"Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it." - Steve Jobs
 | Hello world! If you are new, welcome to the Luminstruct blog! My name is Mark and I am currently working on a "365-Word Project" by posting reflections on various words every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. The reflections can be serious, can be about Student Affairs, or might just be some silly ramblings. Either way, I will do my best to take you on a journey through the personal story of my life. I hope you enjoy. Today's word is "Found" |
One of my happiest memories was when I started my grad program and RD position at Western Carolina University. There was a team of a staff to help me move my items in, a fun gift basket with an itinerary waiting for me as well as a large sign which said, "Welcome to the Res Life Team, Mark!" I knew I had found my home for the next two years! In today's market, it's important to find the right fit for you as a person.
Below are some tips on how to find your next home of employment:
Know what you are looking for:
It might seem a bit "on the nose", but it is important to know what kind of job you are looking for in the first place. What field are you wanting to work? Is it similar to your previous experiences with more challengers, or are you going in a different direction? Is this your dream job, or a stepping stone for a bigger career goal? It is also good to ask what a routine day may look like for this position. If you were under the impression that it was primarily a position in front of people and then you discover it is more administrative based, you may have to reconsider your decisions. Know your strengths, what do you really enjoy about your current job and try to find a job which allows you to continue doing this task or do it more often!
Visit the location to see how it fits:
One of my peers at Piedmont College always said they could convince a student to attend Piedmont College by simply bringing them onto campus with a tour. When you step into an office or a workplace for the first time, you will usually instantly know if it is the right fit for you. Take the time to visit each area you would be interested in working. A website can share a lot of information, but it will only show you the best aspects. Learn where your office would be located and take in the overall feel.
Know the leadership:
The key to any job search is to do your research. Take the time to look up the backgrounds of potential peers and senior staff. If you know where they have come from, you will know what they hold important and the direction they might take the institution. Make sure it lines up with your interests. In addition, ask around and understand the underlying politics of the business. Just because one individual has the highest job title, does not mean they necessarily have the highest power or pull for larger decisions. I'll say it once and say it again, do you research. It will pay off in the end.
Know what they hold important:
You may know what you find important, but it is also good to make sure it matches the background of the business as well. Take a look into their history. Understand why they make the decisions they make. Look into their mission statement or core values, what do they hold important? If you understand their history, it's fairly simple to understand the direction they are headed.
Know the good, the bad and the ugly:
Finally, if you are very interested in the position and are considering accepting the job, know what you are about to be accepted into. There is no perfect company, but it can be perfect for you. Talk to different positions in order to understand the full story. Look up reviews online and read as many as you can. If there are a lot of reviews, look at the reviews which give 2 or 3 stars out of 5. You will always have people who really love a company or really hate it. The ones in the middle are more likely to provide honest feedback and balance the good and negative reviews.
Western was the perfect area for my position while I was in grad school. I was interested in a res life position where I could also extend my learning through various internships. The mountains in North Carolina have some of the most beautiful landscapes in the nation. My supervisor at the time had very similar leadership and learning styles as I did, and they were founded on the beliefs of education and also held a set of core values I believed in as well. Finally, Western was not perfect for everyone, but it was perfect for my needs. It was indeed my home and taught me how to look for work positions in the future! If you are in the process of finding a job, I wish you luck on your job search!
Question time: What do you research when you are looking at future jobs?
Below are some tips on how to find your next home of employment:
Know what you are looking for:
It might seem a bit "on the nose", but it is important to know what kind of job you are looking for in the first place. What field are you wanting to work? Is it similar to your previous experiences with more challengers, or are you going in a different direction? Is this your dream job, or a stepping stone for a bigger career goal? It is also good to ask what a routine day may look like for this position. If you were under the impression that it was primarily a position in front of people and then you discover it is more administrative based, you may have to reconsider your decisions. Know your strengths, what do you really enjoy about your current job and try to find a job which allows you to continue doing this task or do it more often!
Visit the location to see how it fits:
One of my peers at Piedmont College always said they could convince a student to attend Piedmont College by simply bringing them onto campus with a tour. When you step into an office or a workplace for the first time, you will usually instantly know if it is the right fit for you. Take the time to visit each area you would be interested in working. A website can share a lot of information, but it will only show you the best aspects. Learn where your office would be located and take in the overall feel.
Know the leadership:
The key to any job search is to do your research. Take the time to look up the backgrounds of potential peers and senior staff. If you know where they have come from, you will know what they hold important and the direction they might take the institution. Make sure it lines up with your interests. In addition, ask around and understand the underlying politics of the business. Just because one individual has the highest job title, does not mean they necessarily have the highest power or pull for larger decisions. I'll say it once and say it again, do you research. It will pay off in the end.
Know what they hold important:
You may know what you find important, but it is also good to make sure it matches the background of the business as well. Take a look into their history. Understand why they make the decisions they make. Look into their mission statement or core values, what do they hold important? If you understand their history, it's fairly simple to understand the direction they are headed.
Know the good, the bad and the ugly:
Finally, if you are very interested in the position and are considering accepting the job, know what you are about to be accepted into. There is no perfect company, but it can be perfect for you. Talk to different positions in order to understand the full story. Look up reviews online and read as many as you can. If there are a lot of reviews, look at the reviews which give 2 or 3 stars out of 5. You will always have people who really love a company or really hate it. The ones in the middle are more likely to provide honest feedback and balance the good and negative reviews.
Western was the perfect area for my position while I was in grad school. I was interested in a res life position where I could also extend my learning through various internships. The mountains in North Carolina have some of the most beautiful landscapes in the nation. My supervisor at the time had very similar leadership and learning styles as I did, and they were founded on the beliefs of education and also held a set of core values I believed in as well. Finally, Western was not perfect for everyone, but it was perfect for my needs. It was indeed my home and taught me how to look for work positions in the future! If you are in the process of finding a job, I wish you luck on your job search!
Question time: What do you research when you are looking at future jobs?
