What Positions Should a Seasoned Professional Apply for in Higher Education?
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I recently sat down with Kelly Cherwin and Andy Hibel on the HigherEdJobs podcast to discuss a listener's question as part of the Ask the Expert Series, which provides advice on questions about searching for a job, interviewing, navigating workplace issues, and advancing your career.
A summary of our conversation is below. We hope you'll find it helpful in your job search.
Question: I would like to get back into college recruiting, but at my age, in my 50s, and given my years of experience, I feel I am getting passed over. What positions should a seasoned employee like me apply for in higher education?
Matt Trainum: When I talk to folks about jobs and what they should apply for, I tell them they should apply for jobs that they can do and are interested in doing. These jobs should meet their obligations and needs, and they should be able to make the pitch that they can do the role.
If this person is interested in admissions and a recruiting job, they should make that pitch and go for it. The person has a perception that they may be going for a role that is occupied by younger people. There's a scenario where you get into a position, and you see that the cohort in this role or on the team does not look like you. If that's the case, how do I break into that group?
That's a deep question and a challenging space. I want to acknowledge that it can also be painful and there can be a sense of not being valued or wanted in a space where you can contribute. And it's because of a factor that shouldn't be important. I want to bring that to the surface and express a shared frustration with the applicant when that might show up.
Job Opportunities That Transcend Age
Trainum: In my world, I see people in roles often held by newer or younger professionals, and the people in those roles are 50 or older, and they are having a blast.
When age is a concern or worry, I have seen people remove dates for things like college graduation. I have seen people thoughtfully position their resume where reviewers are unable to notice dates or ages as well.
If you can get through the paper screening, you can get to the interview. And when you're in the interview, it's not so much about age, but it's about translation and it's about the ability to present your skills and your abilities and sell what you can do.
Coincidentally, when you're in the admissions world, it's all about selling the institution. So, figuring out how to sell yourself in that moment is good.
Position Yourself to Land the Job
Trainum: A general tip I would suggest includes positioning yourself smartly.
Tell them why you want the role, and make sure the why is about them. We've talked before on the podcast about how cover letters and interview answers are often about the interviewee when they need to be about the organization.
Demonstrate a clear ability to reach goals or include language that highlights your experience, while also emphasizing your flexibility. Try not to make this about a career change. Reviewers look at career change applications more suspiciously. So, you must present this as a position that you are ready for and already doing. But just in a different world.
Cherwin: Everything you've said is fantastic, and I agree with your take and suggestions. As you said, there are some unknowns with this question. This listener said they have applied to positions in college recruiting and are getting passed up. Is it a couple of institutions? Is it 30? My advice would be to not give up! If this is truly what you want to do, then use the tips that Matt suggested, and translate your knowledge and your experience into explaining why you would be the best fit for that institution. You must follow your dream of where you want to work and what type of role would be the best fit for you.
Do Your Research to Craft a Great Cover Letter and Resume
Hibel: Knowing that the writer is in their fifties says a lot about the career stage that they're in, and there's limited runway to do the stuff you want to do. The listener asks about what positions they should apply to but is extremely specific in the beginning that they're getting back into college recruiting. This is something they've done before, and that provides an opportunity to sell their passion in a different way and say, "I loved doing this when I was younger."
There's a presumption that most Gen Xers have that a person is reading your written application materials. There may be! But the initial review might not be done by one person. It may be conducted by an applicant tracking system or a similar platform. The delicate balance to strike is recognizing that an automated system might conduct an initial review, so you need all the keywords to help you get the top score and highest grade. But there isn't a top score or highest grade.
Don't lose the personality of your resume. Make sure your formatting is correct for an applicant tracking system to read your resume and strike the balance that could be read by either a platform or a person.
Trainum: I always love Andy's mentions of personality and making sure you show that in these conversations. Another point I would add to this is the opportunity to build relationships.
Expand Your Job Search Through Alumni Associations
Trainum: If you're not feeling pressure to change jobs immediately, what does it look like to build relationships with recruiters? Most university alumni associations allow you to do this.
Many institutions let alumni interview applicants for their institutions, and there might be a social opportunity like a dinner where you can network with their alumni. Build those relationships through the institution you've graduated from, so that you're positioned in how to talk about and represent a school.
If you have the time, you might consider joining a Facebook group and attending an event for admissions or recruitment to see what the current conversation is.
It really behooves candidates to do their research and understand what is going on with enrollment, as an example. There are probably 20 newsletters that they could subscribe to if they took an afternoon of time and did their research.
Don't Turn the Job Interview into a Therapy Session
Trainum: One additional point I will mention is to be cautious on naming aloud what you think your weakness is when the hiring manager or recruiter hasn't asked or talked about it.
If you get an interview, then they're willing to talk with you and you do need to translate your skills and sell yourself. A third of the time I'm interviewing someone, they self-disclose a weakness that they're worried about, and it's something I would not have thought of or that was not a worry for me. And so now I suddenly have it as a worry for me because they're worried about it.
Be cautious of that. I've had people say, "I can imagine you're really wondering and worried about me translating my skills from the corporate sector." And then the conversation moves into their life's journey. I get more interviews that end up being a therapy session. The focus must be about the university, whoever you're interviewing with, you've got to present your experience and their world and highlight it and make that connection. And it shouldn't be about your journey and self-disclosing whatever you're worried about.
Cherwin: Thank you, Matt, for that fantastic reminder. If anyone is interested in the topic of seasoned professionals, we talked about "Job Searching after 40" on the podcast in June 2023.
"Ask the Expert" is your chance to get advice and unique insight on questions you have about searching for a job, interviewing, navigating workplace issues, and advancing your career. Featured experts range from HR professionals who specialize in conflict management to job search experts who share advice on how to secure interviews and impress search committees. Experts also include former campus administrators, academic leadership consultants, and career development professionals working in higher education and within industry. Submit your question to one of our higher ed experts.
