Tag Archives: Millersville University Professional Development

Academics, Resources

How to Prepare for an Interview

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It can be nerve wracking getting ready for an interview, especially if you are not ready. If you are not prepared for the interview it most likely won’t go well. There are a few tips that can help you get ready for what you need to do before the interview as well as what is needed during an interview.

Examine the Job Description

The very first thing you need to do before your interview is to very carefully look over the job description. It is important to understand what the position is and what your responsibilities will be before you meet with the employer. This will give the impression that you are serious about this job as well as that you are professional.

Know Your Audience

The position you are interviewing for is not the only research you will need to conduct. You will also want to research the company / business. It is important to know about the company / business because it will help you get a better understanding of the position you are interviewing for as well as if it will be a good fit for you.

Consider Your Answers to Common Interview Questions

You will not be able to predict all the questions that will be asked, but there are common questions that most employers will want answers too. Some of these questions may be “why do you want to work for this company?” or “what are your greatest strengths?” These may not sound like hard questions to answer, but if you are unprepared they could mess up the rest of your interview.

Prepare Several Thoughtful Questions for the Interviewer(s)

As with most professional meetings, there are do’s and don’ts when it comes to questions you should ask during the  interview. You want to sound professional and intelligent but you do not want to sound pushy or not interested. Check out the following two posts to learn the questions you should ask vs. the questions that should never be asked during an interview.

These Are the Questions You Should Never Ask During a Job Interview

Towards the end of an interview, almost every employer will ask, ” Do you have any questions for me?” Job applicants should put just as much thought into asking questions as they do answering questions. Whether you intend it or not, each question you ask has the potential to reflect your knowledge of the company, your interest in the position, and your work ethic.

 

10 Impressive Questions to Ask in a Job Interview

Get Ask a Boss delivered every week As someone who has interviewed probably thousands of job applicants throughout my career, I’m always surprised by how some candidates handle the part of the interview where it’s their turn to ask questions.

Conduct Mock Interviews

Ask a friend or family member to help you prepare by going through a mock interview. Have them be the interviewer and try to make it as realistic as possible. This will help you with answering questions as well as get some feedback on how you conducted yourself. It could also help boost your confidence when going in for your real interview.

*Remember to be open to their criticism and try to implement their recommendations.

Print Copies of Your Resume

Always bring a hard copy of your resume when going to an interview, even if you already submitted a digital copy. This gives the employer the impression that you are ready for anything and it refreshes their memory of who you are.

State of Mind

It is okay to be nervous before going into an interview, but it is important you find a way to keep your head in the right place. If you are scattered and unfocused it will show during your interview. Try to get a good night’s sleep the night before and try some calming techniques.

Relaxation Techniques for Stress Relief

For many of us, relaxation means flopping on the couch and zoning out in front of the TV at the end of a stressful day. But this does little to reduce the damaging effects of stress.

Dress Accordingly

You should dress professionally when attending an interview. This gives the employer a good first impression and shows that you are serious about working for them. It will also boost your confidence.

Get Ready to Follow Up After the Interview

It is extremely important to follow up after an interview. By following up you show your interest in the position and will make you stand out with the employer. Now the question is how long do you wait before contacting them? A good rule of thumb is waiting 4 – 5 business days, unless you were already given the next steps in the process.

Experiential Learning and Career Management (ELCM) is a great place to visit at Millersville University. They help with resume critiques, cover letters, job and internship searches, etc. For more information on them check out their page.

Experiential Learning And Career Management (ELCM)

Experiential Learning And Career Management (ELCM)

Academics, Lists, New / Prospective Students

How to Send a Proper Email to Your Professor

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Back when it was my first semester of college, I learned a valuable lesson. A lesson I have come to realize not many college students have learned is how to send a proper email to your professor. This also goes with any authority figure like your boss or a potential employer. Many don’t include important information or they make the email informal. This is not the way to go when you are trying to sound professional.

Here are a few things to remember when sending an email:

Keep your email professional!

Don’t treat the email the way you would talk to your friend. When emailing an authority figure you want to give the best impression! Be polite and respectful, this will help give whoever is receiving your email the best impression of you.

You want to begin your email by addressing your professor by title and name. An example would be “Dear Dr. Smith.” If they go by “Professor” then call them that.

End the email with your name / signature. It is important that you don’t forget to tell them who is emailing. I have heard professors say that students have emailed them and forgotten to mention their name. They can’t respond if they don’t know who they are emailing.

Keep your email clear and concise!

Make your email easy to understand. If they can’t figure out what you are trying to say or ask you might not get the answers or response you need.

Don’t forget to mention what class you are from! Most professors have many classes they teach, so they are going to have a harder time remembering which students are from which class. Include the title of the course and time or the course number.

Check your spelling and grammar before you send!

I am guilty of this as well. You never want to just send the email without looking it over for misspellings or grammar mistakes. This will not go over well with your professors.

Never leave the subject box empty!

You always want to include what the email is about in a few words.  If you were sending an email about trying to find a time to meet the professor you could say “Appointment Possibilities.”

Do not waste their time!

Your professors have other classes to teach as well as other responsibilities. You do not want to send ask questions that you can answer for yourself. Make sure you honestly can’t find the answer yourself before contacting your professor. If you can’t find the answer then you ask. Don’t forget they have office hours for a reason.

Do not make demands!

If you need something then request it, do not make demands. Make sure you give them enough time to respond to you. It is important to always be respectful and polite. Make sure that you are not emailing them about something that you could use their office hours for. If you are looking for more tips on how to send a proper email check out:

How to Email a Professor

Emailing a professor should be straightforward. You send emails all the time! But emailing a professor is different from email a friend or family member. Professional email etiquette is not something that is often taught which makes sending that first email all the more stressful.

My name is Stephanie Wenger and I am the Marketing Intern for the Department of Housing and Residential Programs. I am an English BA major with a minor in History.

Announcements

HARP Staff Proudly Participates in 2018 Regional Entry Level Institute (RELI)

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2018 MACUHO / NEACUHO RELI

Dr. Scott M. Helfrich and Residential Area Director Rebekah Yerger participated in the 2018 Regional Entry Level Institute (RELI) at Penn State Harrisburg as offered by the Mid-Atlantic College & University Housing Officers (MACUHO) and Northeast College & University Housing Officers (NEACUHO) professional organizations. Dr. Helfrich served as a faculty member, and Rebekah was a first-time participant.

The Regional Entry Level Institute is an intensive professional development seminar featuring a range of activities for entry-level professionals who aspire to mid-level positions in residence life and beyond. To ensure the intended learning environment, only 28 RELI participants are accepted each year. Participants will be placed into small groups and assigned a faculty member who will provide individual advice, support and suggestions for future professional growth.

This year’s competencies were based on the Association of College & University Housing Officers -International (ACUHO-I) Body of Knowledge:

  • Crisis Management
  •  Evaluation & Planning
  • Facilities Management
  • Fiscal Resources & Control
  • Human Resources
  • Occupancy & Operations
  • Resident Education & Student Behavior
  • Additional mini-sessions were presented on Professional Development, Ancillary Partnerships, and Campus Politics

Dr. Helfrich presented on Facilities Management and was able to share lessons learned from his experience with housing facilities operations at four different universities, including his time here at Millersville University. He also shared his knowledge on student housing public-private partnerships (P3) given he is known as a thought-leader in the industry on this topic.  Millersville University’s suite-style housing exists due to a public-private partnership between the University and Student Service, Inc. (SSI).

Rebekah enjoyed her time as a participant as she was able to expand her knowledge about the housing and residence life professional while interacting with colleagues from around the region:

“At RELI, I really learned a lot about different core competencies that housing and residence life professionals use all over the world. The best thing about this conference was the opportunity to network in a small setting. Now I have the confidence to attend larger conferences and not feel as if I don’t know anyone. It was interesting to hear the perspectives of professionals that work at differing institutions like NYU, UConn, Berkelee College of Music, and so many others. After this conference, I plan on focusing my attention on staff team dynamics and how to best set up my RAs for success, both academically and within HARP.”