Views from the Job Market

I am sure that many of you on the LinkedIn platform have seen posts from people's experiences lamenting the job search process and its many challenges. These woes are indeed true, and I am sure these folks' individual experiences are valid. Despite the obvious content impression farming that goes on through the platform, the fact that these stories resonate with many people represents a common human experience. I myself often read these posts and reflect upon my own job search processes, wondering which parts of the stories resonate or do not resonate and why that might be. I am left with many takeaways as I consider the current job market and the opportunities and challenges presented by the unique time period we find ourselves in. From the sections below, I hope you find some insights useful and applicable to you. As always, remember, these are just my ideas. Ideas wrought through deep contemplation and reflection, but ideas nonetheless.

You are the author of your own story

The hard part about any form of writing I do is the part where I fundamentally believe that generally advice is really only but so helpful, and the most you can do is glean insight from people’s experience. That's why this newsletter has become what it is and why I lean forward in all my publications. Please keep this at the forefront of your mind when reading, listening, and gathering information from others and their experiences, including this newsletter. Put simply, you are the author of your own story, and they are the authors of their own story. Experiences are what we go through, and stories are how we understand and explain the experiences we have. You may not have full autonomy over the experiences, as things do indeed happen to us, but you do have control over the story and narrative you gather from your experiences. Own your own story in the same way others own theirs, and let it be uniquely your own. Reflect consistently on how you see your story, discern other voices and perspectives from your own, and mold a sustainable image of your journey.

Cover Letters, Resumes, and Curriculum Vitae

They matter. They just do. I am not getting into the philosophical question of whether they matter, what weight we place on them or should we place on them, or the systemic challenges presented by these application materials. They matter. Hiring managers and units have the responsibility to make meaning from these application materials and ensure they add value to the process. Institutions have the responsibility to consider how their process considers the candidate holistically and appropriately. And, notwithstanding the responsibilities others have, I feel like my responsibility at this moment is to tell you that the application materials matter.?

Burnout, application fatigue, and the woes that come with this all exist, and the work gets done in the face of them, undoubtedly. But these materials matter, and while we might wish for a world where their weight was different, the current reality is counter to that. Reality preparation helps situate us more advantageously for changing the situation as it is, and seeing things for what they are removes an illusion or facade. Telling you they don’t matter and telling you to apply haphazardly resultantly feels irresponsibly

They should have varying degrees of specification and be reasonably tailored to each job you apply to. Applying to 50 jobs with general materials will yield less successful results than 10 jobs with a unique, tailored approach.?

The myth of qualifications?

This is specifically for those struggling with imposter syndrome. Qualifications are a myth. I know what I am saying might come across as abrasive or being said for shock value, and in part, that is true. Qualifications are real, but they are not nearly as impactful or influential in the interview process as folks might lead you to believe. Of course, an entry-level professional would be reasonably unqualified to be Vice President (let alone those without a terminal degree, generally). That part goes without saying. What I am saying is that once you break through that entry-level higher education position, the sky really is the limit. Whether associate director, director, senior director, or even some dean-level positions, once you have cracked the glass ceiling of an entry-level position, the doors open up significantly. A demonstration of progressive responsibility is all most units will need to justify your placement. Once you have done that, people will be willing to consider most candidates who reach that threshold and then determine from there who best fits the need for their position.

Never stop searching

I used to hear this and think it was an act of betrayal to your current employer to be job searching at all times; however, over time, my perspective has matured on being aware of the job market in your field. There are numerous reasons for people to be intimately aware of the job market in the field they are in. On the one hand, being abreast of job openings in your field keeps you aware of the musical chairs happening so that you might better prepare your own unit for changes to come. In higher education, for example, there is a unique national pressure on cabinet-level enrollment management officers, with commentators noting the significant increase in openings this academic cycle. Being aware of this trend in the field allows you to see over the horizon for what is to come as institutions are challenged with making long-term strategic decisions regarding their future vitality. On the other hand, as an individual applicant, being consistently on the pulse of the market allows you to better understand the vacancies in your particular search area. Knowing a position was recently filled means it may not be open for some time, limiting your prospects for that exact position if you were considering it in the future. Furthermore, knowing a vacancy is present but not immediately filled signals some potential restructuring, be it for the organization or the individual position itself. Being aware of what is happening on the job market is a strategic advantage for both you and your current employer.?

You owe it to yourself

This is the most important takeaway from the countless conversations I have had with people across vast industries at multiple levels of organizational hierarchy. All these conversations have a consistent theme. Never sell yourself short, be hungry and aggressive, and always get your value. This is not limited to compensation and benefits, but we’d all be remiss not to acknowledge the significance of that in positional sustainability. Sometimes you might be willing to take less on the compensation and benefits for quality of life and culture positives, but that may not be all the time, and institutions should seek to make their compensation and benefits match the culture-intangible positives they provide.

Too many people across too many industries struggle with the choice between positions that they feel offer appropriate compensation and benefits and positions that provide the proper quality of life they are looking for. Both institutional types have some areas they can work on to the right size and meet the needs of those in the job market.

Most of all, though, you owe it to yourself to be aggressive in searching for the position that checks all those boxes. Along the way, you will accept roles and positions that may not check all the boxes, but how you get your just due through those challenges and how you find appropriate compensation will be the answers you will need to ascertain. We should not have to settle for positions because of unrealized opportunity if we do not feel comfortable with the entirety of the proposal, and the more people turn down and away these offers, the more the industries will have to adapt to providing appropriate packages to prospective employees.?

To what end?

There you are, looking to create your own story by being aggressively strategic in the job market to get your just due. To what end, you might ask??

For comfort, stability, and fulfillment.?

This edition of ideation is written for the dreamer who has that uneasy feeling at the bottom of their spine because they know they are built and ready for so much more. Let this be your sign.

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