I've worked in adult education for several years in multiple states. While the job description is teaching the skills necessary for people 16+ to earn their high school diploma, most of what I do is counseling students, helping them balance life and academics as they attempt to move through keeping the family safe, maintaining their jobs, past and current trauma, stress, and feelings of failure for "not getting it the first time." I have a M.Ed. in Interdisciplinary Studies and experience teaching and coordinating a variety of content, grade levels, and abilities. I've designed and implemented professional development for colleagues across counties, states, and regions. I have worked with people twice and three times my age, functioning at levels from early elementary through college-level. And yet, I can't seem to figure out how to transition into working in a college or university as an academic advisor or coordinator. In the two years since completing my M.Ed., I've applied to almost 150 jobs, and nearly 50% of those jobs involved coordinating with students. What am I doing wrong? Do hiring managers see "adult education instructor" and not realize how much counseling, coordinating, and relationship-building that takes? How do I help them take a chance on me? Is the various "teacher" titles on my resume give the impression I don't know how to coordinate details and students? Since having two short-term positions with the title "Coordinator," I am not automatically disregarded as quickly as I was before by the automatic sorting machines and my rejections have become more personal and less form-letter. Or is it my degree? Interdisciplinary Studies doesn't give off the same vibe as one in higher education admissions or academic advising. It's not concrete, and neither is my experience. My job history has been colorful and varied. To me, that reflects my flexibility, adaptability, and empathy. How do I work with these concerns? How do I tell someone in a cover letter that on paper I might not have the title for the job, but I certainly have the experience, the heart, and the passion to do so? Thank you!