By: Maranda Holtsclaw
Are you looking to advance your career, boost your professional development and/or take on some new leadership roles? Did you know that the Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (HERC) has free resources to assist individuals working in higher education like you to grow their career?
Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (HERC) is a nonprofit consortium of 700+ colleges, universities, and related groups committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the higher education workforce. Michigan State University is the host institution and long-standing member of the Michigan regional HERC. HERC’s member institutions are working to build a workplace where people from all backgrounds and perspectives can thrive. Michigan State University is the host and lead institution for the Michigan HERC. At HERCjobs.org, you can search jobs, create a profile, and access free career resources, such as articles and ebooks, full of career tips and tools.
This is a volatile time for employers and job seekers. Like everyone else, colleges and universities are shifting how they conduct their business to better meet the needs of job seekers today and we’re all experiencing change with the demands on our time, resources, and priorities. Clarifying what you want and need in your career as well as preparing for these shifts will allow you to get ahead and drive your career options, rather than just being reactive.
From the 2021 HERC Job Seeker Survey, we know that career advancement is very important to those working in higher education. So, what are some things you can do to take control of how you grow in your career? Here are a few tips and resources to get you started:
Build your skillset
- Identify at least one professional development opportunity you can complete in the next six months.
Strengthen your profile
- Update and bolster your CV/Resume;
- Update your LinkedIn profile (even take it to the next level) and consider reaching out to your connections in higher ed;
- Take on leadership and/or visible roles on campus and in your professional community (get out of your comfort zone);
- Keep imposter syndrome in check! For more on this, check out this MSU Women’s Networking Association presentation on taming imposter syndrome.
Explore internal career advancement opportunities
- Take advantage of all the ways that Michigan State University and the Office of Faculty and Academic Staff Development supports internal career advancement through leadership development and academic career pathways.
- There are also non-traditional methods of career advancement that you may want to consider.
Expand your network both inside and outside of the university
- One way to do this is through mentorship. You can work on defining and finding your mentors.
You don’t have to tackle everything at once, but by taking little steps over time, you can build and grow your ideal career.
Access HERC resources
As an MSU employee you can register for a free account on HERC’s online portal, HERConnect, to collaborate with peers at other member institutions across the state and country, and to access many great webinars and toolkits such as HERC’s Search Committee Training Toolkit and Virtual Recruitment Toolkit.
Here is a helpful video for navigating the site. Once you can access HERConnect, check out our page called Maximizing your Membership. If you have any questions about HERC; or requests for additional resources, webinar topics, or MI-HERC member meeting topic suggestions; feel free to contact the Director of Michigan HERC, Maranda Holtsclaw, at mholtscl@msu.edu. Learn more about HERC’s resources.
Learn more about HERC (word download)
