HigherEdJobs Podcast

In this episode, co-host Andy Hibel talks with Greg White, associate professor at The College of St. Scholastica, where he serves as director of the Traditional Undergraduate Nursing Program. White enlisted in the Air National Guard in 2007 and has been deployed on missions worldwide, working as a medic or, at times, an administrator. He oversaw COVID testing and coordinated findings with the Mayo...

In this Ask the Expert episode, HR expert Kathleen Hermacinski and Matt Trainum, vice president with the Council of Independent Colleges, respond to listeners' questions about salary negotiations during the job search process. Our listeners asked how to calculate your worth and how and when to mention salary during the interview process.    Hermacinski suggests tapping into the U.S. Bureau of Labo...

In this episode, LeNaya Hezel, chief programs officer at the Warrior-Scholar Project, talks with co-hosts Andy Hibel and Monika Sziron about her career path as a military spouse and her work and research in higher education. In her current role, she helps develop educational experiences accessible to any enlisted veteran pursuing higher education.  Hezel talks about why higher education is a great...

On HigherEdJobs, there are almost 86,000 open positions at 2,200 institutions nationwide. The possibilities are endless if you're willing to relocate for a job. But what if you want to relocate to a specific region or state? In this Ask the Expert episode, Chris Lee responds to a listener who would like to move to Colorado. The listener wrote, "Should I use LinkedIn and professional associations o...

Courtney Swoboda, who received the 2024 HigherEdMilitary Spotlight Award, describes her career path as "random." But during a recent interview with HigherEdJobs podcast co-hosts Andy Hibel and Monika Sziron, we saw that she is a determined and forward-thinking leader making strides in veteran education.  As the director of Military and Veteran Services at the University of Central Missouri, Swobod...

Have you ever helped your kids move to college? What emotions did you feel, and how did things go?  In this episode, HigherEdJobs podcast hosts Andy Hibel and Kelly Cherwin each describe their recent experiences of dropping off a child at college, from their personal and professional perspectives. Andy and his wife dropped off their youngest, and he said it was an idyllic experience. Their oldest...

In this Ask the Expert episode, HR expert Kathleen Hermacinski and Matt Trainum, vice president with the Council of Independent Colleges, respond to questions from listeners about the use of recruiting for roles in higher education. The questions they explore include how in-house and outside recruiting firms work at colleges and universities.  Hermacinski said that outside firms search on behalf o...

In this episode, Mary Guiden added "Firework" by Katy Perry to the HigherEdJobs Playlist for your higher ed job search.  She found the lyrics inspiring while experiencing the ups and downs of a job search:  "If you only knew what the future holds / After a hurricane comes a rainbow / Maybe a reason why all the doors are closed / So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road."   Guiden i...

Have you struggled to fit in when you landed a job on a college campus? In this Ask the Expert episode, Matt Trainum, vice president with the Council of Independent Colleges, responds to a listener who left the busy corporate world due to burnout and made a move into higher education. This person is having a difficult time adjusting to the "laissez-faire" attitudes of some department colleagues at...

How do you define facilities management at a university or college? Winnie Kwofie, who has overseen facilities management teams in public and private higher education institutions, describes the field as integrating people and processes in one place. She is passionate about increasing awareness about the diverse and interesting roles in facilities management. Currently, on HigherEdJobs, there are...

In this episode, Matt Trainum with the Council of Independent Colleges responds to a question from a "seasoned" employee in their 50s.  Our listener said they would like to get back into college recruiting but given their years of experience, they feel they are being passed up for roles that would be a good fit.  "What positions should a 'seasoned' employee like me be applying for in higher educat...

What if feeling like an imposter was not a negative thing? In this episode, RJ Jenkins, director of education at the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration, talks about imposter syndrome or what he prefers to describe as imposter feelings or a phenomenon.  Typically, imposter syndrome is described as self-doubt among high-achieving individuals who overlook their accompli...

How do you manage working while experiencing hard times in life? In this episode, the HigherEdJobs editorial team talks with hosts Andy Hibel and Kelly Cherwin about managing an illness, supporting a family member, and caring for children and teenagers while working, among other topics. We were inspired to discuss this topic after reading " How to be Emotionally Present at Work When You Have Real...

Matt Trainum offers his advice on how to translate the skills you've acquired in higher education into a job in a new realm. At the highest level, you have to believe that you can do whatever job you're applying to during your job search, he said.  As you look to make that move, conduct smart research and prepare yourself well for each stage you'll encounter. Self-reflection is also a great place...

Did you know that in some fields of study, as many as 70% of doctoral students don't finish the program? In this Ask the Expert episode, Chris Lee discusses the complex question of what type of doctoral degree to pursue to advance your career. In terms of demand for candidates with an Ed. D. or Ph. D., Lee said the job market varies by field, region and the type of institution.  Pursing a doctoral...

How do you define well-being? Amy Hoch, a psychologist and associate director of the Wellness Center at Rowan University, said that well-being is how people create a life worth living. It's a way to help people -- including students, staff and faculty -- move in the direction of their highest potential.  Leaders at Rowan University have moved away from a Western medicine approach in well-being to...

In this Ask the Expert episode, Chris Lee discusses open-ended applicant pools. These positions may be listed as "open until filled" or they could be pooled positions that stay open for a long period of time. Lee suggests re-applying to a position after you've gained new knowledge, experience, skills or certifications. He is a managing director with Storbeck Search, which specializes in education-...

Want the perfect checklist to prepare for your next interview? HR expert Kathleen Hermacinski shares tips and advice on the job search process, including in-person interviews on campus. Research the institution before your first interview. The biggest red flag is not asking questions in an interview. Respond to recruiters and the hiring manager in a timely manner. Hermacinski is the head of human...

In this Ask the Expert episode, Chris Lee responds to a question about the length of time you should stay in a leadership role if an opportunity to make a lateral move arises within your institution. He said this question addresses commonly-discussed job search topics, including career growth, change and finding the right role. Sometimes making a lateral move is a good idea. How do you feel about...

What can part-time or contingent faculty do to improve their work conditions? In this second part of our interview with Adrianna Kezar, she said that it comes down to relationships. Talk with faculty at other institutions and get to know your department chair. Consider joining a national advocacy organization like the American Association of University Professors.  Kezar is the director of the Pul...

Did you know that 70% of faculty at colleges and universities in the U.S. are contingent or part-time? In this episode, Andy Hibel and Kelly Cherwin talk with Adrianna Kezar, director of the Pullias Center for Higher Education at the University of Southern California. Kezar highlights changing faculty trends in the U.S. and talks about the Delphi Award, which recognizes institutions that have crea...

Listen to the songs podcast guests Rick Clark and Brennan Barnard have added to the HigherEdJobs Playlist for your higher ed job search. Their choices include tunes by Simon & Garfunkel, U2, R.E.M. and from the musical "Hamilton." Clark and Barnard are authors of " The Truth about College Admission: A Family Guide to Getting In and Staying Together ." Do you have songs you want to add to the p...

In this Ask the Expert episode, Matt Trainum answers a question about the number of adjunct titles an instructor can hold with multiple institutions. First, consider your goal of holding multiple positions: are you interested in more income, experience, or landing a role that could lead to a full-time position? Keep in mind that working for multiple colleges could mean dealing with more bureaucrac...

In this episode Kelly and Andy welcome Judy Reilly, director of the Center for Neurodiversity and Employment Innovation at University of Connecticut. Reilly discusses the university's mission to be a national leader in creating programs and resources that will decrease barriers for neurodivergent adults seeking meaningful employment. Additional Reading: Employment, Not Graduation, as an Outcome: H...

In this Ask the Expert episode, expert Matt Trainum addresses burnout and advises to start by pinning down what it is that is burning you out. Listen in to hear Matt's advice for communicating with your supervisor. Have a question you want to hear answered on Ask the Expert? Click here to send us your question!