Orientation Review Article

Ten Simple Rules (We Wish We Had Known…) for Succeeding in Orientation
Ryann Denham & Chris Landry
Louisiana State University

As we prepare to begin our final year as graduate assistants for the Office of Orientation at Louisiana State University, we wanted to share a few things that may make your journey a bit easier!

1. Know what you want from your experience. Work with your supervisor to ensure that you are able to reach your personal and professional goals during your time in orientation. It is important to consider the areas that you would like to become more familiar with or skills that you would like to develop. By creating and communicating your goals early into your appointment or assistantship, you maximize your ability to succeed and generate a vital support system.

2. Working orientation as someone other than an orientation leader can take some time to adjust. Whether you worked with students or family members, serving behind the scenes can prove to be a very different experience. It may mean more responsibility during the program but it can also increase the amount of time spent enhancing current program components or developing new ones, problem-solving, or thinking critically. If possible, you should also use this as an opportunity to take in the logistics and administrative aspects of orientation as you prepare for sessions and to expand your knowledge base for future positions.

3. As a field, orientation is much more than campus tours and course registration. Your job responsibilities can seem like a brief run-down of the major functional areas of student affairs after a year’s work in orientation. Residential life, campus programming, first year activities, welcome week events, retention efforts and many more departments now have an impact on how colleges and universities introduce students to their campuses. It would be very advantageous to embrace your strengths and begin to gain experience in the areas with which you are not very familiar.

4. Orientation can have a “slow-season,” but using that time to focus on the upcoming programs is best. It was fairly surprising to find that the fall months were significantly less hectic after seeming to work nonstop during the spring and summer. Many schools use this time to select and train orientation leaders, develop and implement new programming ideas and work on the aspects of their orientation that need a bit of tweaking.

5. Advising undergraduate student leaders can be more challenging that you initially expect. It can be very tempting to allow yourself to become friendly with the student staff since they may be, at most, only a few years younger than you. Starting at a new school can magnify this pressure to connect with or establish a new set of friends. It is necessary to set appropriate boundaries and maintain them consistently. Your supervisor can provide necessary guidance and help to establish an environment that is productive for everyone involved.

6. Find a balance for the different roles that you will take on during graduate school. Time management becomes even more important after your undergraduate work is complete as it can set the stage for how you will function in your future career. If you feel that you are not able to devote time to the things you enjoy because of work or school, take an inventory of your priorities to see if things can be rearranged. Also, asking for help when things get to be too much for you is not necessarily a sign of weakness—just try not to always rely on others before your attempt to succeed on your own.

7. Get involved in professional organizations such as NODA at the regional and national levels. There are many ways for graduate students to remain active in professional organizations. Joining networks can provide you with information and contacts for a specific area that interests you and can help you track current trends in orientation and student affairs. It can be very rewarding to attend conferences especially if you have the opportunity to present educational sessions, participate in case study competitions, and capitalize on specialized sessions.

8. Network with student affairs professionals both at your own institution and across the country. Developing a working relationship built on respect and competence can serve you well at unexpected times and in the long run. Professionals in the field are valuable resources and mentors. However, networking is more than simply meeting people and collecting business cards. It is vital for you to follow through, maintain appropriate communication, and remain productive so that your professional contacts view you as an reliable colleague and feel comfortable giving you a recommendation in the future.

9. Don't be afraid to suggest changes, implement new programs or take on new responsibilities. It can be very empowering to take the reins on a project and see it through to completion, especially if you have not had the opportunity to do so before. Most supervisors are willing to support you as needed and often appreciate your willingness to take the initiative to enhance your orientation programs. Also, it can be an excellent learning experience.

10. It’s never too early to start looking for jobs, but it can definitely be too early to apply for one. It is a good idea to look through postings to see the nature of the field and what responsibilities and functional areas are being included in job descriptions that are appealing. This will help you tailor your graduate school experiences to where you would like to be as you officially begin the job search.

Whether you are an orientation first timer or a veteran from your undergraduate career, you have chosen a very exciting field where you will expose yourself to a variety of experiences, people, and functional areas. Make the most of each and every opportunity you are given through orientation. The skills you gain are imperative and most importantly transferable, to wherever you end up in student affairs!