The First 90 Days: Navigating Your New Professional Experience

1. The First 90 Days:Navigating Your New Professional Experience Presenters: Danny Glassmann Assistant Director of Residence Life and Multicultural Center Elon University Zach Thomas Assistant Director of Greek Life Elon University

2. Overview of Presentation • Presenters Stories as New Professionals • Transition Issues Facing New Professionals • Needs Study of New Professionals • Success Strategies for Job Transition • Key Tips to a Smooth Job Transition • Advice to New Professionals • Our Suggestions • Resources for New Professionals

3. Danny's Story • Graduated from the University of Central Arkansas in the spring of 2007 • Moved to a new area for the first time • New position at the university • New residential area • Two departments • Two (different) supervisors

4. Zach's Story • Graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in the spring of 2007 • New environment (small private school) • Previous professional work experience • New job responsibilities • Assistant Director > Director

5. Transition Issues Facing New Professionals • Personal adjustment • Living in a different cultural area, changing banks, finding a place to live, obtaining a driver’s license, meeting new people, etc. • Supervision • Learning job expectations while developing relationship • New schedule • Flexible schedule in graduate school versus 9 to 5 in job • New political culture • Adjusting to a new physical environment and organizational culture Johnson, M. (2006, Spring). The first 90 days: Transitioning into a new job. Perspectives, 16-17.

6. Needs Study of New Professionals • In the fall of 2005, ACPA – College Student Educators International and its Standing Committee for Graduate Students and New Professionals, conducted a study to better understand the professional development needs of student affairs educators in the field five years or less. • The following needs were identified: • Better understanding of the organizational culture and political climate • Transitioning from a graduate professional program to a new job • Receiving adequate support and establishing a mentor relationship • Understanding job expectations and institutional type • Fostering student learning • Moving up in the field of student affairs • Enhancing supervision skills • Developing multicultural competencies • Balancing professional and personal lives ACPA – College Student Educators International. (2006). Report on the new professional needs study. Washington, DC: ACPA – College Student Educators International.

7. Transition Issues – Personal Examples • Let Your Experience Be Your Experience! • It’s Not 9 to 5 • Taking the drivers test again • Know the institutional culture • Fully invested, but imbalanced

8. Success Strategies for Job Transition • Promote yourself • Accelerate your learning • Match the strategy to the situation • Secure early wins • Negotiate success • Achieve alignment • Build your team • Create coalitions • Keep your balance • Expedite everyone Watkins, M. (2003). The first 90 days: Critical success strategies for new leaders at all levels. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press.

9. Success Strategies – Personal Examples • Earning Big Wins Matter! • Created LGBT Allies Program • Redesigned departmental website • Restructure Greek Leaders Retreat • Building Your Team • Speak to student leaders and staff members • Accelerate Your Learning • First 90 Days Program • Student Life Professional Development Committee

10. Key Tips to a Smooth Job Transition • Be honest about who you are. • Be the expert. • Build a strategy for learning new names and faces. • Survey the landscape before you begin to build. • Provide an outside perspective. • Create a strong support system. • Cultivate a strong relationship with your supervisor. • Be flexible and expect the unexpected! • Connect with the community. • Pace yourself. Johnson, M. (2006, Spring). The first 90 days: Transitioning into a new job. Perspectives, 16-17.

11. Tips to a Smooth Job Transition – Personal Examples • Be Flexible and Expecting the Unexpected • Residential buildings were not done and for the first part of the semester had facility issues • Learn New Names and Faces • Created a list of all the students, faculty, and staff I met • Meet Key People • Visit and be introduced to different departments

12. Advice to New Professionals • Know Your Boss • Philosophical Conflict • Cultivate Faculty • Nothing Less Than The Best • Students And Job Satisfaction • Your Professionalism Is Showing • Peter Principle Ahead • If In Doubt, Call In The Experts • All Work And No Play • Skepticism Breeds New Learning • To Thine Own Self Be True Stamatakos, L.C. (1978). Unsolicited advice to new professionals. Journal of College Student Development, 19(4), 325-330.

13. Our Suggestions • Focus on learning your job first, before taking on more • Listen more than you talk • Keep a journal! • Stay connected to family and friends for support • Keep a log of your accomplishments • Have lunch with people outside your department • Avoid office politics and gossip • Take advantage of after hours activities, i.e. campus events, the gym, the library, etc. • Find a mentor • Be yourself!

14. Resources for New Professionals • ACPA – College Student Educators International. (2006). Report on the new professional needs study. Washington, DC: ACPA – College Student Educators International. • Hansen, R.S. & Hansen, K. (n.d.). Your first days working at a new job: 20 tips to help you make a great impression. Retrieved January 16, 2009, from Quintessential Careers Web site: http://www.quintcareers.com/first_days_working.html • Johnson, M. (2006, Spring). The first 90 days: Transitioning into a new job. Perspectives, 16-17. • Magolda, P. & Carnaghi, J. (Eds.) (2004). Job one: Experiences of new professionals in student affairs. Lanham, MD: University Press of America. • M.J. Amey & L.M. Reesor (Eds.) (1998). Beginning your journey: A guide for new professionals in student affairs. Washington, DC: National Association of Student Personnel Administrators. • Stamatakos, L.C. (1978). Unsolicited advice to new professionals. Journal of College Student Development, 19(4), 325-330. • Watkins, M. (2003). The first 90 days: Critical success strategies for new leaders at all levels. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press.

15. Questions?