Reflections on Recommendations by Justin Schuch

SIU Residence Life has some great things going on, and we want to showcase some of our proud moments on our blog. We also hope people considering working in RA, graduate assistant, or full-time positions with our department will take a minute to learn more about the things we are doing. More information about our department, including position descriptions, application information, and graduate and full-time staff profiles can be found on our recruitment website.

Justin Schuch is the Coordinator of Residential Leadership and Engagement for our department. Today Justin shares his thoughts about writing letters of recommendation for students.

The spring semester is always an exciting time, as many of the undergraduate and graduate students begin looking towards the summer and fall semesters for leadership positions, jobs, and internships to enhance their experiences. In a profession where our main goal should be assisting students in being successful, there are few moments more rewarding than those when I am able to construct letters of recommendation for those I have had the pleasure to work with. As students begin to apply for positions, scholarships, or advanced study, I have always felt honored to be asked to be a part of these valuable transition periods and know I have had a very real part in assisting future success.

In my experience, the best part of developing a letter of recommendation is reflecting upon the time I have been able to work with someone. Whether a staff member, student leader, or student I have worked with in class, the evolution a student goes through is something we rarely get to look back on and enjoy. One of the most rewarding letters I composed was one I wrote for a student who I originally met via a conduct process. Seeing this individual rise from a mishap, become a leader among their peers, then focus on future endeavors within higher education was a transformation I am frequently thankful I was able to be a part of. With any letter I am able to prepare, I enjoy being able to look back and visualize the progression a person as gone through. As a young professional, I have quickly come to realize letters of recommendation and/or support will be an area of the field and my positions I hold dear and enjoy most.

After working alongside a student or peer in any capacity, developing strong letters of recommendation is something I feel professionals truly “owe” the individuals who have confided this valuable part of their experience with me. As advisors and supervisors, we challenge daily for higher boundaries and firm goals. Whether a student employee, leader, or graduate student, I remain well aware of the amount of energy, dedication, and drive those around me put into their efforts. Knowing I have asked for a great deal from students, staff, and advisees, it seems of the utmost importance for me to dedicate just a fraction of those contributions to letters of recommendation. More importantly, a strong letter of recommendation for a deserving individual can be the ultimate “thank you” from an advisor/supervisor to a student leader or staff member.

More than a simple letter saying “hire/accept this person,” a letter of recommendation is nod to the hard work someone has done, proof of confidence in their ability, and a stamp of approval for the future work they will produce. It is difficult to know how much weight a letter of support can have for an applicant. Often, a strong letter is icing on the cake. Other times, it may set the tone for an applicant’s experience. Whether the contributions a person has made are legendary, or average, I still enjoy being able support however possible via a letter of recommendation.

So, as the spring semester continues, I will look forward to the possibility of writing numerous recommendations. I suppose it is also my hope those I have been able to speak highly of and recommend are able to one day turn around and write similar letters for those they have had the pleasure to work alongside.

Mock Interviews

SIU Residence Life has some great things going on, and we want to showcase some of our proud moments on our blog. We also hope people considering working in RA, graduate assistant, or full-time positions with our department will take a minute to learn more about the things we are doing. More information about our department, including position descriptions, application information, and graduate and full-time staff profiles can be found on our recruitment website. Today's blog post was written by Gena Stack, Coordinator of Conference Services and part of the advisement team for Future Leaders in Student Affairs. Pictures provided by David Keys, Hall Director of the Wall & Grand Apartments and part of the advisement team for Future Leaders in Student Affairs.

 

As student affairs professionals, one of our most important charges is mentoring and guiding students who aspire to become professionals in the field. One way we address this at SIU Carbondale is through Future Leaders in Student Affairs (FLSA). FLSA helps students at all academic levels, from first-year students to graduate students, learn more about opportunities available to them in higher education and ways to take advantage of those opportunities. FLSA programs are planned by an advisement team; the 2012-2013 team consists of myself; David Keys, Hall Director of the Wall & Grand Apartments; and Jon Gorgosz, Assistant Hall Director in Mae Smith Hall. While not everyone attends all of our programs, FLSA currently has 50+ undergraduate students, 20+ graduate members, and nearly 60 faculty and staff who have expressed interest in involvement.

 

With interview season swiftly approaching, we recognized a need to prepare our students for placement exchanges and on-campus interview processes. On Thursday, February 7, we scheduled a résumé review session. Students brought their résumés and shared them professionals from across campus, including Keri Young, Director of Career Services at SIU Carbondale.

After receiving résumé feedback, our students were ready to hone their interview skills. We hosted two 3 1/2 hour interview blocks on Friday, February 15 and Monday, February 18. Students signed up for one of the Mock Interview sessions, and during their assigned time interviewed with four different professionals (or pairs of professionals) from different campus offices and attended a mock social. Interviews lasted 25-30 minutes, and "employers" were asked to spend the last five minutes of each session giving feedback to the "candidate".

Candidates waiting for their mock interviews

The mock social was a new component we introduced this year. Students in previous years gave feedback about feeling prepared for the interviews but overwhelmed and unsettled by socials, particularly those at placement exchanges. We provided light refreshments (so students would think about food choices and how they work/don't work in the setting) and asked all our participants to mingle for about 30 minutes. For an added twist, we distributed challenges to candidates and employers. Some employers were instructed to attempt to monopolize a particular candidate or avoid talking to candidates altogether; candidates were each given a top employer to particularly try to impress.

 

Mock Social

 

11 students went through the process as "candidates"; 7 graduate students and 4 undergraduates. 14 staff members served as "employers" - we were lucky to have faculty and staff volunteers from Student Involvement & Leadership Development, Fraternity & Sorority Life, Career Services, Residence Life, Student Rights & Responsibilities, Saluki First Year, and the department of Education Administration and Higher Education. The different experiences of our "employers" allowed our "candidates" to answer a wide range of questions and interact with people using a broad variety of interview styles and techniques.

Overall we received really positive feedback from the students who went through this process. Additionally, faculty and staff who were involved said it was a valuable way for them to practice their interview skills (particularly for those preparing to recruit) and a great way to meet and interact with students.