Career Services Advisor

Position Summary

The Career Services Advisor supports students and graduates in achieving their career goals through individualized career coaching, employment preparation, and job placement assistance. This position serves as a key liaison between the institution, its students, alumni, and employers by developing meaningful employer partnerships, cultivating job opportunities, and creating pathways that connect graduates with employment in their chosen fields.

The Career Services Advisor is responsible for providing career development services, facilitating employment readiness training, maintaining graduate placement activities, and actively engaging employers to expand hiring opportunities and strengthen workforce partnerships that benefit students and graduates.

Key Responsibilities

I. Career Coaching and Student Success

• Provide individualized career advising and coaching to students and graduates, including career exploration, employment planning, and goal setting.
• Assist students with résumé development, cover letters, professional portfolios, LinkedIn profiles, and other career marketing materials.
• Prepare students for interviews through coaching sessions, mock interviews, and feedback.
• Educate students on effective job search strategies, networking techniques, and professional communication.
• Monitor student progress throughout the employment search process and provide ongoing support and follow-up.
• Maintain awareness of labor market trends, hiring practices, and industry developments to provide relevant career guidance.

II. Job Placement and Employment Support

• Identify, develop, and distribute employment opportunities that align with student and graduate career objectives.
• Follow up with students regarding job leads, interviews, and employment outcomes.
• Maintain an active job lead generation process to ensure a consistent pipeline of employment opportunities.
• Communicate employment opportunities and career-related information to students and graduates in a timely manner.
• Respond to employer inquiries regarding candidate referrals, hiring needs, and recruiting opportunities.
• Track and document placement activities, employment outcomes, and student engagement efforts.

III. Employer Relations and Workforce Partnerships

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with local, regional, and national employers to support student and graduate employment opportunities.
• Conduct regular outreach to employers to identify workforce needs, establish recruiting partnerships, and promote the institution's graduates.
• Create and maintain a network of employer contacts that can serve as a source of internships, externships, apprenticeships, and employment opportunities.
• Collaborate with employers to develop hiring pipelines and talent recruitment strategies that align with academic programs.
• Facilitate employer participation in career fairs, classroom presentations, information sessions, advisory committees, and on-campus recruiting activities.
• Represent the institution at industry, workforce development, chamber of commerce, and community networking events to strengthen employer engagement and expand partnership opportunities.
• Maintain employer relationship records and track partnership activities, hiring outcomes, and employer satisfaction.

IV. Career Development Programming

• Participate in new student orientation and present career services resources and expectations.
• Facilitate career readiness instruction through the institution's career development curriculum and workshops.
• Deliver workshops and training sessions on topics including:
  • Résumé and cover letter development
  • Interview preparation
  • Professional communication
  • Networking strategies
  • LinkedIn and online professional branding
  • Job search techniques
  • Workplace professionalism and career advancement
• Collaborate with academic departments to support student career readiness initiatives.

V. Data Management, Reporting, and Compliance

• Maintain accurate records of employer contacts, job leads, student engagement activities, and graduate employment outcomes.
• Verify and document graduate employment in accordance with institutional policies and accreditation requirements.
• Ensure accurate and timely entry of career services and placement data into institutional systems.
• Prepare reports regarding placement rates, employer engagement activities, partnership development, and employment trends.
• Assist with graduate and employer surveys to assess program effectiveness and employment outcomes.
• Support accreditation, regulatory, and institutional reporting requirements related to career services and graduate employment.
• Comply with all institutional policies, accreditation standards, state regulations, and applicable federal requirements.
• Maintain confidentiality of student records and employment-related information.
• Demonstrate professionalism, integrity, and a student-centered approach in all interactions.
• Participate in departmental meetings, training, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

Required

• Associate degree from an accredited institution.
• Minimum of four years of experience in customer service, sales, recruiting, career services, workforce development, student services, employer relations, or a related field.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Experience working with diverse populations and providing individualized support.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace and other office productivity software.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree.
• Experience in higher education, career services, workforce development, recruiting, staffing, admissions, or employment placement.
• Experience developing employer partnerships and business relationships.
• Familiarity with labor market information, employment trends, and workforce development practices.
• Experience with CRM, student information systems, or career services management platforms.

Work Schedule

• Full-Time (40 hours per week)
• Monday–Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
• On-Site

Benefits

Following a successful introductory period, SCIT offers the following benefits:

• Paid Sick Leave: 40 hours per calendar year.
• Paid Vacation: 40 hours in the first year; 80 hours annually from the second year onward, accrued each term.
• Paid Holidays: 8 paid holidays per calendar year.
• Health Insurance: PPO and HMO plan options with a portion of monthly premiums ($400/month) covered by SCIT.
• 401(k): Eligible to participate after one year of employment and 1,000 hours of service.