I have always worked very closely with my academic colleagues, on whichever programme, or sets of programmes, that I have worked on. The change in team set me thinking about the qualities that are necessary for support staff within Universities.

There are some who will have you believe that the role of an administrator in HE is mainly data entry, with little responsibility and decision making. I have to say that this, in my experience, is not the case. In order to be an effective administrator, you need to have excellent attention to detail – it is likely to be you who picks up on little things that your academic colleagues may miss. You need to know your programme(s). I have learnt over the years that having intimate knowledge of the workings and nuances of the programmes you work on is vital. Each programme, or group of programmes, will have its own little differences – you may have a flexible part time programme. You may have a post graduate programme that operates strangely out of sync with under graduate programmes. Each student on the programmes will have their own set of circumstances that may effect them in assessments, and considerations will need to be made at assessment board time. It is often you, the administrator, who has some of this specialist knowledge. There are times when you will be the point of contact for a troubled student. I have managed to retain students on a programme in the past when they were on the verge of withdrawing, but was able to advise and suggest a suspension of studies as an alternative. This kind of ability is invaluable to a university and to a programme team (especially when numbers can make or break a programme!).

I have always felt that a programme needs a dedicated administrator – and the last two weeks have confirmed this for me. A collaborative programme is likely to have differences that a home programme does not. You are often working within more than one set of regulations – your institution, and the partner institution. These programmes can not be managed by multiple people. They need to have a single person who can truly get to grips with the nuances.

I’m hoping that support staff reading this blog post are nodding sagely at what I say. We are the foundation of the success of our institutions. If you are the type of person who does have attention to detail; who notices the little things; who works well to a structure that has deadlines, regulations and application, you will make an excellent HE administrator.

There are many departments in Universities that support the work of our academic colleagues. HE Institutions are big employers, and the roles that support the teaching and learning are vital. As administrators at Faculty or School level, we support the core business. We ensure the smooth running of the academic calendar. We support our students, and are often the face of the university we work at. Students will come to administrative staff for a large number of queries, and the advice and support that we are able to offer assists our students through their career with us.

Without the administrative staff, assessment boards would not take place. We work tirelessly to ensure that all student assessment is recorded accurately and the assessment boards run smoothly. In another part of my current role, the administrative staff ensure that timetables are constructed without clashes, to suit both students and academics alike. No mean feat when there are multiple modules on multiple programmes across multiple schools in one faculty. But it all comes together, thanks to the expertise of the staff working in that area. These are the areas with which I have direct experience and knowledge.

There are opportunities for development of staff in Higher Education. Where else would you get the opportunity to learn and to gain qualifications? This is something that Universities can uniquely offer to their staff. You can develop from within. I myself have been given the opportunity to explore the world of academia and teaching – and to discover that this is something I love and want to move into.

All support staff within Universities need to take pride in the vital role that they play in the running of a University. It is a good career, one with many opportunities. But you have to work for those opportunities, and if you seek them, they are there for those who want them – you just need to reach out and take them.

In my experience, however, a degree is very helpful to working in HE, for several reasons.

1) It shows you have an interest in, and an aptitude for, the central service/product on offer by the university or college you are applying to – education is at the core of their business and their values, and you would be best placed if you can demonstrate the role it has had in your life as well.

2) Higher education is an increasingly complex and dynamic industry, and advanced studies lend themselves to the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are valued in that kind of environment.  Having a degree doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to be a flexible, adaptable, pro-active employee, but it may show that you have a pre-disposition towards this.

3) Working with others who have advanced degrees and/or who are at the top of their field – you won’t automatically be able to get the respect you deserve from a fellow staff member just because you’ve got some letters behind your name, but when you’re working in a place that places a great deal of importance on teaching and research, you may find it easier if you know your quantitative from qualitative evidence, and are able to demonstrate this tangibly not only from your professional working history, but also from having taken appropriate courses at some stage in your career.

All of this will of course depend to a certain extent the role that you have as well as your relationship with your peers and of course the institutional culture where you work.  But in my experience, you will likely find it easier to get settled in a new role if you have had some prior experience of university-level study and how a university organizes itself.  And certainly as a hiring manager, with all else being equal, I would certainly prioritise an applicant or a candidate for promotion who showed a continuing interest in their own personal and/or professional education, and would certainly encourage him or her to take courses at the institution.

Another option to consider is joining professional networks and memberships.  Most professionals working in higher education (on either the academic or administrative side) hold multiple memberships of relevant professional organisations, which are also selective and often also require studies at an appropriate level in order to gain membership.

There may be a “degree” of academic snobbery at work here, in that members of the academy expect that others in the organisation should have achieved a similar standard of education. But when you think about it in terms of an institution’s brand values and mission in society, what does it say if they conclude a degree isn’t important to success?

Apart from the obvious impact this uncertainty has on prospective students it also leaves staff in HE facing many questions.

With the increased fees how will students expectations change?

As students could be paying £27,000 or more for a degree, they will surely want more for their money than those who have paid £9,000. The problem universities face is how to meet this increased demand with no more money? How do you improve service whilst making budget cuts?

Will poorer students be put off from applying?

Universities want the best students, not just the richest. With the new fees universities charging over £6,000 will have to take measures to ensure they are widening participation for the poor. Unfortunately, HE institutions and their staff have no idea what these measures will be or how effective they will be. How do you ensure that the best students aren’t put off from applying due to fees?

Will different courses cost different amounts?

In simple, practical terms a course such as chemistry costs more to run than History. Although I’m no chemist, the labs, chemicals and safety equipment must be expensive. Therefore should a Chemistry degree cost more than a History degree? If so does that undermine the History course and make students feel undervalued?

I could continue but each question leads only to further questions that cannot currently be answered.

The point is that an effect of the government’s decision on fees is to create an uncertain atmosphere in Universities for both staff and students. The quicker it is resolved the better it will be for all concerned.

However, there are many positives to be gained by going to external training courses:

1) They are a great addition to your CV. Over the course of a year you can build up a portfolio of courses attended which show can show your enthusiasm updating your skills.

2) There is a lot of valuable knowledge and tools that can be taken back to your institution. Whether its handouts, new knowledge, or a different take on an issue, training courses can be a melting pot of ideas; Why not take some of these back to your own institution and propose some changes that could be made? In the worst case scenario they won’t be used, but even so you’re showing your line manager that you have ideas and are eager to improve your workplace, this might just stick in their heads when the next promotion comes along.

3) It’s a great networking opportunity. At the bigger training courses people from all over the country from institutions large and small attend. A handout of attendees names and emails are often handed out too, so no need to exchange business cards. And who knows when these contacts could come in useful.

4) If nothing else, it’s a day out of the office and a free lunch!

So ask your manager about potential training courses and see if you can make the most of the opportunity.

Why not try looking at a career in Higher Education? It may seem strange at a time when University funding cuts are being widely talked about but for me the pros far outwiegh the cons.

I worked in a corporate environment before I took a job in Higher Education and the contrast is startling. To work in an atmosphere that was not entirely focused on making money was a refreshing change. Most of the staff in HE both academic and non-academic are focused on improving the students’ experience. This is becoming increasingly so as the students are expecting more for their increased fees.

There are a wide variety of jobs (As the blog title says it’s Not Just Teaching) that are required in order to keep a university functioning. From marketing and PR jobs, careers advisers, administrators and even graphic designers, so any job in a university brings you into contact with a wide range of people with differing skills.

The pay and benefits are also good at most UK universities – they haven’t suffered the pay freezes that the public sector have and wages are still competitive with similar roles in the private sector. Many universities offer cut-price childcare and gym membership as additional benefits.

Holidays too are generous with most universities giving around 5 closure days/concessionary days over the year including a long break at Christmas without any extra holidays taken.

Opportunities for progression are often very good with opportunities across various departments allowing you to develop a wide range of skills.

Of course there are downsides too and not everyone will have found their experiences as good as mine; Funding cuts are a cause for concern and some smaller universities may merge which would cause some job losses. However, I think for those of us who are lucky enough to work in Higher Education should take the time now and again to appreciate how much worse our working lives could be and how fortunate we are.

1)      I want to change jobs because I can’t stand my manager: Even if this is true, you should never ever badmouth your current employer/manager/colleagues in an interview, no matter how right you can be feeling this way. Your prospective employers just don’t want to know about it and are likely to think that it’s you who is the trouble-maker and the problematic employee.

2)      I’m interested in this position because the money is good: Certainly, when deciding to apply for a new role, the money it pays is something you have considered. But this is different to admitting that money is your sole motivation for wanting this job – not the challenge of it, not the career development, not the good prospects, just money. If you say this, your prospective employers will think that you may leave them as soon as a better financial opportunity arises.

3)      I want to relocate to be with my boyfriend/girlfriend: Although I have heard of cases in which the candidate got the job even after such a response, it’s better not to risk giving it. If your assessors are more conservative, they may reject you for an answer like this, as they may think that you’re only interested in the job because it will help you be in the same city as your partner.

4)      I want the job because I like dealing with people: This must be by far the most commonplace answer given in interviews, as well as the most content-insignificant. Working for a University (and for most organisations), you do deal with people on a frequent basis, so that’s taken for granted. Beyond that, your prospective managers will want to hear more about what motivated you to apply, what your career aspirations are and how you see yourself within the role and the organization.

It goes without saying that each one of us has different resolutions in mind, but here are some of the most common ones and some tips to make them work.

Resolution #1: Find a new job – if this is your goal for the new year, make sure you keep a constant eye on print and online job adverts, network as much as you can and make your entourage aware that you’re looking for a new job. All these may give you good leads. Once you find the positions you’re interested in, make sure your applications are tailored to each specific one and that they clearly demonstrate what benefits you can bring to the organizations you’re applying to.

Resolution #2: Get a promotion – you will first need to talk to your managers and find out what their plans are for promotions or new positions that are of a higher level than yours, which you may be suitable to apply for. Make them aware that you are eager for progression and development and work hard to prove to them that you’re worth considering for a promotion. How? There are lots of ways but generally speaking, showing willingness and flexibility, approaching your work with interest, working towards achieving better results and grasping any opportunity for training and development should communicate your message.

Resolution #3: Stay unaffected by the any job cuts: In such tough times for higher education, your goals may be more realistic, such as to simply keep your job. Although redundancies can affect anyone at any time without necessarily meaning that the persons affected were not good in their job, try to follow the tips in resolution #2. They will help you stand out as an invaluable employee and your managers will think twice about letting you go if they have to face the dilemma.

1)      Relevance to your experience or background: Although the UK higher education industry is generally more open than other industries to diverse work profiles, you still stand a better chance of being successful if the job spec fits your professional background.

2)      Relevance to your professional goals: Especially if you’re looking at new positions to apply to as a way to help you go further and develop your career, this is very critical. You need to make sure that you apply to those posts that will help take this next step and go where you aim to go.

3)      Levels of enthusiasm about the post: If your feelings about an advertised job are moderate, then it may be better to re-think about it. Although you may not realize, your enthusiasm (or lack of) will reflect through your application and your writing style, so a moderately or fakely enthusiastic application will probably be rejected in favour of the more genuine ones. So why waste your time in the first place?

4)      The actual job spec: It may sound odd, but lots of people don’t look through the job description before making an application. Make sure you do read through it carefully and thoroughly as it’s this description that will tell you what you can expect to do on a daily basis. If the description fits what you had in mind as a satisfactory role, then go ahead. If not, don’t bother, as you’ll quickly become miserable even if you are offered the position.

5)      The organization advertising the post: Make sure you do want to work for the organization concerned, or that you do want to try and see how it is. In other words, if you have positive feelings about your prospective employer, it’s probably worth trying. If for any reason you have doubts or concerns, then maybe you should think twice before applying.

6)      The commute: How far away is the organization from your home? How far away are you prepared to travel and how would you commute on a daily basis? Would you have to drive there or is it accessible by public transport? Would your daily commute be easy / tolerable for you or would it quickly turn into a daily nightmare? The final choice is always personal, but as general advice, try to apply to places that are no farther than an hour away either by car or by public transport, or it may become too tiring after a while.

Why move internally?

Here are the best reasons for you to consider applying for an internal vacancy in your institution, as opposed to joining a new institution.

1)      Familiar environment: If you’re afraid of changing environments, then moving to another department in the same institution will solve this problem for you. You won’t have to change your commute, your daily routine or your familiar surroundings, and you will still know a lot of the people you will be meeting on a daily basis.

2)      Less competition: Positions advertised internally are not available to the general public, which greatly eliminates competition to just a few applicants. While externally advertised positions tend to attract between 30 and 60 applications per post, internal positions normally attract much lower interest – in some cases no more than 2 to 3 applicants. If you also consider that not every applicant may be well suited for the position, you can see how your chances of being offered the post are very much boosted.

3)      Known competitors: One of the most stressful parts of a selection process is knowing that, no matter how good a candidate you are and how well you are prepared, there’s always a good chance that someone may come across as even stronger. When applying for an internal vacancy, it’s likely that you may actually know who else in the institution is going for the position, which will give you the rare chance to prepare for the interview knowing your competitors’ strengths and weaknesses.

4)      It’s still a change: You may stay within the same institution, but you will also get the change you were looking for. You will still move into a different department, meet new people, find yourself with new work conditions and policies, and possibly the challenge of a different work subject.

So, are you still thinking about it?