Career Counselor

Minimum Education/Training:

Minimum Experience:

Preferred Education/Training, Experience, Skills:

DEFINITION:

The Career Counselor supports students in career exploration and decision-making by providing guidance on academic program requirements, admissions, and related information, helping students with program selection and career preparation. This role also involves developing and leading career exploration workshops, collaborating with faculty to share resources, and creating marketing plans to promote career services and events. Additionally, the Career Counselor stays informed on local employment trends, updates career resources, and assists the campus community by training advisors and other support staff, supporting student orientations, and organizing job fairs to facilitate student career placement.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED:

• Receives direct supervision from the Director, Career Services. 

 

Duties & Responsibilities (Essential Functions)

 

ESSENTIAL AND OTHER IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS STATEMENTS:

Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Essential Functions:

• Provide career counseling for students who are undecided on their programs of study and assist them in setting academic and career goals.
• Administer career assessments and provide career exploration information to help students make career choices and prepare for their specific career.
• Regularly review and evaluate career and skill assessments and other career exploration tools to develop the most useful and comprehensive approach to assisting students in career decision making.
• Provide information and assistance to continuing and prospective students regarding the policies and procedures of the college, including admissions, academic and graduation requirements; assist students in interpreting college policies and procedures.
• Provide students with general course requirements; refer students to appropriate staff for specific program information.
• Assist students in college enrollment to ensure compatibility with career goals.
• Refer students to resource materials to obtain information about colleges that are consistent with career goals.
• Develop, plan, execute and evaluate career exploration activities and workshops, and programs for students.
• Present on career services topics to classes or student groups.
• Build partnerships with faculty through presentations and resource sharing.
• Work with the Director, Career Services to develop and implement marketing plans and materials including the use of social media to promote Career Services events, programs, and services.  Market events through direct outreach to students and faculty, as well as other collaborating departments and offices.
• Maintain current knowledge of employment trends and business expansions in local industries.
• Work with the Director, Career Services to revise and update resources for students including brochures, website, and tutorials.
• Provide career services training and resources to the appropriate college staff, so career counseling and development is integrated into academic advising sessions; assist with support coverage, as needed, by greeting and checking-in students, and assist with new student orientation, registration and other special events.
• Assist with implementation of CFCC’s annual job fair for placement of students in careers/employment.

Other Important Functions:

• Participate in the outreach activities of the college by making presentations to the community including high schools.
• Assist with student registration as assigned.
• Perform other related duties and responsibilities as assigned

 

Qualifications

 

QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge of:

• Basic operations, services and activities of career services and job placement.
• Recent developments, current literature and sources of information related to career decision making.
• Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes and safety regulations.
• College policies and procedures regarding admission standards and educational program requirements.
• Transfer requirements and procedures of regional four-year educational institutions.
• Principles and procedures of educational and career advising.
• Business letter writing and basic report preparation.
• Principles and procedures of record keeping.
• Modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment.
• English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation.

Ability To:

• Present to student and faculty groups.
• Actively engage in team building and collaboration within the Academic Advising Center and throughout the college.
• Advise students regarding program selection and course work needed.
• Establish a rapport with students and create an atmosphere conducive to counseling.
• Interpret and apply the policies and procedures of the college.
• Refer students to appropriate college staff for additional counseling, program advising, testing and related matters.
• Evaluate test scores and previous education and training.

• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work
• Interpret and apply CFCC goals, objectives, policies, procedures, rules, and regulations

• Maintain effective audio-visual discrimination and perception needed for:
  1. Making observations
  2. Reading and writing
  3. Communicating with others
  4. Operating assigned equipment
  5. Handling varied tasks simultaneously
• Maintain physical condition appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities, which may include the following:
  1. Standing or sitting for extended periods of time
  2. Operating assigned equipment
  3. Handling varied tasks simultaneously 
  4. Bending, stooping, climbing, or lifting up to 50 pounds
• Maintain mental capacity, which allow the capability of:
  1. Making sound decisions
  2. Responding to questions
  3. Demonstrating intellectual capabilities

• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING GUIDELINES:

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Minimum Education/Training:

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university

Minimum Experience:

• Two years of responsible student counseling or advising experience in an educational setting.

Preferred Education/Training, Experience, Skills:

• Master’s Degree with major course work in guidance, counseling, or adult education and two years’ experience in career counseling or instruction to students related to career planning, ideally in a college or university setting.

 

Supplemental Information

 

Special Instructions to Applicants:

• This position REQUIRES UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS AND/OR TRAINING CERTIFICATIONS be submitted in addition to the application. Please have these documents ready to upload when applying.

• Candidates are required to submit OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS for all degrees obtained prior to their first day of work or hire date. If highest level of education is High School diploma or equivalent, proof of completion is required.

• Candidates who have obtained their education outside of the US and its territories must have their academic degree(s) validated, at their own expense, by an outside credential evaluation service as equivalent to the Baccalaureate or Master’s degree conferred by a regionally accredited college or university in the United States.  

• To claim veterans’ preference, all eligible persons shall submit a DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, to Human Resources during the application process. Human Resources will verify eligibility.

 

STATEMENT OF NON-DISCRIMINATION

Cape Fear Community College, its faculty and staff, and the Board of Trustees are fully committed to the principles and practice of equal employment and educational opportunities. The College does not discriminate against applicants, students, or employees in any programs and activities provided on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and sexual orientation), gender (including gender identity and status as a transgender or transsexual individual), disability, religion, age, genetic information, veteran status or any other protected status as required by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and any other applicable statutes and CFCC policies.