Get Hired in Higher Ed

Higher education is a unique industry, and obtaining a position in student affairs within higher education is, likewise, a unique process. If you are searching for student affairs positions in higher education, these three strategies will help you achieve your goals.

1. Online Search Engines
We all know how easy it is to access online resources. However, instead of limiting your search to websites which service all industries, such as Monster.com or Careerbuilder.com, visit websites that are focused specifically on job postings in higher education. Many universities and colleges post their job openings on The Chronicle of Higher Education: Chronicle Careers and Higher Ed Jobs. The Chronicle of Higher Education: Chronicle Careers allows you to browse by position type, discipline or field, location, institution name, or employer profile. You can refine your search by job category, position type, or location on Higher Ed Jobs. In addition to job postings, both sites offer useful articles pertaining to the job search process, as well as helpful tools such as salary surveys and cost of living comparisons. These websites will serve as a starting point, but they are only the initial tools to incorporate into your job search process.

2. Networking & Professional Organizations
The next step is networking within your discipline. So, what exactly is networking? Networking involves meeting people in your desired career field, informing them about your goals, accomplishments, and background, and gathering their valuable insight into the field. Within each discipline of student affairs there are associations that assist with the professional development of those entering the field and those seeking to advance in the field. The two biggest professional development organizations for the student affairs field are the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) and the American College Personnel Association (ACPA). The best way to network with the professionals in the field is to attend respective association meetings, seminars, and conferences. The annual conferences of professional organizations usually incorporate opportunities for universities to screen and interview candidates (search for Placement Exchange or Job Fairs on the professional organizations’ websites). Consider volunteering at a conference or event to increase your chances of networking with professionals and leaders in the field. Whatever field you are interested in, look for a specific professional organization that focuses on your career interests. Here are some professional organizations within student affairs:

American Association of University Women (AAUW) www.aauw.org
American College Health Association (ACHA) www.acha.org
American Counseling Association (ACA) www.counseling.org
Association of College and University Housing Officers - International (ACUHO-I) www.acuho-i.org
Association of College Unions International (ACUI) www.acui.org
Association of Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) www.ahead.org
Association of Student Judicial Affairs (ASJA) www.asjaonline.org
Council of Higher Education Management Associations (CHEMA) www.chemanet.org
Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) www.ciee.org
National Association for Campus Activities (NACA) www.naca.org
National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) www.nacacnet.org
National Association of College and University Food Services (NACUFS) www.nacufs.org
National Association of College and University Residence Halls (NACURH) www.nacurh.org
National Association of College Auxiliary Services (NACAS) www.nacas.org
National Association of College Stores (NACS) www.nacs.org
National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) www.naceweb.org
National Association of Student Affairs Professionals (NASAP) www.nasap.net
National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) www.nasfaa.org
National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) www.nirsa.org
National Orientation Directors Association (NODA) www.nodaweb.org

For more immediate local exposure to potential employers in student affairs, investigate regional consortium groups. Areas with multiple institutions have established organizations that provide networking opportunities as well as a forum for professionals to share best practice concepts.

3. Targeted School Websites
Make your search as thorough as possible by looking at the Human Resources websites of specific schools. There may be job openings that are not listed on the search engines or within the professional organizations, but are listed on the school’s Human Resources website. Create a “favorites” folder in your internet browser that will serve as a quick reference for your preferred institutions. Being able to quickly access these web pages can assist you in finding new positions on the Human Resources website as soon as they are posted. You will also have easy access to all of the information you need to craft an individualized cover letter and resume for that specific institution.

Application Process
You may notice that many institutions use similar software for the online job application process (usually the application form created by People Admin). Human Resource departments provide job seekers the opportunity to login, create an account, apply for multiple positions, and save application records in the system. The online application form is extensive. Once you have completed an application for one institution, save it and print it out. You can quickly refer to the information from the first application for future applications to other institutions. You can also create an account and application in many institutions’ Human Resources systems without actually applying for a job. So if you have a dream institution that you want to work for, or if you have prior knowledge that a job may be opening up in the future, you can upload your application information even before the job is posted.

Best of luck with your job search and application process! For additional assistance with searching for and applying to positions in student affairs, be sure to contact your school’s career services office. We are here to help you get hired in higher education.

Written by Joe Meyer, UB Career Services. Special thanks to contributors and editors: Bridget Brace-Macdonald, Emily Chabala, and Andrea Costantino.