next »

[mbaguy2005]

I have just started an Enrollment Services position with a research urban university. I do not have any student contact which I dont like. The salary is a little bit below 30k.

I am about90% finish with my MBA. I utilmately want to get my doctorate degree.

The thing is, I have been struggling with 2 things
Get into k-12 education and get certified to teach and get an EdD one day

OR
Stay in higher education and get a PhD and hopefully get into administration (with better pay)

I live in a city that has an additional 3 or 4 universities I could work at. I do not know if I should be feeling this way about the job since I am only a few weeks into it.

[zharkov]

I live in a city that has an additional 3 or 4 universities I could work at. I do not know if I should be feeling this way about the job since I am only a few weeks into it.

In my experience, you need to work at a job for about 6 months before you know whether or not it is for you.  So give it time.  You also need to stay at most jobs for 1.5 to 2 years or you'll get the rep of being a job jumper.

During the next 6 months, take time to explore your various career options. Since you have a "in" at the school, do some informational interviewing.

[mbaguy2005]

I do not know if I have an "in" at the school

I want something more professional and contact with students. As far as staying at the position for a yr I dont know. BUT I can apply for other positions at the univ after 6 months of employment here

Anyone been in my shoes

[zharkov]

I do not know if I have an "in" at the school

I want something more professional and contact with students. As far as staying at the position for a yr I dont know. BUT I can apply for other positions at the univ after 6 months of employment here

Anyone been in my shoes

You need to learn how to network. You have an "in" at your school because both you and the dean of arts and sciences, say, share the same employer.   As you get closer to completing your MBA, plan some informational interviews. Ask you supervisor for an introduction or recommendations of who to talk to.

Also, about that 6 months rule, keep in mind that getting a different job at the university probably requires your supervisor's formal or informal blessing. While you may be able to "apply," the hiring manager for the new job will expect a good recommendation from your supervisor before seriously considering you as a candidate.

 

[mbaguy2005]

Thank you for your post. Well in my situation, I dont seem to have any interaction with other people in other departments. Its not what I thought the job would be.
So I am wondering how I can network?

There are other universities in the area I see that have job openings Im interested in, but I have been at my current job for a month

I dont know what to do

i would like to get into networking but my office environment doesnt seem to offer that.

[zharkov]

Thank you for your post. Well in my situation, I dont seem to have any interaction with other people in other departments. Its not what I thought the job would be.
So I am wondering how I can network?

Mbaguy, IMHO, you need some mentoring. Not from people on the forum, but from people who know you personally. That may be your manager or one of your professors.  In any case, ask your boss and a prof or two about  how to get started networking.

Also, about starting a new job, your boss may be taking it one step at a time with you, making sure you master the basics before giving you more advanced work. If you're not sure, ask him or her. If you want to do more, say so. The boss isn't a mind reader.

[mbaguy2005]

Thanks I will try to do that. The thing is the job is repetitive and not much mroe to it.

And networking with others in my office is a no go it seems

[educationlover]

MBAGuy, I was in your shoes and I know exactly how you feel.  When I was interviewing with the SC for the position that I previously held, alot of things I discovered, were kept from me. Or either I unwillingly, did not ask the necessary questions before accepting the position.  Once on the job, I hated it after a month. I was in a dust filled basement room and I kept getting sinus headaches and colds.  My new colleagues used the most digusting language and were very rude to the s tudents. Then I received a call for a second interview at a major univ that was considering me, before I accepted that terrible job. So I said goodbye to my terrible job within one day and left. Only to lose out on the job that I wanted so badly. So the moral of my st ory is do not and i repeat DO NOT LEAVE YOUR JOB, UNTIL YOU HAVE SIGNED A CONTRACT AND YOU ACTUALLY HAVE THE PAPER IN YOUR HAND. YES YOUR JOB SUCKS, BUT HOLD ON UNTIL YOU CAN MAKE A SAFE LEAP TO A MUCH BETTER JOB THAT YOU WILL LOVE AND APPRECIATE. ..good luck

[cardamom]

I strongly second zharkov's suggestion that you seek out some mentoring. Your office may not be receptive to mentoring or networking, but chances are someone or some office on your campus is. Depending on your institution, HR may be able to provide you with good suggestions. Some institutions actually have administrative mentoring programs, so it's worth at least asking about resources that may exist on your campus. In addition to HR, your respective professional association also may have mentoring opportunities and certainly should offer chances to network.

It's also worth keeping in mind that mentoring can be a very informal relationship and you don't necessarily need to find someone in your exact area to help you out. Seek out administrators at your institution or elsewhere who are experienced and well-regarded. Such individuals may well have experience mentoring and are often very approachable. Having lunch with someone like this on a periodic basis to discuss your goals and career path can be very helfpul.

In regard to your first posting, it is not uncommon for entry level administrative jobs to be less than fulfilling and/or not as advertised. Although some of this is just the nature of these positions, you need to do what you can to make the post as interesting and challenging as possible. Discussing this with your supervisor might help, especially if you pose it as a desire to take on more responsibility and help with the office workload. I don't know too many administrative offices that are so luxuriously staffed that offers to assist others are resisted.

If you're truly in a deadbeat/deadend office, look for possibilities to volunteer in areas that interest you and to which you can offer some real help. Advising might appreciate some extra hands around busy times; development might need help with special events. It might be grunt work, but it shows initiative on your part and allows you to network. Even trying to identify such opportunities may itself help you develop some helpful contacts.

All of this may seem like a lot of extra work, but these are the kinds of things that you will probably need to do - to one degree or another - no matter what your administrative post or level if you want to have a fulfilling and interesting career. Perfect jobs are rare and it's always wise to challenge yourself even if you have a great gig. Many aspects of professional growth are really in your hands and that's why mentoring can be so helpful.

Good luck.