Career Development Specialist (Undecided Students) - Career Services Center

The Career Services Center at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for a Career Development Specialist.

About the Opportunity

The Career Development Specialist (CDS) will perform a variety of counseling, instructing, programming, and administrative functions within the Career Services Center. The CDS 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 instruct and present outreach programming and workshops to students in classroom settings, residence halls, and student organizations.

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:

• 37.5-hour work week
  
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
  
• 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year or more based on years of service (employee leave)
  
• 18 sick days per year (for when you're ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family's, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
  
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
  
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ's.
  
• Wellness programs

What You'll Do

Career Development Counseling

• Counsel with undecided (re: career direction) and undeclared (re: major) students individually and in group settings. Administer assessment instruments and computerized career guidance systems (currently FOCUS2, What Can I Do with This Major?, and ONET)
• Counsel students on career decision-making, experiential learning opportunities, full-time professional job search strategies, and career goals.
• Assist students in developing professional skills and establishing lifelong career management strategies.
• Meet with students through individual appointments, group settings, informational booths, and career fairs.
• Advise students on current developments and trends in the job market, as well as career opportunities.
• Review resumes, cover letters, and other professional documents (in person and electronically) and provide tailored feedback.
• Conduct mock interviews and provide individualized feedback.
• Under the supervision of the director, coordinate the hiring and training of career counseling graduate student workers or Graduate Assistants to assist with counseling-related activities, including but not limited to student appointments, student grading, classroom instruction, and group presentations.

Communication and Outreach

• Collaborate with the Center for Learning, Advising and Student Success (CLASS) and First-Year Experience to teach prospective and new students how to access advising and counseling-related programs and services.
• Train faculty advisors to recognize students' concerns related to career direction and choice of major, and to make and follow up on referrals.
• Assist with the training of paraprofessionals as career planning group leaders.
• Collaborate with The Purpose Center to connect student strengths with Career Services Center programming to help make their purpose a reality.
• Interact with college career centers and testing staff to ensure that undecided and undeclared students are provided relevant aptitude, career exploration, and/or counseling tests and inventories.
• Deliver presentations within the University community on various career-related topics tailored to the specific requests of the audience.
• Participate in conversations with prospective students and parents to demonstrate the ROI of various undergraduate majors.
• Co-develop and update electronic and paper (handouts/brochures) resources for undecided and undeclared students.
• Assist with the planning and execution of Career Services Center-sponsored career fairs, events, and activities on and off-campus.
• Interact with employers that contact or visit the Career Services Center.
• Meet with prospective and admitted students and their parents/family members during appropriate campus programs (New Student Orientation and Decide WVU).
• Present outreach programs and workshops to students in classroom settings, residence halls, and student organizations.
• Benchmark with peer institutions to obtain new and effective ways to deliver career and professional development advice.
• Research/read counseling and career-related material to keep up with changing employment market conditions.
• Develop and maintain close working relationships with faculty and other administrators for the purpose of collaborative efforts for student success.
• Maintain a thorough knowledge of academic program requirements, academic policy information, and university policies, processes, and mandates. Recommend changes to university policies, procedures, processes, and mandates to encourage student success, especially for assigned student population areas.
• Collect and analyze data pertinent to counseling, teaching, and retention of students participating in targeted career planning programs and services for annual reporting.
• Serve on the university-wide advising committee.

Instructing Career Development Courses for Academic Credit

• Instruct a predetermined number of courses per semester: ORIN151: Choosing a Major and Career Path, ORIN152: Learning Career Skills, ORIN251 Preparing for Success and ORIN252 Professional Development.
• Design new and enhance existing curricula for career and professional development courses for both major/industry-specific and general audiences in conjunction with the Director of Career Services.
• Assist in the creation and evaluation of instructional materials for career courses.
• Consult industry representatives, including campus recruiting contacts, to ensure the accuracy and efficacy of the content, particularly as it pertains to a targeted discipline or industry.
• Complete all duties and responsibilities as well as comply with all university rules and regulations associated with course instruction.

• Bachelor's degree with significant experience required.
• A minimum of two (2) years of experience in career counseling, college advising, human resources, training and development, and teaching and/or public speaking.
• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered.
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Ability to effectively counsel/advise college students in areas of career planning and academic development required.
• Excellent counseling, communication, presentation, and organizational skills required.
• Knowledge of NACE's Career Readiness Competencies.
• Understanding of career development theory required.
• Demonstrated ability to use assessment instruments and computerized career guidance systems.
• The ability to foster a positive, congenial, and productive work environment.
• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines, prioritize tasks, manage multiple projects, and work independently without supervision.
• Strong ability to apply confidentiality and professionalism concerning sensitive student information when administering and interpreting career assessments.
• Ability to manage difficult conversations and to work in an innovative, collaborative, and sometimes ambiguous environment.
• Attention to accuracy and detail with precision, patience, and a strong grasp of grammar, punctuation, and familiarity with style guides.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in counseling, psychology, communications, higher education administration, or related field.

West Virginia University is a place of purpose and community. We take pride in our profound impact on the state of West Virginia and are committed to the personal and professional growth of our employees.

From the groundbreaking R1 research at our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs at WVU Potomac State in Keyser, and the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley, the contributions of WVU employees resonate across the state, touching lives and shaping futures.

At WVU, you will discover a supportive community that champions work-life balance and fosters a collaborative atmosphere. Our core values - service, curiosity, respect, accountability and appreciation - unite us as Mountaineers.

Join us at West Virginia University, where your work will make a lasting impact. To learn more about WVU, visit wvu.edu.

West Virginia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We invite all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or Veteran status.