1. Monday, March 23rd 1:15- 2:05pm
Meghan Godorov, Mount Holyoke College
Sarah Bollinger, Muhlenberg College
HIRED!
Navigating the
Interview Process
as a Graduate Student

3. Getting to Know You
#NASPAHired

4. Getting HIRED: 8 Tips

5. 1. Research
• Reflect on your skills
• Learn more about institution/department
• Conduct informational interviews
•Know what to expect in the process

6. 2. Online Presence
• Importance
o Permalance society
o Messaging/ownership
o Visibility/brand
• Definition: any existence of an
individual/business that can be found via an
online search (google search)

7. 2. Online Presence (cont.)
Appeal & Exclusivity
Creativity
Clarity

8. 3. Netiquette

9. 3. Netiquette (cont.)
Phone Interview
•Use a landline/ Turn off your cell phone
•Use speakerphone
•Be patient
•Prepare notes
•Use a quiet location/no distractions
•SMILE

10. 3. Netiquette (cont.)
Skype
•Provide a Professional Username
•Background/View of Webcam
•Practice
•Eye contact
–Look at the camera – not the screen
•No Distractions

11. 4. Sell Yourself
Tell me about yourself?

12. 4. Sell Yourself (cont.)
Why do you want to work
at XYZ College?

13. 4. Sell Yourself (cont.)
Why do you want to work in xyz
functional area?

14. 4. Sell Yourself (cont.)
STAR
•Situation: give an example of a situation
•Task: describe the tasks involved in that
situation
•Action: talk about the various steps you
took
•Results: what results directly followed

15. 4. Sell Yourself (cont.)
Tell me about a new program
you implemented.

16. 4. Sell Yourself (cont.)
Now it’s your turn.
•Practice mock interview questions with a
partner for the next 3 minutes.
•Your partner will give you feedback for 1
minute.
•Repeat.

17. 4. Sell Yourself (cont.)
• Tell me about yourself.
• What are your long and short term goals?
• Tell me about a new program you implemented.
• How would your previous supervisor describe
you?
• Why do you want to work in XYZ (functional
area)?

18. 5. Prepared Questions

19. 6. Thank you

20. Whom should I send it to?
When should I send it?
What should I include?
Does it really matter?
Email/Card?
6. Thank you (cont.)

21. Dear Mr/Ms. Last Name:
It was a pleasure to meet with you on Wednesday,
October 10 in the XYZ Center. Thank you for taking
the time to discuss my qualifications for the Assistant
Director of ABC position. After our meeting, I am
even more enthusiastic about a position with your
office.
< Sell yourself again: Remind them you are the one!>
I look forward to hearing from you in the near future
regarding my status. Again, thank you for your
interest in me as a candidate.
Sincerely,
Your Name

22. 7. References
• Choose wisely.
• Don’t assume your supervisor will be a
good reference.
• Keep your references in the loop.
• Provide accurate contact information.
• Send your references a Thank You after
you secure a position.

23. 8. Negotiating Offers

24. Reflection/Discussion
• Top takeaway(s)
• How prepared are you
for your job search?
• Write final action item for search,
interview prep or negotiation/Share with
peer

25. Additional Resources
• Interview Questions
–Student Affairs General
–Student Activities & Unions
–The Muse- 51 Questions you Should be Asking
• Netiquette: Phone & Email
• Thank You: Thank You is Not Dead
• Negotiation
–Salary- Wage Project, Higher Ed Jobs- Salary, Simply
Hired
–Cost of Living- NerdWallet, CNN Money

26. References
• Bresciani, M., Todd, D.K., et al. (2010, July 24). Professional
Competency Areas for Student Affairs Practitioners. Retrieved from
https://www.naspa.org/images/uploads/main/Profes
sional_Competencies.pdf
• Charalambous, A. (2013, September 8). Developing Your Personal
Brand for Career Success Branding. Retrieved from
http://www.business2community.com/branding/developing-personal-
brand-career-success-0608696#1Zzd3wm01l9gFuvs.99
• Guiseppi, M. (2010, February 12). 10 Steps to an Authentic,
Magnetic Personal Brand. Retrieved from
http://executivecareerbrand.com/10-steps-to-an-authentic-magnetic-
personal-brand/
• Schulzke, M. (2010, June 2). How to make your travels part of your
career brand. Retrieved from
http://b2b.meetplango.com/2010/06/how-to-make-your-travels-part-
of-your-career-brand/

27. References
• Kolb, D. (1983). Experiential Learning: Experience as the source of
learning and development. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
• Krumboltz, J. D., Foley, P. F. and Cotter, E. W. (2013). Applying the
Happenstance Learning Theory to Involuntary Career Transitions.
The Career Development Quarterly, 61: 15–26
• PriceWaterhouseCoopers, LLP. Step up to Stand Out: Your
Personal Brand Workshop [PDF document]. Retrieved from
http://www.pwc.com/us/en/careers/campus/assets/img/programs/per
sonal-brand-workbook.pdf
• Simko, J. (2012). What is a career brand? Retrieved from
http://www.jessicasimko.com/1092-
2/?awt_l=E2pww&awt_m=Kf4bhDT12UJfzB
• Super, D.E. (1990). A life-span, life-space approach to career
development. In D. Brown L. Brooks, & Associates, Career choice
and development: Applying contemporary theories to development
(2nd ed). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

28. Connect with Us!
Meghan Godorov
mgodorov@mtholyoke.edu
@MeghanGodorov
www.linkedin/in/meghanlynngodorov
Sarah Bollinger
sbollinger@muhlenberg.edu
www.linkedin.com/in/sarahbollinger
© Sarah Bollinger and Meghan Godorov, 2015