Don't Get Frozen Over
Musings on Job Searching During a Hiring Freeze
A Quick Reminder…
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Monday Musing on Searching During a Freeze
Recently, I had the opportunity to chat with a current graduate student about an upcoming final interview at a Boston R1 University. She was focusing on what questions to ask, how to make the most of the interview and was doing all the right things that you should be doing prepping for a final on-campus interview. For the casual reader who has never been a part of a HigherEd search, let me be more than clear… we insist on putting candidates through the paces. Bring them to campus, make them be ‘on’ for 3, 6 or even 9 hours … seriously… brutal. I have no idea why we have maintained this ableist methodology other than TRADITION, but here we are. There are traditions associated with hiring and there are traditions associated with not hiring.
At the end of the conversation, we started talking about increasingly anxiety producing reports that universities are undergoing hiring freezes. I assured her that they are probably interviewing for an essential position and they would be following through on the hire. I was wrong. Less than 24 hours after the chat, the student was notified they were putting the interview and hiring on pause. My message to her - you will find work. You will prevail!
Indeed, in the wake of NIH funding cuts and political anxiety, campuses will be making some changes in hiring practices. But, let’s be clear, HigherEd has been looking for an excuse to tighten the belt, and these realities only add to a CFO or Board of Regents desire to slow down on staffing. My message to new professionals seeking to find their way into student affairs and services roles? DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Some Tips:
Keep applying, but broaden your search. Broadening your search means considering the type of institutions you are applying to. R1 institutions are going to be hardest hit by hiring freezes, now may be the time to expand your search to institutions that are outside of that classification.
Pay attention to what Hiring Freeze means. It is pretty simple to do some searches on what it means to have a freeze on a campus. Over my three decades of administrative leadership, I have been a hiring manager in the midst of more years of hiring freeze than open hiring. If you are considering a position, take a look at the announcement and the hiring policy. This will give you a stronger understanding of what the institution is doing, for how long (5 months, indefinite, etc.), and what are the options.
Understand terminology. Some institutions will change their HR pages to reflect what has been identified as essential. Some institutions will decide that they will hire more probationary or contract employees. These give the budget people more control. It is not great for hiring managers or for new employees, but it gets interested folks in the door, with a hope that they are retained.
Educate those in your circle. HigherEd is odd when it comes to hiring (see paragraph 1 above), and you will hear from people around you who have never searched or worked in the HigherEd “THIS IS INSANE!” They aren’t wrong. But, they are not entirely correct either. This is a reality that many of us have gone through before (1990 Recession 1999-2001 .com bust, 2008 Recessions, Pandemic …), this time it’s more unnerving because of the political uncertainty and the attack on HigherEd. Hiring freezes are not new, the politics of it is.
Create a circle of support. It is essential to have a circle of mentors, peers and cheerleaders in your corner. This will be more important now than ever. Not because it is a more difficult time, but because we need to fight against the desire to turn inwards and isolate. Search publicly and proudly.
As you navigate this challenging job market, remember that while the search process may take longer, your determination and resilience will ultimately lead to success. You may need to explore temporary or "bridge work" opportunities, but don't let that distract you from your long-term goals. Keep your focus forward, and with the right mindset and support, you will find the work you want to do. You will prevail, and your perseverance will be a testament to your strength and dedication.
