Pictured: Kaelin and Caylee Henderson pose for a photo during their in-person LC interviews before both being hired for the position.

The Video Group Interview

Selected applicants start with a group interview with two or three other candidates via video call in January. The group interview is conducted by the Director of Field Operations, who oversees the Leadership Consultant program. She’ll ask you and the other candidates a few questions each. I felt this was my opportunity to not only elaborate on my application, but to also showcase my personality and excitement for becoming an LC! In my group interview, the interviewer asked me to expand on my resume and application. She asked me about my year as President of my chapter, about my experience at the AFLV Central conference and other general questions that allowed her to get to know me better. (An LOL moment: I had bronchitis during my video interview and had to mute the microphone every time I coughed!)

Pictured: Kaelin was part of the LC team that helped start our chapter at Boise State

The In-Person Interview

After all video group interviews are conducted, selected candidates are invited to in-person interviews at International Office in Carmel, a suburb of Indianapolis, Indiana. I can easily say, the in-person interview was my absolute favorite part of the process! I was able to visit IO for a weekend, meet other potential LCs, and interact with many IO staff members and volunteers. The in-person interview is a day-long interview that consists of three parts: case studies, a presentation and a one-on-one interview with Executive Director Meghan Vicinus Parker.

Case Studies

Candidates are given case studies to review and complete before the in-person interview weekend. The case studies describe an often-relatable situation that could occur on any chapter visit, and candidates answer questions to help resolve or rectify the situation. At my in-person interview, I discussed my resolution to the situation with two ZTA IO staff members. The case studies are a great opportunity to prove your problem-solving ability, which is an important skill of a ZTA LC!

Presentation

Candidates are paired up at the beginning of the day and have a few hours to develop a presentation on a topic of their choice. The topics are unique to ZTA collegiate life and relate to recruitment, sisterhood, Crown Chapter criteria and more. My partner at my in-person interview is now a #ZTALC, too! (Shout out to Maddie Walling!) We chose to do our presentation on sisterhood and membership retention. It was so fun to use our creativity in making our presentation.

One-on-one Interview with Mrs. Parker

The third part of the in-person interview is an opportunity unlike any other: a one-on-one with the ZTA Executive Director! This interview is your time to express why you chose to apply to be an LC and how you can make a difference in the job. This gives Mrs. Parker a chance to learn more about who you are and what qualities you would bring that would make you a great LC. It’s an opportunity for her to ensure that being an LC is the right move for you and for you to ask questions to learn more about what it’s like to serve the Fraternity on a national level.

Pictured: The 2017–2018 Leadership Consultants are a great team!

Now that I’ve covered the logistics of the interview process, I want to share some of the best advice I can give to prepare you for an LC interview. 

Be yourself. It’s cliché, but this is the most important advice I can give.

Reflect on your ZTA experience. Think back on the reasons you are applying to be an LC.

Get to know the other candidates. They could be your future #ZTALC sisters!

If you haven’t applied to be a ZTA LC yet, you should! Sending in that LC application just might be your next best move….

pictured: Convention attendee Olivia (@uiowa-zta) poses for a photo with ZTA NPC Delegate and former National President Laura Ladewig Mauro

No matter if you are an EC or PC officer, or simply a member who consistently shows up and gives ZTA your best, you have something that every hiring manager wants: Dedication. Commitment. Application of yourself toward common goals and purposes. Understanding of servant leadership. These are the attributes I used to explain my experience in ZTA during that interview in 2007 and how I have explained it every day since.  

pictured: a @cppzetas member leads a chapter meeting

Often, women are hesitant to put their sorority affiliation on professional resumes as it may be negatively received by those within the organization they are seeking to join. I have had the same doubts. Let’s also be realistic with each other in that it’s awkward enough to walk into any interview situation and talk about how uniquely awesome you are. Even if you’re ready to take a bold stand and shout your awesomeness from the mountain tops, here are just a few things you may not have realized you’ve taken away from your ZTA experience and how to talk about it:

Management If you’re an EC/PC officer or even a chapter advisor, surprise! You’re a manager of people, emotions and expectations. You are communicating expectations to your team, ensuring that those expectations are met and, in the event that they are not, consulting the individual who did not perform to the required standards. Which brings me to my next point…

Conflict Handling and Resolution Conflict is hard. We now even live in an age where we can avoid it with texts and emails. But, what a skill to communicate that you can successfully navigate through interpersonal conflicts between colleagues (or in our case, sisters) and reach a successful resolution.

Time Management Skills There is never a time like college for balancing a million and five activities. (Oh wait, there is. It’s called motherhood, but I digress.) Anyhow, as a leader in your chapter, it is an unspoken expectation that you manage your time well to excel at being a student, being involved in student organizations, working a job, and being a friend and family member, all while keeping yourself mentally healthy. It’s a tall order. Chances are, you don’t have a Magic Time Fairy making all this happen for you. Reality is, you’re just a lady boss getting things done, and that is what makes the real world work.

Leadership Sounds like a given, right? Not exactly. Not every leader needs to have a leadership title or position. Some of the most motivational sisters that I have known are those who display consistency, dedication, dependability and a servant’s heart. They aren’t looking for recognition. They show up to things because they care. This is leadership in its purest form: Displaying an example for others to follow.

Expectation 1: I will be constantly traveling, visiting a new city every week and getting ALL the miles!

Reality: While that is true for some of my fellow LC friends, that is not the case for everyone. Some consultants stay with a chapter for a long period of time. For example, ZTA gained three new chapters this semester, which meant many of the consultants were/are stationed long term assisting those chapters. That isn’t to say you won’t get your feel for travel, however, because you could be making short chapter visits during your longer stay with a chapter.

Expectation 2: Being an LC will be unhealthy; I’ll be eating fast food all the time.

Reality: While I am a big proponent of the “Treat Yo Self” motto, this job, like everything, is about balance. There are plenty of healthy options on the road; you just have to make sure you’re conscious of your choices. When you’re stationed, it is a little easier since you have the option of grocery shopping, but even eating healthy while traveling is doable.

Expectation 3: I have to be the chapter President or on EC to be a Leadership Consultant.

Reality: Each LC team is made up of sisters who have held a variety of positions and some have never been on EC. Everything you have done as a chapter member serves as valuable experience for this position. ZTA provides leadership opportunities, both with and without titles, such as helping on committees or serving as an assistant. If your lack of an official position is holding you back, don’t let it! Do not focus on what you didn’t do, but instead focus on what you did do.

Expectation 4: I won’t have any free time as an LC.

Reality: Your day-to-day schedule will change so much that you cannot really know how you’ll spend your time. Some days you’ll be able to Facetime and catch up with family and friends, while other days you’ll meet with what feels like every chapter member. The key is to advocate for yourself and help formulate your visit schedule so you can build in time for yourself but still spend valuable time with the chapter you’re visiting.

Expectation 5: I do not have time to take a year off.

Reality: This is a pretty big fear for many women who apply. Here is the reality: You’re not taking a year off; you’re gaining a year of experience! You learn soft and hard skills that are essential to success and provide a solid path toward a lifelong career. Your year as an LC will also provide time to study and prep for graduate school or your next step. This position is unlike any other. It builds you up as a person and allows you to learn so much about yourself and others throughout the year. It is not a year off, but a year on.

Throw your expectations out the window! Your year traveling will truly be a unique experience. If you have even a small desire to see what it’s like, make sure you apply!

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1. I’ve cultivated my creative problem-solving abilities.

Do you know how to prepare an interview committee? Do you know how many Chick-Fil-A nugget trays you need to feed 200 women? Do you know how to file expenses? Coordinate a meeting between professional and social organizations? Build a castle out of cardboard? I didn’t. But after 16 months on the road, I can add all those things to my list of acquired skills. I can figure out how to do anything, basically.

2. It doesn’t feel as weird to make friends with strangers.

I promise I’m not just hanging out with strangers, Mom! (But I kind of am.) Each visit, I meet new ZTA sisters from across the country. I’ve left universities feeling like I’ve known my sisters there for years rather than for just the four days I was in town. That’s spilled over into my life outside of ZTA as well. I’m much more likely to strike up conversations with people walking around campus or standing in line at a coffee shop, which is so fun! #YesNewFriends

3. Speaking of coffee, I drink it now.

Before becoming a consultant, I never drank coffee. Life on the road takes you to some pretty Instagram-worthy coffee shops, though, so I had to indulge. I love visiting THE place for coffee in any college town. Small Americano, no cream, for me, please!

4. I’ve found those things that I love.

Over the last year and a half, I’ve had some time to really get to know myself. I found out that although they’re hip, I don’t really like boutique cupcakes, but I do love the band Cake. I know running gets my creative juices flowing and that I might not notice if I never sit in front of a television again. I’m surrounded by others often, but I take pride in knowing that when I’m not, I know exactly how to relax and do the things that make me happy. 

5. I gained confidence in navigating the unknown.

You know that question that makes the whole room go silent? Yeah, you know the one. “What are you going to do after you graduate?” Your heart pounds as you question every life decision you’ve made up to this point, wondering how a 20-something-year-old can be expected to know what they want to be when they grow up. As a Leadership Consultant, every day and every week is vastly different; I never know what I’ll be doing on my next visit. I feel comfy in that space now. I’ve had a lot of practice not knowing what is coming next, and I truly believe that has prepared me for my next venture.

Because I took the leap to apply to be a Zeta Tau Alpha Leadership Consultant two years ago, I gained experience in a variety of areas that I could not have tackled in just one year after college by doing any other job. I love seeing the progress chapters make while I visit, but I am also so thankful for how rewarding this experience has been for my own personal growth. I’m thrilled to take these new skills on my next career endeavor!

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Pictured: Leadership Consultants Caroline Villarreal (left) and Kelley (right) in Boise before colonization

When I first found out I was on the colonization team at Seton Hall University in August 2016, I was so excited. I mean, how incredible was it that I was getting the chance to speak about the opportunities for leadership, personal growth and programming I am so passionate about? The long days and nights of work spent laughing with my fellow consultants is something I will cherish for a lifetime. A year later, I am overwhelmed with pride when I hear about the wonderful accomplishments of Lambda Xi Chapter.

Pictured: Leadership Consultants SJ Saputo (left), Kelley (second from right) and Caroline pose with Lambda Xi Chapter President Madeline Recore (second from left) during the chapter’s Installation weekend

In the fall of my second year as a consultant, I learned I would again serve on an extension team at Boise State University, and I was thrilled! I vividly remember our first day on Boise State’s campus in September and the words of Mrs. Malaea Nelms Seleski: “How lucky are we that we get to do this?” I remember how quickly my time at Seton Hall University went by, so I have made every effort to soak it all in this year; it will be May before I know it.  

Pictured: Members of Lambda Omicron Chapter (Boise State) during Bid Day

One of the best parts of colonization is the development of sisterhood among the chapter. Over the first six weeks, the Leadership Consultants plan and facilitate a variety of sisterhood events to help the women get to know one another. These sisterhood events range from tie-dyeing T-shirts and crafting to picking pumpkins. It is amazing to watch women establish friendships with one another over this time period. My favorite aspect of working with a new chapter, however, is without a doubt the opportunity to empower leaders. Women join, and within two weeks they apply for leadership positions. So much of what makes being a Leadership Consultant so fulfilling is the chance to encourage women to be the best versions of themselves and helping them sharpen and develop leadership potential they may not see in themselves. I have loved watching the first officers of Lambda Omicron Chapter at Boise State University lay a strong foundation that will help the chapter excel in the years to come.

Pictured: Leadership Consultants Victoria Salsman, Alison Collangelo, Kaelin Beaty and Kelley pose with their chapters’ links in the Chain of Chapters during Lambda Omicron Chapter Installation

Over the weekend of Jan. 20, we celebrated Lambda Omicron Chapter at its installation banquet. This was a chance to acknowledge and honor the support they received from many facets. From National Officers to local alumnae and the campus community, our new chapter is surrounded by passionate individuals who will help make their first-year experience a positive one. We speak so often of how all Zeta Tau Alphas have a special bond. I know this to be true from my own experience, but it has been amazing to see this play out between the members of Lambda Omicron Chapter and their advisors. These women quickly formed a close bond of admiration and collaboration. Being that they are all new in their roles, they have the opportunity to work together to establish strong alumnae and collegiate relations that will continue for future chapter members.

I am forever indebted to this organization for helping me grow into the leader and woman I am today. I am so fortunate to have been able to play a role in the growth of our organization over the past two years, and I will forever cherish my time with our two newest links. As one of my favorite ZTA poems says, “I have sincerely come to realize that Zeta Tau Alpha is, indeed, a better way to stumble down the back steps and out the front door of life.”