Want to be a college music professor? Be a good worker!

This article is the first of what will be a series of articles specific to breaking through the higher ed ceiling through strategic ways of going "above and beyond"—all in an effort to help those who are looking to create a pathway to teach music or music education at the college or university level.

What's the hold up?

Musicians and those who are also educators are a special bunch. We are naturally driven by a desire to make an impact on the world through our music and teaching, and sometimes we struggle to win the opportunities to make an even bigger impact when the time comes for career advancement. Maybe you're in the classroom and you want to make a greater impact by teaching others in different settings, or even possibly teaching others how to become teachers within a music teacher preparation program. Often times we might be perceived as a good teacher and musician, we might even have the "right" credentials, but we still don't get the jobs that we believe we deserve.

One question I pose to you: Are you are "good" worker?

A "magic bullet" for propelling your career forward

This question probably feels silly to be asked—"Of course I'm a good worker!"—but from my perspective as someone who makes decisions on who to hire to teach or work in my department, I find that this is not always the case. And more times than not, it's the answer that I get to this question from applicants' referees (I really dig for it!) that will sway me one way or the other in my decision making.

Today's theme: A "good" worker is reliable and dependable

I cannot overstate the value of overseeing staff or faculty members that I simply do not have to worry about. I absolutely HATE having to chase down people I work with to make sure that things that should have been done are actually getting done. If I have to chase anyone down more than once, I lose trust in them that they can be a strong asset on my team. I can't depend on them, and they become unreliable. Not only that, they are also creating more work for me, and possibly other faculty and staff as well. Not a good situation.

If you are reliable and dependable, you demonstrate:

Punctuality: You arrive to work and meetings on time (or give me a heads up when something is unavoidable and you'll be late), and manage your time effectively to meet deadlines.

Consistency: You maintain a consistent work ethic and performance level. Your colleagues should know they can rely on you to consistently deliver high-quality work.

Asking for help when needed: You might not have all the answers with a task, or you might be "stuck". But rather than "freezing up" and missing a deadline, you ask for clarification on something so you can meet that deadline.

Follow-through: You honor your commitments and promises. If you agree to take on a task or complete a project by a certain deadline, make sure you follow through on your word.

If you dig deep and find that you are not reliable and dependable (I recommend asking a colleague how they perceive you!) what is one thing you can do to make these highly-desirable qualities more ingrained in your day-to-day work?

Focus on one thing, and do that well. Progress over perfection. You got this!

Cheers to your career success!

Looking for more guidance and a strategic plan to launch your own career teaching music in higher ed? Check out the latest career coaching opportunities.