobs won't come open until later in the semester or summertime, because the people holding them want to finish out the year or stay in them as long as possible. The other piece is that there's a chance--a good chance, in fact--that you won't have a job by graduation, and that's ok. Honestly, depending on how wide you cast your net, this can actually be an extremely exciting time. There's some fun to not knowing where you will live and work next (although, admittedly, not knowing where the next paycheck is coming from? Not quite as fun). The job search is often compared to dating, so enjoy it in the moment.
Finally, don't try to keep up with the Joneses. different functional areas operate on different timelines, and there are some kinds of jobs you'll find there are just more of in sheer volume. To answer your question, while I did have my interview at NASPA, I had relatively few over the course of both NASPA and ACPA, while some of my peers--primarily those in housing--were filling all of their slots. Don't let this worry you; just keep your eye on all of the job search sites and be ready to jump when you see positions that may be a good fit for you come open. After all, the conferences are not the be-all, end-all of the search.
Curtis,
ReplyDeleteThis was a great experience to hear all about your journey in student affairs post grad school. It was interesting to see that many of our insecurities do not differ. It is somewhat a relief to know that what I (maybe most of us) am feeling is natural and expected.
I am currently in student activities and very much enjoy it. I was fortunate that my first year in CSA program I worked in athletics and did academic advising and had the opportunity to switch over into a new office. I enjoy working with and advising students and especially at a smaller group of 3 opposed to 33 when I worked in athletics.
Although advising as a grad is great experience, how do you describe the transtion from being the advisee to the advisor?
What are some tips to advising grads and student leaders within the first months of your new position?
Thank you, for you insight! It has been extremely helpful!
Kelly
Curtis,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your experiences with us, they have truly been helpful.
My name is Danielle Locke and I am the GA for the Jenkins Scholars Program in the Honors College. I also supervise a tutoring program. Both positions require me to set clear expectations, boundaries, and move through conflict. I would like to pursue an experience in residence life after graduate school, and know that I need to be aware and confident of my efforts.
Can you please touch on how you deliver your expectations with your students, while still maintaining their trust, honesty, and communication?
I know you previously touched on balance. Personally, I never want to bite off too much that I can not chew, however I never want to seem lazy. Do not get the wrong impression, I love challenge. What are you thoughts on "spreading your self too thin" while still being involved as a new professional?
Lastly, without this sounding weird, how do you meet young professionals in the area, without seeming socially awkward? It has been a while since I have had to create new friends/social network. I graduated from USF as an undergrad and grad. I know you previously touched on this prior and post your fiance's arrival to the Greensboro area.
Again, thank you for your insight and participation in our class blog!
Best,
Danielle
Curtis,
ReplyDeleteI forgot to ask this in my previous post.. but what is one of the things you wish you would've known, but didn't, upon your adventure into becoming a new professional in the field of Student Affairs?
THanKs,
Danielle
Hi Kelly,
ReplyDeleteTo me, one of the biggest things that I find important to keep in mind when advising is to remember it is a whole student, not just a [insert role here--in my case it may be president, concerts chair, etc] who walks into your office. Particularly in campus programming, there are some pieces of advising that are strictly event-driven: Have you ordered catering? Do you know your artists flight times? This is obviously necessary, but the other pieces--how's that bio class going? Is everything okay with your roommate?--are as well. While my relationship with the student may be based primarily on their role with the program board, that doesn't mean that it's the most important thing in their life at any given time. Taking the time to check in is key in knowing your students.
Another piece is one I'm sure you're all familiar with: Challenge and support. Looking specifically at the programming piece of my advisor duties, I make it my charge to simultaneously make my job harder and easier for myself and my students. By this I mean it should be harder as we take on bigger and better challenges, but easier because I equip my students to meet those challenges.
You mention working with groups, and that is a different, but related animal. The same way I mentioned that you've got complete students with whom you work, a group is several complete students and the dynamic between those students. Understanding how they work best both individually and as a part of the group--often through your individual meetings with them--is key to group success. For example, I have a group right now that I know to be very passionate. Just last night we were in a meeting when voices were raised and differing opinions were stated loudly, but I also know, through knowing these students and the group as a whole, that this was actually healthy and productive conversation, while it may have seemed like chaos in another instance or with a different group.
Finally, you mentioned advising a grad. That's something I haven't have the direct opportunity to do yet, but I look forward to it--one of the additional challenges there is serving as an advisor to someone who will also serve as an advisor, so role modeling is key!
Hi Danielle,
ReplyDeleteRegarding expectations, it's always best to set these very clearly in the beginning; it's tough to hold someone accountable for something they never knew you expected. I also make sure it is a two (or more) way street. My students set expectations for me as well, which I strive to uphold. When working in a group, as with the Campus Activities Board, I make clear expectations for them, allow them to set expectations of me, and have the group set expectations of one another. While we set them in the beginning, it doesn't mean there can't be changes or anything, but it does start the expectation of having expectations, if that makes sense.
Expectations come into play also when looking at opportunities above and beyond your job responsibilities. Clearly, your actual job responsibilities are job one, and part of that will likely include "other duties as assigned". As much as possible, try and get a clear picture of what these other duties are, realizing that they may be ever-changing, as well as expectations from your supervisor.When taking on additional duties, it's a bit of a cost-benefit analysis. A few key questions are: Will I be able to give this new task a significant portion of time to be successful? Will I still be able to do my best in my job? Will I still be able to maintain a decent out-of-work life? The answer to each of these should be yes, and realistically, at least in my experience, you can add at least a few things to your plate before it starts to max you out. After that, understand that it's okay to say no. I haven't found any one perceiving someone as being lazy for not taking on an additional task; in fact, appearing self-aware enough to know when you're starting to have too much is actually a good thing.
Regarding meeting other young professionals, I largely got connected through one of my coworkers and eventually others in my division, but there are a couple of other avenues of which I did not take full advantage. Most cites/areas have some sort of young professional's networking group. Here in Greensboro, it's known as SynerG (http://synerg.org/) and they hold networking events for young professionals, including professional development opportunities (often roundtables with local business leaders), socials at bars and restaurants, and rec sports. I got minorly involved after having worked with the city on a programming initiative early in my career, and while I have gone to very few actual events, I'm still on their mailing list and it's nice to know that events are out there--they've got at least something going on quite frequently.
As for something I wish I would have known as a new professional? Honestly, you've temporarily stumped me, but I'll give it some thought and be back with an answer.
One thing I wish I would have known, though I don't know yet if this will be my final answer: Planning for benefits, and more specifically, retirement, is daunting! I don't know who is returning to higher education vs. who is coming straight from undergrad, but having never held a full-time, with-benefits job before, it was scary for me sitting in my HR orientation at the age of 23 making decisions for some 40 years down the line! So if you get the opportunity, research some options and what your institution has to offer before you make the choice. I did have some folks I could ask, including my dad, who retired from higher education himself, so I turned out alright, but that's definitely one thing I wish I would have known beforehand.
ReplyDelete