Memo:

To: Those Navigating the Higher Education Job Search

You may be reading this because you are just starting your higher ed job search, have been on the 'hunt' for a while, or maybe you are just looking for a change of pace in your current role and want to explore the idea of a higher ed job search. With your military affiliation, you carry perspectives, expertise, and lessons learned that will serve you very well in the job search. If you are willing and ready, it's time to lean into your skills and knowledge. Bring those skills and knowledge to the job search and remember that being your genuine self will lead to the best role and institution for you.

You may resonate with one, or several, of the following identities, and I encourage you to read whichever articles draw you in.

Some Advice for National Guard and Active Duty Job Seekers:

You may be surprised by how many active duty service members and guard members currently work in higher ed. Pursuing dual careers in higher education and the military makes sense for a lot of people. You are balancing both military service and civilian life, don't forget that military-speak is a foreign language to hiring managers when creating your application materials.

For National Guard members, this list of realities, including assessing professional fit and culture, is important to consider as you navigate your job search. When you do get an offer letter, there are several important items to remember as you onboard into your new role.

Some Advice for Military Spouse Job Seekers:

You've been doing a great job balancing it all. Just remember, day by day. I know each day can feel like you're just surviving, and when you add a job search on top of that, the overwhelm can really set in. There are strategies that can help you move from surviving to thriving in seasons of career transition. If you are a military spouse who takes on a caregiving role, there are several reasons why you should list caregiver experience on your resume. You may be wondering why higher education makes a viable career choice for military spouses, and the answer lies in your adaptability and awareness.

Advice For Veteran Job Seekers:

We've heard many stories from veterans transitioning from the military into the civilian workforce. Finding the right career immediately following your military service may not happen right away, and it's important to reflect on what you really want from your post-military work. If you have ever wondered, 'what's next after the military? working in higher education?' Exploring careers in higher education after military service could be your next step in the job search process. When moving from the military to academia: managing a successful job search takes dedicated time, attention, and effort. Translate your military experience into a successful civilian resume and be sure to communicate your story and sell your skills by explaining your military service and defining your achievements.

Advice for Anybody:

If you are having a difficult time understanding the differences between what associate, assistant, director, manager, or coordinator means in a job title, you can start by translating ambiguous academic titles. If you are considering applying for higher ed teaching roles, but aren't sure where your experience fits, you can start by translating faculty titles. To gain a better understanding of higher ed leadership structures and executive higher ed roles, consider translating executive titles.

I don't want to forget to share with you these 8 Tips for Landing Your First Job in Higher Ed and these 4 Rules for Success in the Higher Education Job Search. These tips apply to all higher ed job seekers.

Also, you are not average, so don't take the idle route of using AI to create your application materials. A recent higher ed job search committee realized, AI makes you average. Create your own materials, here's some help for cover letters.

One key piece of advice I hope you can take from this letter is to be a job shopper instead of a job seeker. The higher ed job market is full of jobs and career opportunities. Go shopping around at different institutions and reflect on where you want to invest your time.

If you find a job posting that has been posted for more than one month, be sure to email the point of contact listed on the job posting to confirm the position is still accepting applications.

HigherEdMilitary and HigherEdJobs are full of jobs from colleges and universities, higher ed job search advice resources, and job search strategies. I hope these advice articles serve as just the beginning steppingstones for your job search.

Wishing you success!

From: Your Friends at HigherEdMilitary

P.S.

Back in 2022 we polled job seekers and found that, "Of the respondents, 44.21% said that their most recent job search in higher ed was '1 year+', 25.82% said that their most recent job search in higher ed was '0-3 months' long, 18.40% said their job search was '4-7 months' long, and 11.57% said their job search was '8-12 months' long."

So, remember that you are not alone and that this job search journey may take a while.

Write us back at content@higheredmilitary.com if you need more advice!

Republish this article for free. We want to make it easier for you to share knowledge and creativity, and encourage you to reuse our articles under a Creative Commons license.