Career Adviser, Career Counselor, Career Specialist Job Descriptions

Career Adviser, Career and Employment Services (CES) (large private university)

Career Counselor, Part-time (large public university)

Career Development Specialist (large public college)

Career Planning and Development Associate (small private college)

Coordinator, Career Services (medium public university)

Senior Career Services Specialist (medium public university)

Social Sciences Career Adviser (large public university)

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Career Adviser, Career and Employment Services(CES) (large private university)

Description/Goals

The career adviser serves as a liaison to the College of Agriculture, under the supervision of the director, and assists with special projects on an as needed basis.

Responsibilities

Services provided are represented in three functional areas:

Placement

• Student Advising/Consultation: Provide students and alumni individual assistance in defining career options, developing employment skills, and job-search procedures.
• Employment Training Workshops: Develop, coordinate, and facilitate training and skill development workshops to include resume preparation, job-search strategies, career information technology including Internet links, interview skills, and experiential learning preparation.

Communication/Programming

• Resource Development: Coordinate resources in support of programming and independent student accessibility including Internet links, transparencies, electronic media, employer directories, employment vacancy bulletins, etc.
• Faculty Development: Coordinate college-specific outreach, programming and customized seminars, workshops, and programs based on student needs assessment and faculty requests. Work with and advise faculty and college administrators on methods to enhance the quality of experiential learning/career development and to expand departmental participation.
• Statistical Data Collection/Dissemination: Conduct assessment and follow-up studies through electronic communications, direct mail, and telecommunications of all graduates to determine employment levels, position titles, starting salaries, and continuing professional development.

Marketing

• Employer Development: Build partnerships between the university and external communities (business, the public sector, and not-for-profit entities) emphasizing aggressive development and marketing to expand experiential learning and full-time employment opportunities.

The career adviser will assume additional responsibilities as time permits: student advising appointments and project liaison for special requests/projects (i.e., career fair publicity, graduate assistant training).

The career adviser will also participate in:

• staff activities, including CES events/workshops/programs
• an annual performance evaluation
• professional development activities.

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Career Counselor, Part-time (large public university)

Summary

This part-time position provides an excellent opportunity to work with a skilled staff, in a strong team environment which values the creative use of technology to deliver service. The candidate selected for the position will serve both students and employers, develop internship opportunities for students, encourage increased participation of students in career development activities, and ensure employer usage of and satisfaction with the online job posting and recruiting system

Responsibilities

Essential services to employers

• Participate in efforts to cultivate and strengthen relationships and partnerships with employers with particular emphasis on creating internship opportunities;
• Assist employers with online recruiting system;
• Field questions from employers regarding their registration in online recruiting system, job listings, and information sessions.

Essential services to students

• Increase student usage of on-campus interviewing through online recruiting system and other means;
• Work with career center marketing team to increase student participation in internships and other experiential activities;
• Provide guidance with internship and job searches.

Subsidiary duties

• Counsel and advise students individually and in groups on career-related issues and topics as they relate to internships;
• Lead workshops and give presentations on career related topics to classes and student groups/organizations (class size up to 250 students);
• Guide students in the development of resumes, letters, and other related documents;
• Participate in various team projects at the university career center.

Technology

• Use of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel;
• Use of career-related technology and electronic databases.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in counseling, student personnel, or related discipline;
• Excellent counseling, communication (oral and written), and presentation skills;
• Comfortable working with technology based services;
• Proven ability to work independently while functioning as a team member;
• Strong abilities in time management, event organization, and managing multiple projects and details;
• Familiarity and skill with using online recruiting programs a plus.

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Career Development Specialist (large public college)

Description/Goals

The Career Development Specialist is responsible for coordinating and supervising career planning programs for undecided students and providing counseling services on an individual and group basis, using aptitude, personality, interest, and values inventories and computer guidance systems. This position will also present outreach programming and workshops to students in classroom settings, residence halls, and student organizations. The Career Development Specialist serves as the liaison between career services, academic advising, new student programs, and faculty advisers in the four colleges.

Responsibilities

• Counsel with undecided (re: career direction) and undeclared (re: major) students both individually and in groups. Administer assessment instruments and computerized career guidance systems as needed.
• Serve as a facilitator/resource for the Life/Work & Career Planning course and for the New Student Seminar classes related to career planning.
• Collaborate with the Office of New Student Programs and First-Year Experience to teach prospective and new students how to access advising and counseling-related programs and services.
• Meet with prospective and admitted students and their parents/family members during appropriate campus programs (Friday On Campus, Preview, Wisconsin Education Fair, etc.).
• Present outreach programs and workshops to students in classroom settings, residence halls, and student organizations.
• Train faculty advisors to recognize students' concerns related to career direction and choice of major, and to make and follow up on referrals.
• Interact with career services and testing staff to ensure that undecided and undeclared students are provided relevant aptitude, career exploration, and/or counseling tests and inventories.
• Assist with the training of paraprofessionals as career planning group leaders.
• Collect and analyze data pertinent to counseling, teaching, and retention of students participating in targeted career planning programs and services for the annual report.
• Co-develop and update electronic and paper (handouts/brochures) resources for undecided and undeclared students.
• Serve on the university-wide advising committee.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in counseling, higher education administration, or related field preferred; bachelor's degree with significant experience required.
• Ability to effectively counsel/advise college students in areas of career planning and academic development required.
• At least one year of experience in advising, counseling, or career services required; two to three years of experience working with undecided college students preferred.
• Understanding of career development theory required.
• Demonstrated ability to use assessment instruments and computerized career guidance systems.
• Excellent counseling, communication, presentation, and organizational skills required.

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Career Planning and Development Associate (small private college)

Responsibilities

• Conducting one-on-one vocational counseling sessions, including conducting vocational assessment using various instruments, practice interviewing, critiquing resumes, and developing job-search strategies.
• Presenting workshops on various career development topics including negotiating a job offer, business etiquette, using the Internet in a job search.
• Organizing and implementing job fairs, including the solicitation of business, marketing the event to students, and coordinating all of the logistical components.
• Teaching a career planning course for underclassmen.
• Assisting in all aspects of employer relations, including assisting employers in using the online career office, soliciting attendance at job fairs, soliciting guest speakers, and encouraging employers to use the full array of the services the office has to offer.
• Assisting in collection, tabulation, and analysis of outcomes information for students and other stakeholders.
• Other duties as assigned by the director.

Qualifications

Education
Master's degree in higher education or related field.

Experience
Three or more years of experience in career planning and placement or related field is required. Some computer experience is essential. Strong interpersonal communication skills.

Special Requirements
Works independently within sphere of outlined duties approved by associate director.

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Coordinator, Career Services (medium public university)

Description/Goals

The career services coordinator develops and implements career services activities within the university. Assists with overall planning and operational activities of the program. Coordinates job placement with employers, conducts in-progress assessment of student success in the work environment, and evaluates the total work experience, primarily through the use of surveys and follow-up interviews. Advises students on various aspects of entering the world of work, including resume writing and interviewing skills.

Responsibilities

• Provides assistance to students by serving as a liaison for specific academic departments concerning credit issues and program information, by providing career information about fulltime and internship opportunities and by assisting in all aspects of a professional credential preparation, including resume writing and interviewing skills improvement.
• Ensures the learning experience for students is effective by working closely with faculty advisers.
• Facilitates employer recruitment of students by identifying, locating, and referring eligible students for job placement.
• Ensures quality work experiences for students by assisting employers in the development of positions, which complement and enhance students' academic and professional goals.
• Promotes a positive work experience for students after job placement, through follow-up activities with students and employers.
• Promotes career services by making presentations to classes and student organizations and by assisting in coordinating special events, programs, receptions, etc.
• Coordinates major projects, which may include career fairs, teacher placement days, on-campus interviews, etc.
• Promotes the university and career services through participation in professional organizations.
• Contributes to the overall success of career services by performing all other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

Education
Bachelor's degree is required. Master's degree is preferred.

Experience
Strong preference given to individuals with previous experience in cooperative education, career services, or other student service areas at the college/university level. Work experience in a sales or marketing environment is desired.

Special Requirements
Position requires some physical lifting of boxes and reaching for supplies stored on high shelves.

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Senior Career Services Specialist (medium public university)

Description/Goals

This is a full-time, 12-month position providing technical support for the undergraduate Office of Career Services. The position interacts with students/alumni, employers, faculty, and staff via phone, e-mail, and web on a daily basis. Key responsibilities include providing technical education and assistance to students/alumni, employers, faculty, and staff in their use and application of the career services computer system (currently Symplicity); providing technical education and assistance regarding web-based features from the Office of Career Services; acting as system administrator for the enhancement and maintenance of the career services computer system; supervising two to four student data assistants; conducting daily computer system checks to ensure data quality/integrity and performance optimization; and expanding the use of the data management system to facilitate a source of "centralized" data for all users.

Principal Responsibilities and Duties

• Computer System Data Integrity
  • Track the many ways data is introduced to the database from the various sources with differing levels of oversight.
  • Develop, enhance, and/or maintain processes to ensure data is useful and current.
  • Maintain, edit, or eliminate data fields for all lists to ensure information is current, relevant and significant so system users are provided with high quality data and eliminate "spam" (useless, outdated data).
  • Analyze current requirements and processes for populating the database; set new, better policies and procedures for adding employers to the database to retain/regain quality employer information.
  • Approve all new employers and employer contacts.
  • Approve all new opportunities (i.e., jobs and scholarships) electronically; oversee targeting criteria for all jobs.
  • Track shifting graduation dates to better ensure students are targeted with the appropriate information.
  • Process non-returning students from the registrar in order to maintain accurate records.
  • Track active alumni users.
  • Identify each year's graduating class.
  • Update pick lists and help files to improve the ease of use for employer, student/alumni, and faculty users.
  • Oversee system security: user names/passwords.
  • Plan/calendar/complete all system maintenance tasks.


• Database Design
  • Create/change/delete fields in order to track needed data.
  • Create automated process, ex. tracking and auto-deactivating active alumni.
  • Create system "work-arounds" as needed.
  • Research currently under-used system capabilities; analyze the possibilities of expanding their use to enhance services possibilities for users, e.g., experiential learning section, professional network sections.
  • Routinely import all data mart files from banner bi-weekly.


• Liaison
  • Act as liaison with vendor tech support for questions, improvements, and enhancements to ONU's version of the data management system, e.g., creating and using "flags" to do data queries which would otherwise not be possible.
  • Report and follow up on system "bugs" through the system Issue Tracker; follow up on unresolved issues.
  • Act as liaison between office and university IT department.
  • Communicate with IT to effect changes in banner import file when new functions are needed.


• Education
  • Design formal and informal methods to help students/alumni, employers, staff, and faculty to optimize their use of the data management system.
  • Provide one-to-one support for students/alumni, employers, faculty, and staff.
  • Document processes.
  • Assist with designing training for groups of users; assist with group training.


• Reporting
  • Design, create, change (as needed) the many forms, lists, and reports needed/requested by staff, faculty, and administration.
  • Input documentation data.
  • Research methods to track occurrences and event instances; input data for documentation.
  • Run routine reports for students/alumni, employers, PCAs, staff and faculty, e.g., address labels
  • Create complex Excel files in order to manipulate and automate reported data fields, e.g., Placement Assessment Report.


• Website
  • Supervise, direct, or implement edits/redesign to office webpage.
  • Use live data in web templates to enhance content.
  • Ensure content compatibility with university content management system.
  • Work with professional staff to ensure a high-functioning web interface.


• IT support
• Provide computer/network support and routine maintenance on office computers as required.
• Repair minor PC/printer issues.
• Communicate with university IT department staff for system issues.
• Provide support for various software applications including, but not limited to: MS Outlook, Word, Excel, Access, Power Point, Publisher; various Adobe products.
• Track software and hardware inventories.
• Recommend software and hardware upgrades.
• Hire, train, schedule, and supervise two to four student data assistants.
• Develop training materials for data assistants:
  • Key information about employers and employer contacts received via hard copy into the database while maintaining high quality information.
  • Properly target incoming opportunities, received hard copy, to specific majors and classifications of students/alumni.
  • Daily, direct routine as well as special data tasks.
  • Act as project manager for on-going tasks, e.g., clean-up of employer records.
  • Prioritize assignments based on the needs.

Minimum Position Requirements:

Skills

• Analyze and solve problems.
• Make sound decisions and take appropriate actions.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Team skills.
• Project management skills.
• Ability to work in a data-intensive environment.

Education
High school diploma required; two-year degree in information technology (or equivalent) preferred.

Experience
High technical skill level in MS Windows and MS Office applications, data management experience.

Technical Requirements
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and data management required; Banner experience preferred.

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Social Sciences Career Adviser (large public university)

Responsibilities

Advising

• Works with clients to create a career development plan including components of career assessment, definition of career and internship goals, choosing a major, job-search, resume preparation, interviewing, and applying to graduate/professional school.
• Informs all clients of the steps in the career/life planning process and how various career center resources/programs can be used in that process.
• Conveys this information in a clear, helpful, understanding, and encouraging manner.
• Integrates specific examples to illustrate/suggest next steps and provides clients with reasonable action plans.
• Refers advisees to workshops, other advisers, and/or resources as appropriate.
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge and information about career fields in the advising area of responsibility.
• Individual advising (by appointment): Provides advice and tools to assist students in achieving their career goals. Normally individual advising sessions are arranged after students have attended appropriate workshops or a drop-in advising session.
• In-office drop-in advising: Twenty-minute advising sessions are provided to clients on a drop-in basis. Twenty or more hours per month are allotted to drop-in advising. Drop-in advising sessions are offered primarily to direct students to appropriate services provided by the office, review, and critique rough drafts of students resume and cover letter, and guide students on applying to graduate/professional school. Refers students to appropriate career development resources. Provides back-up or fills in for other advisers as necessary.

Workshops

• Plans, conducts, and evaluates workshops on career assessment, choosing a major, graduate school, resume, interviewing, and others as assigned.
• Designs and conducts three thematic/career opportunity workshops during winter and spring quarters.
• Plans and conducts workshops at assigned colleges. In cooperation with other advisers, conducts workshops at additional colleges.
• Develops visual aids, handouts, and presentation materials for workshops.
• Works with other advisers to develop and refine workshop content.
• Collects evaluations and sign up lists for each workshop.
• Mock interview sessions: At the request of students and on a need basis, conducts video-taped mock interview sessions with individual students.
• Fills in for other advisers as needed.

Employer Relations

Job Development

• Serves as both a resource and liaison to employers who are interested in the campus, its students, and majors. The goal is to increase university's visibility in the employment community and employer participation in career center programs.
• Communicates with employers via telephone, letter, on-site visits, and on-campus recruitment and career fairs.
• Conducts all direct contact in a courteous, professional manner.
• Demonstrates up-to-date knowledge of career center resources and appropriate university information related to majors, narrative evaluation/grading system, faculty, students, and alumni.
• On-site visits are made when appropriate to companies, organizations, and job fairs.
• Encourages employers to participate in career fairs, on-campus recruitment, and special programs, and to submit job announcements.
• Acquires up-to-date information about appropriate career fields and employment needs/trends and salaries.
• Communicates this information to students in advising sessions, workshops, and other presentations.
• Acquires career center library materials.

Recruitment

• Serves as a resource to employers who want to recruit on campus.
• Meets employer representative on the day of the recruitment, and answers his/her questions. As appropriate, identifies faculty member(s) to attend lunch.
• Attends employer/student receptions.
• Discusses student interviews with recruiting employer.
• Career fairs/interview days: Participates in all fairs as assigned.

Program Development and Other Responsibilities as Assigned

• Develops, coordinates, and/or fulfills objectives related to the implementation of new programs, workshops, and services.
• Participates as a team member in activities related to the goals and objectives of the unit. Provides evaluations, recommendations, and assistance toward the improvement of programs and services.
• As a member of the advising team, plans, coordinates, and participates in the annual Multicultural Connections Conference.

Liaison/Outreach

• Communicates quarterly with relevant deans, faculty, and staff of assigned academic departments, colleges, and any appropriate student groups and/or organizations to increase visibility and knowledge of career center programs.
• Plans and develops programs and workshops in cooperation with college and academic department staff.
• Makes presentations upon request.
• As assigned, works directly with specified student affairs units.

Qualifications

Experience

• Experience or ability to develop and conduct career/life. planning workshops, advising sessions, and student action plans.
• Experience advising diverse groups of students and alumni.
• Ability to relate to undergraduate students so they feel comfortable in seeking advice.
• Oral and written communication skills, including the ability to make effective group presentations, and to describe programs and provide information with clarity.
• Knowledge sufficient to use computers for word processing and Internet searches.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, organize, and implement programs.
• Ability to work with faculty, staff, and company representatives.
• Direct experience in career planning.
• Knowledge of university campuses.

Special Requirements
Ability to travel to colleges, conferences, job fairs, and other events.
Maintain appearance and conduct suitable for working in a professional environment.