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HOW
TO MOVE FROM RA TO CEO
It's
the time of year again to think about summer jobs, internships,
or for those graduating, moving into "the real world!"
Be sure to take your RA experience with you as you position yourself
for the future!
I
was on a plane recently and sat next to a "executive recruiter."
He works with some of the top companies in the world and finds
people to fill their management and leadership positions. I asked
him what he felt were the top characteristics employers were looking
for in their top recruits. He listed off a number of characteristics
and I mentally went down a checklist and smiled, because each
and every item he mentioned is a skill or quality that can come
from being an RA.
Imagine
going into a job interview and being able to confidently give
clear and concise examples of your skills in planning, assessment,
administration, counseling, conflict resolution, crisis management,
facilities management, budgeting, staff development, leadership
training, public speaking, and many other valuable skills. As
you hopefully know, YOU CAN DO JUST THAT as an RA. You can demonstrate
practical "transferrable skills" and also give examples
of your work ethic, integrity, honesty, maturity, reliability,
flexibility, and sense of humor! (Yes, that is something employers
look for).
For
those of you who are not looking for a job at this time, take
some time to develop your resume NOW! I
have personally spoken with employers
will actually hire a former RA over someone with equivalent experience
who does not have an RA experience under their belt, BECAUSE THEY
KNOW YOU HAVE REAL WORLD SKILLS!
What
about those employers who have never heard of the RA position?
How do you communicate to them what valuable skills you developed
as an RA?Here are
some helpful hints on maximizing your RA experience when seeking
a new opportunity:
The
RESUME – Obviously, the resume is the first impression you
make on most employers, so a good description of the RA position
is essential. For some examples, go to: /archive/advice/resume/resumebuilders.htm
For
more great resume resources on the web, check out: /archive/advice/resume/resumelinks.htm
The
INTERVIEW – I was recently helping someone prepare for a job
interview, and as we went over sample interview questions, I kept
on thinking about how each of the questions could be answered
by referring to an example of my experience as an RA! Look at
sample interview questions and think about how your RA experience
relates. What skills have you gained or developed in your time
as an RA? You can find some great job searching tips, along with
sample interview questions at About.com’s career website: http://jobsearch.about.com/careers/jobsearch/
ON
THE JOB – Your experiences as an RA can benefit you in any
job position. You have experience working with a diverse population
of people, working with a team, planning, problem solving, and
acting as a resource. These skills can be maximized if you recognize
them and intentionally develop them now. Take some time to come
up with a list of “transferable skills” from your RA experience.
Best
of luck in your job searches, both now and in the future. Whether
you are seeking a career in business management or social work,
you can be assured that you have “an edge” because of your RA
experience. If you have any questions, please feel free to drop
me an email.
Take care,
Dan
Oltersdorf
http://www.DanOltersdorf.com
PS...
please visit the discussion
boards to discuss this topic and add your thoughts!
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These
are some issues students may face during this time of year. As
you will note, these are general guidelines and will vary from
student to student. This information can be useful to not only
be aware of what students may be going through, but also to plan
relevant programs.