Author’s note: This post was written a few weeks back, right after finishing my second week on the job. I’m hoping to update more consistently (yes, I hear your disbelieving snickers out there), but please bear with me as I try to figure out this whole work-life balance thing. Happy reading!
So it’s the post you’ve all been waiting for! After nine months of feeling sorry for myself, this unemployed 24-year-old found a job!
In late June a previous supervisor emailed me with the information for a position opening at my alma mater. So I scrambled to put together a ‘perfect’ resume and cover letter and hand delivered said documents to the woman in charge of the search committee. Two and a half weeks later, after a 4-hour long interview process and a lot of tense waiting, I accepted an offer to work as an admission counselor with a fellow alum and the woman I worked with as my scholarship coordinator during my time as an undergrad.
So far I’ve survived two weeks on the job. It’s been a lot of training, a lot of learning, some frustration, and a few small moments of ‘Oh my God what have I gotten myself into?’
I’m still not 100% sure what I’ve gotten myself into. This job seems like it could go either way: an extremely rewarding, but ridiculously time consuming, opportunity for me to actually make a difference in students’ lives … or hell, basically. The amount of uncompensated overtime I’m required to work is unbelievable. And my salary just squeaks in over the living wage for my state. (Whether or not the job turns out to be rewarding, things are going to be tough financially for the foreseeable future…I just have to keep reminding myself that this paycheck is better than the nonexistent paycheck I received while unemployed.)
But on to more positive things… Some aspects of my new job are really wonderful. My mentor has worked meticulously to help me and make sure I’m not feeling too overwhelmed throughout all this training. ALSO he’s an alum, so the advice he can give me is extra-relevant.
In general, the office is super accommodating and helpful. Everyone from the Director of Enrollment to the Visit Coordinator to the Data Specialists upstairs has asked me several times how things are going and they check in often, sometimes just to make conversation.
All of the counselors seem to be really close and I think that is of paramount importance in the office. From what I’m gathering, we’re a group of overworked and under-payed young people who stay in the job because we love what we do. I know that I’m going to have moments over this next year when I feel like I’m at the end of my tether. I’m going to get lost during travel season. I’m going to be overwhelmed while planning receptions or coordinating interview schedules. I’m going to want to pull out my hair after reading the 60th application of the day and realizing I still have 50 more to complete by the end of the day. But I won’t be the only one feeling these things. The other counselors will have their own moments of frustration, but we’ll be there for each other since we’re all in the same boat.
And, on a personal note, I’m working somewhere I know and love. During my time as a student at Albright, I grew and learned and met wonderful people and pursued experiences that changed me for the better.
So yes, so far it seems like there are a lot of good things about my workplace. It’s possible that I’ll be able to do great things and help a lot of people in this position. But I think I would be remiss not to note something else in this post. I was extremely hesitant to apply for this job. Once I started to realize I wanted to pursue a career in higher ed, I said to myself, “Never admission. I never want to be one of those fake smiling people standing behind a table and doing anything they can to lure students to their institution.”
Needless to say, when I was offered the interview and then accepted the position, I had quite the internal battle. I felt like I had no choice but to accept. Who says no to the only job offer you receive? Who turns down a full-time job when your health insurance is soon to run out? I had a lot of thinking to do.
And do you know what I realized? In a way, I was correct in my original assumption. I still don’t want to be one of those fake smiling people standing behind a table and making promises to students that they can’t keep. And if I turn into one of those, I’ll have to look elsewhere for employment. But I don’t think I have to be one of those toothy admission monsters.
I realized that my successes in this job probably won’t come from talking facts and statistics. My successes will stem from truthful interactions and personalized conversations. My goal isn’t to recruit every student who walks past my table. I know that not all students want what Albright has to offer. Some students want huge universities, or engineering programs, or schools in a big city, and I respect that. Albright is not for those students.
I refuse to lie to students or tell them that ‘my’ institution is the be-all, end-all best. But when I was a student, Albright was the be-all, end-all best for me. And I bet there are other students out there right now who are like 16-year-old me. Students who will benefit from the things I benefited from. Students who are looking for a particular college experience. I genuinely enjoyed my time at Albright and in this new position, I will try to find others who will do the same. My goal is to help share the Albright experience with those people who will appreciate it as much as I did.
Is that an incredibly naive way to think about admission counseling? Maybe. Will I try my absolute hardest to maintain my ideals while also doing my job? You bet. Hopefully this gainfully-employed 24-year-old will have several success stories to tell. So stay tuned and think of me the next time you see an advertisement for a college fair. And if you’re in my area, pop by and check out the A’s. I might just be there, sharing my stories and looking for students who will love Albright as much as I do.
Midnights & Miles 