Exploring Career Advancement in IR/E

Institutional research and effectiveness (IR/E) professionals are in high demand at colleges and universities. There are many jobs available, but how do you know whether one of these jobs is the right position for you? In late August 2023, I invited four women leaders in IR/E to share their reflections on the ways in which candidates for positions in the field can best understand the role for which they are interviewing. The following are recommendations for anyone in the IR/E field considering making the move to a new role.

IR/E Leaders

• Erika Farfan, Associate Vice President for Institutional Research, Kenyon College

• Adrea Hernandez, Executive Director of Institutional Research, University of Notre Dame

• Laura Palucki Blake, Assistant Vice President of Institutional Research and Effectiveness, Harvey Mudd College

• Lindsey Palumbo, Data Analytic Specialist, Franklin & Marshall College

Do your research

We are institutional researchers for many reasons, and we are successful because we are inquisitive and good at finding information. Utilize these skills when you are considering a career move, whether you are being recruited for a position or applying to a posting. Review public documents associated with the institution. What did their last reaffirmation letter say? What are the priorities listed in the latest strategic plan and how are these priorities being measured? Has the institution posted up-to-date Common Data Set materials? If you are comfortable doing so, check in with your IR/E network and see whether anyone can share insights about working at the institution. Reflect on what you learn by reviewing these documents to consider whether this institution presents itself as a place you would like to be.

Reflect in advance

Most institutions present a positive appearance and outlook to potential candidates. Whether they mean to or not, campus folks with whom you speak will not present an entire picture for you to consider. An interview is a two-way street. Yes, you are attempting to present your best self so you are offered the job, and at the same time, you want to consider whether the place you have applied to is one where you will thrive as a professional. Consider in advance what your strengths and passions are. Ask questions about those topics to understand how much of the work will be connected to the things you like to do and enjoy doing. Sometimes the person who wrote the job description for which you have applied has little understanding of the role. If you see potential in the position and are interested in working at the institution, the questions you ask may help institutional leadership reconsider the job description as you educate them about what is possible in IR/E. Be ready to share your insights and see how those with whom you are interviewing respond.

Questions to ask

One of the best ways for the interview committee to learn about the candidate is to listen to the questions that candidate asks. These questions are also an important method for you, as a candidate, to gauge whether the role is right for you. The following are some questions you might ask at an interview:

• How do you, the institution, the IR/E unit, and other units plan for and work through change?

• How is institutional knowledge shared throughout the institution?

• What are the responsibilities and priorities of the IR/E office?

• What does success look like in this role?

• Tell me about professional development opportunities and advancement support at the institution.

• Describe the important unit partners for IR/E and what those partnerships are currently like.

• What other positions or units at the institution are focused on data and analytics work? How does the institution determine the roles and responsibilities of these units as they overlap with IR/E?

• {For members of the search committee} Tell me about a time you left work feeling great about what you accomplished. Tell me about a time when you left work feeling frustrated.

• {For members of the search committee} How committed are each of you to the institution? (Similarly – How long have each of you worked here and what have been your roles?)

• {For other members of the IR/E team} What aspects of your job do you love and loathe? (Use this question to assess the balance of the work and how your loves and loathes fit in.)

• {For your potential supervisor} How would you help the IR/E team balance the aspects of their jobs that they love and loathe?

Things to listen for

The specific questions listed above can help you understand the context in which you are considering working. And sometimes you can “read between the lines” as you observe and listen during the interview process. How engaged are the leaders with whom you are meeting in the interview process? If you feel rushed or they seem distracted during their time with you, or if they are fully present and engaged in the conversation, this may indicate what your relationship might be like if you accept the position. Listen for priorities of the person to whom you would report and of other leaders with whom you meet. Are you comfortable working on those types of priorities? When leaders are describing their vision of the role you are interviewing for, does their assessment of the institution’s data use feel honest? Are they sharing the strengths and the challenges? When you discuss your goals for the position, listen for their expectations for you and your career development. It is a good sign if they can share specific examples of individuals at the institution who have been supported in their career development and who have found success. Focusing energy on listening and learning about the individuals with whom you will be working will help you get a feel for whether you would enjoy working with them. Often the conversations that occur during more casual moments, like a coffee or lunch meeting during the interview process, are the most genuine and tell you the most about folks’ true feelings.

As indicated by the title of this blog post, these recommendations are targeted toward individuals already in the IR/E field who are considering a career move. In our conversation, we began to scratch the surface of exploring the same topic for individuals just entering the IR/E field. We would be interested in hearing from folks who are in their first IR/E role about their reflections on the ways in which candidates for initial IR/E positions can understand the role for which they are interviewing. If you are interested in sharing your insights, reach out to me at gina@dataempoweredconsulting.com. I would love to share those insights with the field.

Gina Johnson, PhD

Principal & Cofounder, Data EmpowerED Consulting