Decision Sciences Journal

DOCTORAL ISSUES

Using DSI's Placement Message Service at the Annual Meeting: A Practical Guide

by Hal Jacobs, Home Office, Georgia State University

It's the same story at every DSI annual meeting. Messages pile up for several recruiters and job applicants at the DSI Placement Center. On the last day of the conference, the sought-after person drops by and says, "Someone told me I had messages." And, moments later, after flipping through the stack of message cards, "I didn't even know this was here."

Yes, the Placement Center is here at the annual meeting and, after manning the messaging operations for the last nine years, I have a few observations and tips to pass on.

The purpose of the Placement Center is to facilitate communication between DSI job placement users at the annual meeting. In addition to providing computer access to the placement database (full search available on interest areas, geographic location, last-minute additions, etc), the Center operates a message service for recruiters and job applicants.

The message service operates in quite simple fashion -- some may say, too simple. Let me explain. To set up an appointment, you simply write your note on a 3x5 index card provided at the Center (white cards for applicants to fill out, blue cards for recruiters), with the recruiter's affiliation/applicant's name at the top. The Message Center then files the card away alphabetically for easy retrieval.

Each year we hear that our system is preferred over computerized systems at other conferences, where persons queue up during coffee breaks in order to access the message system via computer terminals. Also, each year we hear that our system is outdated and needs to be computerized. Perhaps there's something to be said for the immediacy of a hand-written note (and lower conference fees). Let us know what you think.

Start Early

During the afternoon of the Doctoral Student Consortium and the beginning hours of conference registration, we see little activity at the Job Placement Center. A few newcomers will drop by to ask how everything works, a few recruiters will list new openings, and a few students/recruiters will drop off pre- filled-out message cards. The latter are usually placement veterans. They know the true work of placement is done in advance of the annual meeting. Many appointments are scheduled during the months leading up to the conference, especially after the job placement directory is received by DSI members in mid-October. I've heard more than a few recruiters say they've booked all of their interviews before they arrived at the conference.

Day One

The busiest day of the Placement Center. Applicants and recruiters begin leaving messages for each other, both hoping to arrange a meeting for later that afternoon or the next day. Many applicants begin stopping by for the first time to find out "what's going on?" (Little do they know how much has been going on without them.) New job listings are posted throughout the day. Recruiters from large schools are deluged with interview requests. Recruiters from smaller colleges are eager to meet with those applicants who are willing to shift their focus away from large universities.

Day Two

Interviews are booked and, oftentimes, rescheduled, throughout the day. Messages are still passed back and forth, especially those changing meeting place and time. A few more position openings will be announced, with recruiters scheduling meetings and future follow-up calls/visits. Applicants who have caught the eye of a recruiter at the meeting, or been referred by a major professor, may still be asked if they have time for a meeting.

Day Three

A few meetings, but for all practical purposes, the show is over for another year (although the placement database is still accessible until May 31, 1997).

On Leaving Resumes

There are three schools of thought on leaving resumes for recruiters. One says that you leave a message for a particular school, asking if the recruiter would like to see your resume. This works fine. I've seen many recruiters reply to this type of inquiry. The second school of thought says that you leave resumes for any school you're remotely interested in, hoping to hook a recruiter's attention. This approach has less merit. I've heard a few recruiters complain about this "blanketing"-type approach (it's easy to spot someone dropping off 20-30 resumes), and on the last day of the meeting many of the resumes are still untouched.

The third school of thought (recommended by a veteran recruiter) is that you have two vitae handy -- a one-page attention getter and a full vita. The one-pager can be placed as messages, and once an appointment is made, the full vita can be provided (if possible, ahead of time).

Where to Meet?

A large interview area is set aside -- and it fills up early. But each year there are a few applicants/recruiters who can't locate each other by name tag. The best bet for recruiters is to signify their school name at their interview table so applicants can spot them in advance. Small table signs work, so do balloons. Or leave a message that specifies where in the interview area applicants may find you. Because of privacy and other concerns expressed by applicants in past years, recruiters are discouraged from meeting in their hotel rooms unless they have a suite with a separate meeting area. It's always a good practice to leave your contact information on the message card. Not all recruiters/applicants stay at the conference hotel.

Your Overall Strategy

Access the placement listings early on the Web (beginning mid-August) via the DSI home page. Placement forms are mailed to DSI members in late June. Be sure you have sent in your form to Placement Coordinator Gary Klein, and your fee ($100 for each position, FREE for DSI students, $25 for other DSI members, $100 for confidential listings) to the Home Office. (Also be sure your DSI membership is current). Write the schools/applicants you're interested in and ask if you can set up a meeting at the conference. Remember, it's a buyer's market, so the larger schools have their pick of candidates -- applicants may do well to keep the smaller colleges in mind.

Familiarize yourself with the Placement Center as soon as you arrive. That way you'll be more comfortable during the hurly burly of Day One. Drop off messages for recruiters/applicants. Be sure to include contact info in case of a schedule change.

Plan to drop by the Placement Center throughout the conference to check on your messages. Keep in mind that coffee breaks are located near the Center, and that's generally the busiest time. Keep a look out for new positions that are updated throughout the three-day conference. Remember that this is an excellent time to strike up a conversation with recruiters and make a good, lasting impression. Proofread your messages carefully. Most recruiters don't like to see spelling/grammar mistakes on a 3x5 card (and may share the more laughable ones with those close by). Keep a positive attitude -- at least while you're in the Placement Area -- remember, you're on display to prospective future colleagues.

Plan to arrive a few minutes early for each interview. (Also, plan to be waylaid on your way to the interview by friends/colleagues.) Judging from the reactions I've seen over the years, there is nothing worse than showing up late for your own interview.

If you haven't already done so, enter the Elwood S. Buffa Doctoral Dissertation Competition. Having an award-winning dissertation should open more than a few doors at recruiting time.

If recruiters and applicants have more tips or suggestions on how we can improve our placement service, let us know at hjacobs@gsu.edu, and we'll post them on the DSI Web site.

Decision Line, July 1997 (v27n4)