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New to crafting a cover letter? What to include and why

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New to crafting a cover letter? What to include and why - HERC

We all know the value of a resume. Even if we have never had to write one, we know what needs to be included, and whether we need to submit one as part of an application is usually very clear. But what about a cover letter? How important is a cover letter when applying for a job and when should you include one?

When they ask for a cover letter

Sometimes it’s very clear that you are to submit a cover letter. If you don’t, you will most likely fail the application process, so it is essential that you follow the guidelines. As part of an application form, you will be asked to demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria of the role. If there is not a clear section and guidance on how to do this, you are best positioned to do so in a cover letter. Take each criterion as it is listed and show how you meet it. This is how you will be scored so address all of the criteria to be in the running for an interview.

When you are not asked for a cover letter

On some occasions, you will not be explicitly asked for a cover letter, so you may be wondering whether you need to include one. In higher education, the answer is always yes. If you must send your resume or application form, it is good practice to send a letter to introduce yourself and make your motivations for the job clear. Even if you think a letter is not required, there is absolutely no harm done if you include one, so why take the risk? A cover letter is a great way to make yourself stand out. After all, with potentially hundreds of applications, it’s a way to help ensure your application package gets reviewed.  

How do you write a cover letter?

Cover letters can seem daunting, but they don’t need to be complicated. Here’s a run down of what to include.

Include contact details

Include personal details (name and contact information) in case your cover letter becomes displaced from your application form or resume. It needs to be clear who you are and that your cover letter has come with other documents. Some people cleverly brand their resume and cover letter so they are similar in appearance.

Have a strong introduction

Your opening paragraph needs to be strong and grab the reader’s attention. Draw them into learning more about your experience through your application package. Present a compelling context for your interest in the position and how it fits into your career trajectory.

Sell yourself

The person reading the cover letter doesn’t want to hear about how the job will help you; they want to know what hiring you will do for them. Clearly state why you are the best person for the position using relevant examples and highlighting your achievements to date. Speak directly about how your skills and experiences apply to the position, particularly the essential criteria.

Close strong

The close of the letter is important. It should be confident and include a call to action. You want the recruiter to contact you so make sure it is clear how to do that and have the confidence to assume they will be doing so in your close.

Keep it professional

As a rule, never start a cover letter ‘hello’ or ‘hi’. This is far too familiar. A cover letter is a professional document so keep it that way or risk getting your application put on the ‘no’ pile before it’s been read. It should be written in a professional tone while also showing a bit of personality.

Review and review again

Think of your cover letter as a writing sample. Correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling are essential. Your paragraph structure should also be easy to follow and your language clear, concise, and compelling. If possible, have a friend or colleague who is a strong writer and editor review your letter and make suggestions.

Conclusion

In short, always include a cover letter. A letter gives a recruiter and hiring committee more information about you, your achievements, and places you firmly in their vision of the position.

Want more CV/resume and cover letter tips? Download our free ebook, How to Apply for Higher Education Careers (Revised Edition).

About the author: Nikki Vivian is a Career Coach and owner of From Kids to Career, which was set up to support women who are returning to a career, or looking to move in a new direction after taking time out to raise a family. Nikki works with Mums to find their true passions and to re-build confidence that can be lost after a break from the workplace. She believes passionately that being a parent does not put you at the bottom of the pile when it comes to your career. Nikki owns CV writing company Confident CV and has 8 years’ experience working in Careers for Cardiff University and works as a writer. Most recently, Nikki is writing content for businesses, organizations, and individuals on how to transition to remote working. She also coaches and delivers online training on this subject.

Now is the time for remote work, so seize the benefits!

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Is it time to think about a permanent remote work situation?

Is it time to think about a permanent remote work situation?

Corona virus has pushed the world into a new way of working. It was a shock to the system with many of us having to learn an entirely different way of managing our workloads from home, amid other family members doing the same, children home from school, and the general anxiety and uncertainty the virus brought with it. While we are still not to the other side, with the dust settling, we have started to get used to remote work and the benefits are showing.

For a long time, remote work has been a buzz phrase, saved mostly for creative freelancers, influencers, and people who work for forward thinking tech companies who are ahead of the times when it comes to working conditions. Employees granted home working as part of a contract in most organizations prior to Corona virus were certainly in the minority. However, a silver lining in the devastation that Corona virus has caused is that remote work opportunities are on the up, now that businesses and organizations have been able to see some of the positives it offers.

Benefits of remote work

It was widely thought that most jobs could not be done remotely but look how we have managed to adapt! From call centers, to schools and universities, to therapy, businesses have adapted and found new ways to continue outside of their usual environment. Many of these have been hugely successful and have benefited both employer and employee. Here are just a few examples:

Cost savings – Without the presence of an office space, businesses are starting to see the money they could save if they were to make use of remote workers instead of insisting everyone is on site. For employees, not having to go to a physical office means less time and cost commuting and saving on the extra costs of childcare for these commuting hours.

More choices – Rather than having staff concentrated in one area because they have to all be within a reasonable distance of their place of work, employees can be based anywhere in the country, even the world, meaning the pool of potential candidates is blown wide open. More choice means the potential to recruit the best talent. For employees, there are more jobs to apply for due to the same reason. No longer are they only able to work for companies who are local. This creates a massive amount of choice and opportunities.

Flexible working – Remote work brings about a certain amount of flexibility for many roles. It may be that time is still set for meetings, teaching, client appointments, etc. but with remote work, employees have more choices in how they structure their day. This is a bonus for the employee and also creates a higher level of autonomy, promoting trust and a happy working environment which can only be good for business.

The time is now

If you are considering remote work, now is a great time. If you have a job that you are currently doing remotely and would prefer to keep it that way, now is the time to approach your employer and state your case about how well it is working before plans are made to revert back to the old way of working. Put your case together stating all the benefits to both you and your employer.

If you are looking for a new remote position, expect to see a lot more in the future. HERC are seeing a variety of remote opportunities so please take a look at the job board as a starting point.

Types of remote work

The type of remote work available now is wide, with many organizations still in work from home mode. Any positions that have been advertised recently are likely to follow the same pattern for the time being, even if it is temporary. Those that are planning on in-person work will have contingency plans for a second wave of Corona virus, so remote work may still be a possibility or at least worthy of a discussion. While traditionally, remote roles were things like tech roles, copy writing and short-term freelance positions, now we are really seeing a large variety including academic roles, teaching roles, research positions and HR jobs. The trend seems to be that the higher the level of a position, the more opportunity for remote work. For example, many manual jobs are just not possible remotely but working in a managerial position that is largely office based lends itself more to working outside of the office environment.

Conclusion

If you have benefited from the current remote work conditions, the good news is that remote work opportunities are increasing. The positive effects of working remotely for many businesses will only serve to see this trend continue. Similarly, if your position has been working well remotely, you have a good case for requesting it continue.

About the author: Nikki Vivian is a Career Coach and owner of From Kids to Career, which was set up to support women who are returning to a career, or looking to move in a new direction after taking time out to raise a family. Nikki works with Mums to find their true passions and to re-build confidence that can be lost after a break from the workplace. She believes passionately that being a parent does not put you at the bottom of the pile when it comes to your career. Nikki owns CV writing company Confident CV and has 8 years’ experience working in Careers for Cardiff University and works as a writer. Most recently, Nikki is writing content for businesses, organizations, and individuals on how to transition to remote working. She also coaches and delivers online training on this subject.

Is now a good time to look for a job?

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Is now a good time to look for a job?

We all know that the job market is a little unsettled right now. Corona virus has forced many businesses to close, recruitment has been put on hold and lots of people have lost their jobs as a result. This has meant that for many there is no choice but to look for a new job. For others, being in lockdown, or changes at work as a result, have given them time to reflect and they have come to the decision that they need to move on from their current position. If this is you, you may be wondering if now is a good time.

A look at the market

Whether looking for a new job is essential to you right now, or whether you are tentatively looking and testing the water, it’s no secret that businesses and organizations are under a lot of pressure and many have had to let people go. Recruitment freezes and cutbacks don’t make for a booming job market but don’t lose heart because there are jobs out there, albeit less than usual. As the economy picks up and businesses get back up and running, job opportunities will be on the up as businesses will be replacing staff they have lost, or rebuilding. Recruitment methods may be very different with many companies utilising technology such as video interviews for a while, but don’t let this put you off if you are serious about a move.

Get prepared

During this time, the best thing you can do if you’re looking to make a move is to start preparing. Start to really think hard about what it is that you really want to do and start laying some plans. Don’t wait for the market to pick up again. When companies and organizations start recruiting, you want to be ready and waiting, with the groundwork done.

Ask yourself some open questions about what you want from your career.

What really lights you up?

What are you really good at?

What is it about your current job that you don’t like?

Are there small things about your role that you’d like to change or are you thinking about a complete change in direction?

If there was nothing standing in your way and money was no object, what would your dream job be?

This is your starting point. Once you know where you really want to be, it will make it easier to narrow your search and have a list of places to approach when the time is right.

Work on your CV/Resume

When you’re ready to start applying for roles, chances are you’ll be asked for a current CV or resume, or at for least the information on it. You don’t want to hold yourself up by messing about with this when recruitment picks up. This is the time to make sure your materials are up to date and ready to use. Don’t stop at your CV and resume either. There is nothing to stop you from also having a template cover letter and any portfolios ready to go as soon as an opportunity presents itself.

Make yourself memorable

If there are no jobs currently available at the organization of your choice, that doesn’t mean you can’t start building connections and getting your name out there so that when a job does come up, you are immediately on the recruiter’s mind. Send your CV or resume and an introductory letter to recruiters and organizations you would like to work for and let them know that you are looking.

Most likely you won’t be able to physically meet anyone right now, but there are still plenty of ways to network online. LinkedIn is great for this so, make sure your LinkedIn profile is up to date and connect to people in your chosen field and to people who work in the organizations you are aiming at. Make sure your profile contains all the right keywords and that your preferences are set to ‘searching for a job’ so that you are easy for recruiters to find when they have something suitable. Join groups, contribute to discussions and be visible.

Upskill

If you have enough time, this is also a great time to upskill. If you’re looking to move to a new field, or to get a position on the next step of the ladder, this is a good time to brush up on your skills and knowledge. Take some courses online or do your own learning. Professional development of any kind will be valuable, and it doesn’t have to be costly.

Take time

Jobs are out there but we know this is a time of recruitment freezes and financial pressure for businesses and organizations, which has had an impact on the job market. That doesn’t mean you won’t be successful though and it certainly doesn’t mean you can’t be prepared for when things pick up. Use this time to figure out your plan going forward.

About the author: Nikki Vivian is a Career Coach and owner of From Kids to Career, which was set up to support women who are returning to a career, or looking to move in a new direction after taking time out to raise a family. Nikki works with Mums to find their true passions and to re-build confidence that can be lost after a break from the workplace. She believes passionately that being a parent does not put you at the bottom of the pile when it comes to your career. Nikki owns CV writing company Confident CV and has 8 years’ experience working in Careers for Cardiff University and works as a writer. Most recently, Nikki is writing content for businesses, organizations, and individuals on how to transition to remote working. She also coaches and delivers online training on this subject.

Stress relief when working remotely: How to scale up social—not physical—contact

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Working remotely certainly has it perks, but it also has some downsides. Most of these revolve around the isolated nature of working outside of an office environment. In absence of a team, remote work can feel very lonely at times. Without a trusted colleague to bounce ideas off of, spur you on, or resolve issues, you may lack motivation and feel like you are coping alone.

When working remotely, how can you relieve the sense of isolation associated with a lack of connection?

When we work side-by-side with others, our coping mechanisms often involve sharing concerns, ideas, and a bit of our personal lives with colleagues. But working alone doesn’t mean you have to be isolated. Here are a few tips to help you relieve stress and scale up on social interaction virtually instead of physically.

Pick up the phone

Communication is key in most organizations, but when working remotely it’s even more important. Phone calls enable you to get an instant response to your questions and talk through ideas and concerns without having to wait between each email/text interaction. You’ll have the satisfaction of problem-solving in a few minutes than over the span of a day (or week!). Hearing a friendly voice does wonders when you are feeling isolated, too.

Video calls

Video calls are one step up from a voice call. Seeing a colleague smiling encouragingly when you are feeling stressed is a huge motivation. With team meetings on Zoom or Skype, you won’t have to stress over problems alone.

Remember that your day isn’t all about work

At your regular workplace, you most likely get a break for lunch and regular breaks throughout the day. When you work remotely, this should be no different. Take time out to connect with people in a way that isn’t through work. Call a friend, have lunch with someone else in your house, or spend some time doing something that makes you feel good and relieves stress.

Get up

Keeping active helps us concentrate and keeps us motivated, as well as having a profound impact on our mental wellbeing. When you feel your energy levels dip, get up and move around. There are a wealth of exercise videos you can do on YouTube or you can even join a class virtually. This will allow you to feel a connection to others throughout the day, even if you’re not physically with them.

Change your perspective

Working at home may come with some negatives, especially if your whole family is home with you and you are expected to home school, parent, and work. Rather than look at how stressful it is, change your perspective. Think of being home as the most positive thing you can do right now. Staying at home as much as possible means you are protecting your family; not going out means you are limiting the spread of COVID-19. This is certainly a difficult time, but it is a sacrifice that could save lives and keep you and your loved ones healthy.

Meditate

Meditation has been found to have massive benefits on beating stress and relieving anxiety. Make sure you take 10-30 minutes out of your day to just ‘be’. If you don’t fancy meditation, just sit quietly with no distractions. If you want to try meditating, learn to ignore the chatter around you and quiet your mind. Focus on your breath, count, or just sit. There are a number of apps like Headspace, Calm, or videos on YouTube that will give you a guided mediation if you’re new to it.

Conclusion

While working remotely requires some adjustments, it doesn’t have to mean working in isolation. Humans are social creatures and we need interaction from others. We just need to get creative about how we do it.

About the author: Nikki Vivian is a Career Coach and owner of From Kids to Career, which was set up to support women who are returning to a career, or looking to move in a new direction after taking time out to raise a family. Nikki works with Mums to find their true passions and to re-build confidence that can be lost after a break from the workplace. She believes passionately that being a parent does not put you at the bottom of the pile when it comes to your career. Nikki owns CV writing company Confident CV and has 8 years’ experience working in Careers for Cardiff University and works as a writer. Most recently, Nikki is writing content for businesses, organizations, and individuals on how to transition to remote working. She also coaches and delivers online training on this subject.

Understanding the Dual Career Search from the Administrator’s Point of View

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The academic job search can be a daunting task. Add the need for two positions for a working couple and it can become all the more challenging.

In a recent HERC webinar, Navigating a Dual Career Search: The Administrator’s Perspective, we learn important aspects of the hiring process along with some fundamental differences between institutions. We’ve outlined the key talking points presented by our panelists as they gave us an inside look on how their universities handle the dual career search.

Understand that each institution has its own policies and procedures.

The dual career search is not a one-size-fits-all situation across universities. This becomes most evident when a candidate wants to know when it is appropriate to ask about dual career resources for their spouse or partner. While some universities welcome this question anytime during the interview process, others will defer this information until after an offer has been made. This is because many institutions will include dual career resources as part of a job offer package. Larger institutions have designated department chairs who will meet with your partner/spouse to discuss career goals. They will work with the departments and offices across the university on behalf of your partner/spouse. In some cases, depending on the type of employment your partner/spouse is seeking, the department chair may have the flexibility to create a new position altogether. 

Ask how long assistance will be available for your spouse or domestic partner.

Some institutions limit their resources to the start of a position, while others will offer their services throughout your duration at the university. Take note whether those resources will become available when needed if your spouse or domestic partner decides to take extended time off.

Your spouse or domestic partner must take initiative.

This cannot be stressed enough! In order to obtain a successful outcome, your spouse or partner must be actively searching for positions and submitting applications. Dual career resources should be used as a supportive tool during this process, however, administrators welcome the use of your own connections in order to look for opportunities. They urge you to be creative and use your social network. 

Know your constraints.

You will need to decide what your constraints are as a family and be realistic with those constraints. As Dr. Joan S. Girgus of Princeton University points out, for many academic hires, “We recruit families, not individuals.” It is important to take in consideration what other resources will be made available to you outside of a designated dual career program. Find out if the institution offers childcare subsidies, workload relief for new parents, or back-up child care programs. 

Don’t discount small, rural institutions during your job search.

While not all locations offer well established dual career programs, they may offer other resources that could prove to be valuable. With a city population of only 10,000, Gustavus Adolphus College is a perfect example. Dr. Brenda Kelly, Provost and Dean of the College, emphasizes that while they do not have their own department designated for dual career situations, they network with other institutions within the region to look for job opportunities. Because they are partnered with Upper Midwest HERC, they also utilize HERC’s dual career resources to help during the search process.  

As you and your partner search for new career opportunities, remember that flexibility is key, both on the part of your family and the university. While you may not be able to recreate your current situation, institutions value what dual career families have to offer. So don’t be afraid to ask questions! Remember to stay focused on your goals, be resourceful, and continue to work as a team.

Want to increase your career opportunities? Take a bite of PIE!

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One of the most pleasurable things I’ve done throughout my career is coach leaders in higher education as they explored their career options and interviewed for new leadership opportunities. As people prepare for taking that next step, it is often helpful to ask them think about their PIE.

What is PIE, you might ask? It’s a useful acronym that I was reminded of by Dr. Damon Williams, author of Strategic Diversity Leadership. PIE stands for Performance, Image, and Exposure.

Performance

Performance, of course, is the baseline for all leaders. When looking for leaders, we are always looking for those who have high performance and high potential. In the words of a colleague of mine, “we are looking for rock stars!”

Here are some questions for you to consider with regards to performance:

  • What are your strengths?
  • What goals are you setting for yourself and how are you meeting them?
  • What difficult or complex projects have you accomplished recently?
  • Are you satisfied not only with what you’ve accomplished, but how you’ve accomplished it?
  • How can you build upon your good performance to make it great?

Image

Image is what you are known for.  It is the personal brand that you project based upon what you do, how you communicate what you do, and how you present yourself to the world. Ask yourself:

  • What am I known for in my work community?
  • What would my supervisor or others say about my knowledge, skills, and abilities?
  • How am I using my expertise and my sphere of influence to be of service to others?
  • Do I project an image of professionalism in my communications, both verbally and in writing?
  • Am I trustworthy? Have I demonstrated reliability, respect, and competence to others?
  • How am I managing first, second, and third impressions? Is there something in my personal appearance that might need to be updated?

Exposure

Exposure is the opportunity to meet with internal and external leaders and groups who aren’t in your normal sphere of colleagues. Positive exposure can build your credibility quickly and open up leadership opportunities that may have been closed to you. Ask yourself:

  • When was the last time I took a risk to speak to leaders or groups outside of my normal work sphere?
  • What possible opportunities do I have in the future to: a) make a presentation; b) lead a project team; c) network with others?
  • How might I initiate a conversation with my supervisor to create new job assignments that would increase my exposure?
  • Is there a particular leader that I could ask about initiating a mentoring relationship?
  • What current job openings are of interest to me and which ones should I apply to?

What parts of PIE resonate with you?

Author: Anita Rios is an experienced consultant and executive coach providing customized talent acquisition and development services and consultation to colleges and universities looking to strengthen their leadership pipeline. She also works with higher education leaders who want to grow their careers with individual leadership development coaching, transition planning, and interview preparation.  Anita is a certified professional in learning and performance (CPLP) and also holds certifications in: EQi, MBTI, DiSC, and StrengthsFinder. Rios Consulting LLC  is a proud partner of HERC. 

Working from home with kids

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Thanks to Jaimie Hutchison, Lifespan & Family Services Coordinator at Michigan State University’s WorkLife Office, for this helpful advice!

As colleges and universities take precautions to curb the spread of COVID-19, many higher ed employees are suddenly working from the same spaces where their kids are playing and learning. Now, it’s time for us all to dig deep and practice a level of flexibility that we’ve never had to exercise before. Higher ed employees should set realistic expectations, show compassion for each other and ourselves, and know that everyone is trying their best in these trying circumstances.

Here’s how to make the best of working remotely…while managing your energetic new “coworkers:”

father spending time with son and working with laptop

Be realistic 

Children see us as parents first. When we are home and they are home, they will demand a lot of our time. We can use best practices and strategies to be as effective as we can, but it is not going to be the same as if we did not have children to attend to and care for. This is perhaps the ultimate test of work-life fit.

Have a talk at home

Adults and children old enough to understand should sit down and talk about what each person can do to help other people. Talk about boundaries and how this is a new situation for most of us. If there is more than one caregiver who is able to be with the children, discuss how to divide your time in order to each attend to your responsibilities at home and at work.

Practice some drills

To minimize the risk of outbursts during conference call, Zoom meetings, or remote teaching, practice how-tos. It is not guaranteed, but it is worth a try. Example: If your parent is on the phone when you walk into the designated workspace, do you run up and talk to them, or do you have a seat and wait quietly until they finish the call?

Create boundaries

As mentioned previously, children will always see you as a parent first. Setting boundaries about when you are working is a positive step. Create a visual sign that shows you are working. Some people have signs up that say, “Stop, in a meeting” or they have a red cup out, meaning “do not disturb unless it is crucial.” Others may be on their laptop in shared family spaces, so they wear a baseball hat when they are working, which means “please do not disturb.” This will help with children old enough to notice the symbol and who can be independent, cared for by an older child in the home, etc.

If you have younger children who don’t understand boundaries yet…

Take advantage of sleep time. For those with younger children, sharing “on” and “off” times with any other trusted adult, when possible, is key. Working around nap times and baby’s sleep schedule can be essential to accomplishing work.

Offer incentives

Offer 30 minutes of a board game, time on the tablet, a walk around the block, or other incentives to reward good effort for what may be a very new experience where everyone in the family is working together in a different way.

Block out the noise

If you have a quiet space where you can work, you will be less distracted. If not, or if you need to keep a close eye on things, consider wearing noise-cancelling headphones. This can help you focus and still be present when you need to be.

Free your hands

Babywearing can be a great way to keep your baby close and rocked, while your hands are free to work.

Flex schedules

Splitting our attention between children and work is a real challenge, depending on the age and needs of your kids. Here are some possible solutions:

Do your kids go to sleep early? 

It is quite possible that you will be able to focus most after bedtime. Consider working with your supervisor to flex your schedule to attend to emails and work after 7 or 8 at night after the children are sleeping. You may get more done then due to having the time and concentration to focus.

Are you an early riser? 

Maybe before the children get up is the best time to work. Consider getting up early to get some things planned for the day before the children are awake.

Take breaks

Are your children very persistent about wanting your time? Take a break and give it to them. These are unusual and challenging times; you have to prioritize each person in your home as stress levels are higher than ever for all of us.

Work on the weekend

This is a time to consider every flexible option for work. Do we need to work less hours each day for seven days? Do we have time on the weekends that may allow us to get things done? This falls within the category of flexible work. Consider what is best for you and communicate your needs with your supervisor.

Create a to-do list

Prioritize what really needs to be done for work. What are the critical tasks that need to be done? How and when are you able to do these things?

Be compassionate to yourself

This may be a time when our children have more screen time than usual, or where we take a step back from being so accessible to everyone. We are all human. At the end of the day, we are all doing our best.

For supervisors:

Keep access to technology top-of-mind

Some employees may not have internet access or the technology (e.g., noise-cancelling headphones) to work from home. Having communication about what the needs of the staff are, and what is realistic to accomplish, is key.

Over-communicate

Communicate with your staff on what the priorities are and keep in mind that for many parents who have children at home, there will be extra demands on them. Please do your best to be flexible during this stressful time.

For more: Check out this webinar from HERC and FlexJobs on leading remote teams!

References:

DesMarais, C. (2013, August 14). Get more done: 18 tips for telecommuters. Inc.

Dowling, D. W. (2017, September 14). How to work from home when you have kids. Harvard Business Review.

Levin, H. (n.d.). How to work from home if you have kids—9 pro tips. Money Crashers.

Miller, N. (2016, September 14). Working from home with kids: 21 tips from our remote team. Buffer.

Oliver, M. E. (2018, September 5). Working from home with children: Tips to make it work. The Washington Post.

Williams, J. C. & Multhaup, M. (2018, April 27). How managers can be fair about flexibility for parents and non-parents alike. Harvard Business Review.

Wirecutter Staff. (2019, March 5). How to work from home with children. The New York Times.

Being productive while working remotely

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Remote working is becoming increasingly widespread, as institutions see the benefits of allowing employees to work from home and the huge advantages of hiring talented staff who may not be necessarily located nearby. Even if remote work is not the norm in your organization, in a time of crisis—such as current coronavirus response—the number of remote workers can skyrocket. So how do remote workers ensure that they are able to stay productive and focused in their new informal surroundings?

Creating physical and mental space for working remotely

When working from home, the lines between work and home life can become very blurred—if you let them. It’s all too easy to cook the evening’s dinner on work time, or work in front of the TV with only half focus. It takes discipline and systems to ensure that this doesn’t happen.

One way of acing the separation between “work” and “life” is to create both a physical workspace and a mental workspace. The physical space can be a particular room that you go to for work, or if you don’t have a room, a desk or table dedicated to you during work time. When you are there, you are “at work” and are not to be disturbed.

Harder than a physical space is the mental space. Prepare yourself for the day, so that once you sit down in your workspace, you are there mentally as well. Some top tips include dressing for work, rather than feeling the temptation to work in your PJs, or even “commuting” to work (a short walk around the block and back to your house). Small efforts like these can work wonders for prompting us to mentally click over to work mode.

Scheduling breaks and work time in co-ordination with others

Just as with any form of work, when working remotely, it’s important to take breaks, especially if you are working at a computer screen. If you’re isolated at home due to the coronavirus, you might find yourself missing the camaraderie of your college or university. Schedule virtual time together wherever possible. Consider regular check-ins with a coworker to see how you’re both faring, or group video conferences specifically dedicated to your team’s well-being (beyond work!). Knowing you have a scheduled “water cooler time” for socializing will help motivate you when focus dwindles.

Movement and physical activity

When you work remotely, it’s easy to forget to get up and move around. This can be true of many working situations, but in higher ed, we often move from our office to someone else’s, to a lecture hall, or out and about on a lunch break. At home, we can neglect to do this.

Take time to move when you find your energy levels dip. Get away from your work space to dance, run on the spot, go for a walk, or stretch; whatever it takes to wake you up and get you back in the zone.

Self-discipline

When you are entirely accountable for what you do for the day, and you have no colleagues or supervisor present to keep you focused, it’s possible that you may start to lack motivation and productivity will dip. To combat this, you need to put systems in place to make sure that doesn’t happen. Offer yourself little rewards when, and only when, you have completed a task. This might be a break with someone else in your home, a coffee (and cake), a phone call, or anything that will get you through.

Another great tip is to use “chunking.” Give yourself blocks of time to work in and stick to them. Set a timer for 20 minutes and work solidly without any interference or distractions from social media. At the end of the 20 minutes, you can take a short break.

Conclusion

Remote working can take a bit of getting used to, but once you get into the right habits and have the right mindset, you’ll adapt to it quickly. Hopefully, you’ll learn to love the freedom and autonomy it brings.

About the author: Nikki Vivian is a Career Coach and owner of From Kids to Career, which was set up to support women who are returning to a career, or looking to move in a new direction after taking time out to raise a family. Nikki works with Mums to find their true passions and to re-build confidence that can be lost after a break from the workplace. She believes passionately that being a parent does not put you at the bottom of the pile when it comes to your career. Nikki owns CV writing company Confident CV and has 8 years’ experience working in Careers for Cardiff University and works as a writer. Most recently, Nikki is writing content for businesses, organizations, and individuals on how to transition to remote working. She also coaches and delivers online training on this subject.

Tips for higher education professionals working from home

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Portrait of happy mature man with white, grey stylish short beard looking at camera outdoors

Most higher education faculty, staff, and administrators aren’t fully accustomed to remote work. But the spread of coronavirus has prompted thousands of higher education employees to adapt to this new way of working, which is unfamiliar to many of us and brings a new set of challenges, especially for those of us working when family members are unexpectedly at home, too.

Here are some tips on how to work productively and comfortably at home.

Embrace the change

The coronavirus pandemic has brought tremendous change for everyone. Working from home, whether in isolation or with family at home with you, may not be an easy transition. Now is the time for forward thinking.

You may need to develop new ways to make sure you are working effectively, especially since remote work doesn’t always lend itself well to student-facing roles. If you are a lecturer, you will not be able to run face-to-face lectures, so what can you do instead? Consider creative ways to communicate with students, like holding virtual “office hours.” If you are a researcher, what can you do from your desk instead of in the field? Perhaps there’s a project you’d normally focus on during a different time of the year, which lends itself to making a start on now.

You may need to shift your focus entirely and look at new areas of work, for example, writing new courses, marketing future events, or making professional connections.

Make use of technology

Meetings can continue online or via phone. Group calls are possible on a variety of software platforms, including Zoom, GoToMeeting, and Google Hangouts. There are a number of platforms to facilitate virtual meetings; many software companies are extending free trials of their conferencing software. Your institution likely has subscriptions to conference calling software, so make sure you check those options before embarking on your own.

Educators throughout the world are shifting to online teaching. Instructors can conduct seminars via videoconferencing software, or pre-record and distribute lectures via either video or voice recording. Tools such as Blackboard can host more interactive sessions, and professors can also add lectures, workshops, and resources to shared university drives. Professors should be sure to keep the accessibility needs of their students top-of-mind.

Networking sites such as LinkedIn provide a great way of building connections and making relationships with other professionals that may prove useful once normal work resumes.

Social elements

One of the hardest things about working from home is social isolation. Unfortunately, coronavirus has made physical social isolation necessary. However, this does not mean we have to feel alone, not connecting with anyone. As above, there are a number of ways that we can stay in contact with colleagues and students without meeting them in person. This is vital to keeping us productive and also for our own well-being. Don’t lose contact with people during this difficult time.

Structure your day

Similar to your workplace routine, give yourself a structure to your day. This will make you more productive, more focused, and will give some much-needed certainty to your life. When it feels like everything is up in the air, you have the power to keep some structure. A schedule can promote calm, reduces stress, and help us to have something concrete to work around. While you may need some flexibility in your approach if you have others at home, make sure you set work times, as well as family time and downtime.

Define your workspace

Set up a workspace area so that you and everyone else in your house knows that when you enter that space, you are in work mode. This will help you to get into the right mindset to work and also set boundaries with the rest of your family, who may be at home with you.

Take care of yourself

Working from home can be isolating or, if you are doing so when the rest of your family is home with you, very stressful. Take regular breaks and factor in downtime so that you do not suffer burn out. During stressful times, you have to look after your own well-being, so make sure you’re taking time out to do things that ground you, no matter how simple. Consider going for a walk, reading a book, listening to a podcast, or a short exercise regime. Whatever your “breaks” are, factor them in for the sake of your mental health.

Author: Nikki Vivian is a Career Coach and owner of From Kids to Career, which was set up to support women who are returning to a career, or looking to move in a new direction after taking time out to raise a family. Nikki works with Mums to find their true passions and to re-build confidence that can be lost after a break from the workplace. She believes passionately that being a parent does not put you at the bottom of the pile when it comes to your career. Nikki owns CV writing company Confident CV and has 8 years’ experience working in Careers for Cardiff University and works as a writer. Most recently, Nikki is writing content for businesses, organizations, and individuals on how to transition to remote working. She also coaches and delivers online training on this subject.

What Can a Sabbatical Do for Your Career?

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Content from our partners at SabbaticalHomes.com

Why take a Sabbatical?

The word “sabbatical” comes from the Old Testament concept of the Sabbath or Shabat, and while religions today interpret a holy day or day of rest in different ways, it is clear that the human need for regular rest and appreciation is nearly universal.

Today, many academics are accustomed to the idea of sabbaticals, a key perk of attaining tenure. Sabbaticals were traditionally based on taking one year of sabbatical leave for every seven years of tenured work, but it has become more common in academia to take a 6-month sabbatical after every three and half years of work.

While not everyone in higher education is a tenured professor, anyone working in academia can greatly benefit from taking a sabbatical. The benefits of being away from, and then coming back into, your regular life—with a reinvigorated and usually more global perspective—are undeniable.

What can a sabbatical do for you professionally and personally?

While some sabbaticals may have a research or writing focus, some people plan a sabbatical or an extended break from their regular schedule to consider a career transition. It is helpful to have some time to process career goals, whether that means looking for a more challenging job in your current field, changing fields, or going back to school for an advanced degree.

Lyndall Farley, founder of Beyond a Break, notes that “the length of a sabbatical is different country to country. My general rule is that a sabbatical is double the length of your annual leave allowance,” meaning that a sabbatical will feel like real break if it is at least double your regular time off. In her experience of taking periodic sabbaticals during her professional life, she has found this is the minimum duration most people need to really decompress and immerse themselves in the focus of their sabbatical.

This time away from your accustomed environment allows you to experience different perspectives, share ideas with new people, and reinvigorate your mind. While many enjoy the stimulating nature of traveling to other countries, others crave time alone in a peaceful, natural setting. The beauty of a sabbatical is that the focus can be completely personalized to your goals, budget, and time frame.  Read on for inspiring ideas of what people experience while on leave.

Related: Lyndall Farley, Beyond a Break

1.    Complete a professional project

Quote from Professor Nigel Smith overlaid on a library. The quote reads, "It was so fortunate to find somewhere that really resonated with my project. I would also say that you much greatly respect the place in which you stay, and your host."

Many of SabbaticalHomes.com’s members find accommodations in other cities or countries to  dedicate themselves to a project related to that destination. Princeton Professor Nigel Smith stayed in Jane Boyd’s Amsterdam flat for three summers while writing his forthcoming book, Polyglot Poetics: Transnational Early Modern Literature, which “involves the comparison of English with literatures in other European languages (especially Dutch, German, French and Spanish) in the context of political and religious transformation between 1500 and 1800.”

As a visiting professor at Huygens Instituut, part of the Royal Dutch Academy, Professor Smith had access to the libraries and archives to conduct research for his book. He also worked closely with colleagues in the Netherlands. Living in Amsterdam for longer stretches of time was crucial for his research.

Staying in Jane Boyd’s flat was the perfect writing retreat. The home created a separation from Professor Smith’s regular surroundings to allow him to focus on the book. Professor Smith and his wife have found their summers in Amsterdam to be professionally productive as well as personally satisfying. They love the art, the architecture, the music and the food of where they stay in Amsterdam, and all of that has added up to a series of meaningful sabbaticals.  

Related: Amsterdam Flat as Writing Inspiration

2.    Recalibrate work/life balance

A person holding a coffee cup with a book in her lap

As technology has advanced and the pace of life has increased, the lines between our professional and personal lives have blurred, and many people are using sabbaticals as a way to re-set. This concept of a timed resting period is especially critical for people who have demanding jobs, as well as family or personal responsibilities.

After seven years of heading up a three-campus community college in Maryland along with juggling family life, President DeRionne P. Pollard was “getting a little burned out.” The Chronicle of Higher Education profiled how her 6-month sabbatical helped her reboot and refocus on her home life. Having the time to do that allowed Pollard to come back to her job with a renewed sense of excitement and commitment, something almost anyone can appreciate!

Many SabbaticalHomes.com members find that even if their sabbatical has a professional focus and isn’t designed purely for R&R, just living in a different environment is a change of pace that opens their minds in new ways.

Related: Taking a Sabbatical? What You Need to Know.

3.    Collaborate across cultures

Edward Kaufman and Manuel Hassassian stand back-to-back, smiling, in front of a bookshelf

One of the best aspects of academic life is connecting with other people who have dedicated their professional lives to the same subject area. Many SabbaticalHomes.com members explore the full benefit of teaching, conducting research, or collaborating on a book or film with a colleague in another city or country. Even with all of the email and videoconferencing we have at our fingertips today, face-to-face communication remains extremely valuable.

A unique and inspiring example of this are two SabbaticalHomes.com members who have collaborated on teaching a class each summer since 1993. Edward “Edy” Kaufman (photo at right), a recognized scholar of Israel, and Manuel Hassassian (photo at left), a recognized academic in Palestine, team-teach “Conflict Resolution: The Israeli-Palestinian Experiment” each summer at the University of Maryland.

The professors’ ongoing work speaks to the role of academia in fostering dialogue and conflict resolution. Every year, the class has adapted to the changing political climate in the region. The class offers students the narratives of both sides of the conflict, what they have learned about conflict resolution, and their reflections on whether a peaceful conflict is possible.

Related: Seeking Peace Through Partnership

4.    Immerse Yourself in the History of Another Country

Author and historian Julie Peakman (photo below) first visited the Greek island of Leros at age 17 and fell in love with the place. She had always dreamed of owning a home of her own on Leros, and was able to do that as an adult. Her time in Greece has inspired her to research extensively and write about those who defended the island during World War II in her book, Hitler’s Island War:

A close-up headshot of Julie Peakman looking forward

“I started with trying to trace the soldiers who had fought in the Battle of Leros all those years ago. It was a hard job and took some time. I wrote to military museums of the regiments involved, I wrote on military forums, I tracked people who were at the Leros vets reunion…few of them were still alive. They lived up and down the country so I travelled about with my tape recorder interviewing as many of them as I could.

“It was an honor to meet them. Many of them had never shared their story with anyone, not even their closest family. They all seemed to know that this was their last chance to tell their story. I just hope I have done them justice.”

Through her work, Peakman has brought to life little-known stories of soldiers fighting for democracy in a place she loves. She became part of the SabbaticalHomes.com family because she is an author and knows so many writers who might not yet be financially successful, but who need to have access to libraries and archives in other countries. 

Taking a sabbatical to do this research can make all the difference to someone who has invested their time and energy into a project, and being in the country while delving into the research gives an irreplaceable sense of time and place to a book, especially historical works.

Related: Julie Peakman, Historian & Author

5.    Dedicate yourself to a passion project

Michael Stromme holding a child, both are smiling widely

SabbaticalHomes.com member Michael Stromme has used the site to find trustworthy tenants for his home in New York, while he dedicates his time in Uganda, working with “a variety of charitable organizations that provide vulnerable children with food, education, and emotional support.”

Stromme, a social entrepreneur, has founded an NGO called LIFT (Lives Impacted for a Future Together) in Kampala, Uganda. Since the country is rich in agriculture and has many oily plants, he is working on developing a line of essential oils to be sold to local high-end boutique hotels and spas. He uses the profits from the essential oils (adding handmade soaps in the future) to fund his NGO and the needs of the children he works with.

In effect, Michael’s sabbatical has become his new job. As he worked more and more with the kids, he realized he had the skill set and passion to create something that would “leave this world a little better than how you found it.”

Related: Michael Stromme, Social Entrepreneur in Uganda

Exploring Future Sabbaticals

If these ideas inspire you, it might be the year for you to plan an extended trip or sabbatical! Research has shown that sabbaticals positively impact professional productivity and creativity and improves overall mental and physical health, so if this is the year for you, start exploring the possible places you can find temporary accommodations or tenants for your home on SabbaticalHomes.com.

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