Full Description
This is a book for any student affairs professional who wants to strategically shape his or her career path—and will be particularly helpful for people in early or mid-career, or contemplating a career, in student affairs.By engagingly offering us the fruits of the reflective and strategic approach she has used to shape her own career, and of the theoretical and practical approaches she has undertaken to map out the culture and dynamics of student affairs, and by gathering the voices of 25 professionals who offer the insights and advice derived from their own experiences, Sonja Ardoin has created a guide for everyone in student affairs who wants to be intentional in setting the course for their professional and personal development.She begins by describing the changing and varied student populations who are the heart of this field, and outlines the typical organizational structures of student affairs, the range of functional areas, and how practice varies by size and type of institution. She highlights major trends, discusses the typical paths of entry to the profession, the expectations and realities of starting in a new position, the process of socialization, and the required skills and competencies. She devotes the core of the book to the five key elements for developing a career strategy: Lifelong Learning, Extending Your Experiences, Planning for Professional Development, Networking/Connecting, and Self-Reflection, and provides advice on the job search, from application through interview. In doing so she ranges over choices to be made about formal qualifications, and describes activities - from volunteering and committee work to conference presentations, writing and teaching - that we can use to strategically develop the proficiencies to attain our goals.
Contents
FOREWORD 1. INTRODUCTION TO THE FIELD Student Demographics on Today's College Campuses Student Affairs' Role on Campuses Student Affairs By Institutional Type Student Affairs Structures Functional Areas Summary 2. NEW PROFESSIONALS THROUGH THE MAGNIFYING MIRROR Who Are You and Your Peers? What Are Your Ideal Expectations and What Is the Reality? What Are the Career Themes You Might Want to Consider? Which Skills Do You Have and Which Ones Are Useful? In What Areas Should You Focus Your Professional Development? In What Areas Should You Strive to Be Competent? Summary 3. CREATING A STUDENT AFFAIRS CAREER STRATEGY Intentional and Spontaneous Reflecting on Your Current Strategy (or Lack Thereof) Five Career Strategy Components Summary 4. LIFELONG LEARNING Formal Processes of Learning Informal Processes of Learning Personal Stories Summary 5. THE JOB HUNT AND EXTENDING YOUR EXPERIENCES The Job Search Gaining Experience Outside of Your Job Description Personal Stories Summary 6. PLANNING FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT It Is Your Responsibility Navigating Professional Development Options Get Creative Crafting Your Plan on "Paper" Personal Stories Summary 7. NETWORKING OR CONNECTING Do You! Politics Personal Stories Summary 8. SELF-REFLECTION Do You! Personal Stories Summary APPENDIX A. Initial Self-Reflection Questions APPENDIX B. Job Interview Question Examples APPENDIX C. Professional Development Plan REFERENCES READING SUGGESTIONS FOR NEW AND MID-LEVEL STUDENT AFFAIRS PROFESSIONALS FROM YOUR PEERS AUTHOR AND CONTRIBUTORS INDEX
