arlyt
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« on: January 05, 2009, 12:38:37 PM » |
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Coming from a very different background (graphics) I would like to start heading into the advising/counseling direction and I wanted to know if you guys happen to have links/samples to good resumes/cover letters I could look over? Google seems to be limited search wise. What are key areas of experience you feel I would need to focus on first?
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tuxedo_cat
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« Reply #1 on: January 05, 2009, 01:11:18 PM » |
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I think we need some more information here both about exactly what sort of academic jobs you're looking at (in Student Affairs?) and what your job qualifications are for that kind of work. What do you mean by graphics -- graphic arts? advertising? How does such work prepare you to counsel or advise college students?
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The only protection from zombies is a good friend who runs slightly more slowly than you do.
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arlyt
New member
Posts: 30
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« Reply #2 on: January 05, 2009, 04:38:29 PM » |
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Sorry about that. Fields of student affairs I am interested in are http://www.higheredjobs.com/search/details.cfm?JobCode=175353050I currently hold a MS in a graphic field where I have been working in advertising. However during my grad years I taught and advised college students in my department and have used my design experience to create websites that supply high schools with information about colleges. I know I stand little chance at any advising job without obtaining either a MS in Student Affairs/Counseling but I was hoping to see the progression advisers here have experienced through their resume/cover letter that way I can better prepare myself for the requirements I need to do in order to reach this goal. Many thanks! |
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alto_stratus
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« Reply #3 on: January 06, 2009, 12:28:53 AM » |
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I've never seen that kind of information out there.
But, highlight:
- Your advising work
- Any work with students
- Collaborative, project work / Working on teams
- Creative, thinking out of the box
- Administrative, keeping track of large projects
Also, I recommend you stick to a reverse chronological resume (most recent work experience first, then rest of work experience, then education, then professional groups, etc), and be mindful of techniques you can use to draw out/highlight some of the older, related experience (provide more detail to take up a little more space, set off with a sub-heading like "advising experience"). Draw out the education-related content of your design work, and the fact that you're providing information to help students make informed decisions.
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« Last Edit: January 06, 2009, 12:30:14 AM by stratus »
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michigander
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« Reply #4 on: January 06, 2009, 02:50:27 PM » |
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Arlyt, It's not correct to think that you won't be considered for an advising position without a master's degree in counseling or student affairs. For the right school, the master's degree and experience that you already have may be exactly what they are looking for. In my own geographic corner of academia, schools run the gamut. The University of Michigan, which one might assume would not be interested in you, actually hires advisors with a wide variety of academic backgrounds and degrees. On the other hand, the College for Creative Studies, which one might assume would snap you up as a graphic artist with real world experience, is only interested in licensed counselors. You'll have to do some heavy duty networking to find out. Before you commit your time, energy, and finances to another master's degree program, get involved with your local, state, and regional academic advising associations and start meeting people.
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« Last Edit: January 06, 2009, 02:51:26 PM by michigander »
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sibyl
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« Reply #5 on: January 06, 2009, 04:46:07 PM » |
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Be advised that this is a very competitive part of higher education. The underemployment crisis in the humanities has led a lot of people with content degrees to move into advising.
I agree with michigander that you don't necessarily need a student affairs degree. In fact, you might consider playing up your real-world experience, because it will help you give students advice in getting positions in industry. This is especially true if you are involved with training new employees at your firm, because advertising firms employ graduates from many fields; you would be able to advise students how to make the most of their talents and interests.
If your alma mater has a professionals' alumni network, your participation there might be helpful as well.
NACADA is the national advising association. Check out their website and publications for information.
Good luck.
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"I do not pretend to set people right, but I do see that they are often wrong." -- Jane Austen, Mansfield Park
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arlyt
New member
Posts: 30
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« Reply #6 on: January 06, 2009, 05:04:37 PM » |
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I actually visit the NACADA website quite often. I do train new employees and other designers in software/theory methods. I will check with my alma mater to see what sorts of networks they have. Overall with student affair degrees I have found only around 6 units of the course to focus on advising classes, the rest seem to be a backing of college history/how the admin works (which is important).
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