Career Development Specialist at Newberry College in Newberry, SC

Job description

The Career Development Specialist provides individualized career coaching, proactive outreach, and career readiness programming to assigned student populations. The Specialist helps students connect their interests, strengths, academic experiences, and goals with meaningful career pathways and supports their preparation for internships, employment, graduate education, and other post-graduate opportunities. Working collaboratively with faculty, staff, employers, and campus partners, the Specialist expands student participation in career development activities and strengthens the integration of career readiness across the student experience. The Specialist plans and carries out these responsibilities in coordination with the Director of the Muller Center for Careers & Purpose, ensuring that activities remain aligned with Center priorities, grant objectives, established program goals, and institutional needs. JOB FUNCTIONS: Student Coaching and Career Preparation Provide individualized career coaching and proactive outreach to assigned student populations, supporting students at different stages of career exploration, preparation, and transition. Guide students through career exploration and planning, including the use and interpretation of career assessments, identification of interests, strengths, values, transferable skills, career options, and practical next steps. Assist students with career preparation materials and professional skills, including resumes, cover letters, professional profiles, networking, interviewing, workplace communication, and professional etiquette. Support internship, employment, and graduate education searches, helping students identify opportunities, use career technology and search resources, prepare competitive applications, and follow through on action plans. Support student access to industry certifications and other workforce credentials, including awareness-building, preparation referrals, and coordination with relevant academic and campus partners. Programming, Outreach, and Faculty Engagement Develop and facilitate career readiness workshops, classroom presentations, and small-group programs that respond to student and faculty needs and advance workforce preparation goals. Plan and implement targeted outreach strategies to increase awareness, participation, and follow-through among assigned student populations. Outreach may include email, text communication, print materials, social media content, classroom outreach, and direct student contact. Build collaborative relationships with faculty and academic programs, serving as a career development resource and identifying opportunities to integrate career readiness into courses, assignments, and co-curricular experiences. Represent The Muller Center for Careers & Purpose at campus programs and events, including orientation, recruitment activities, career fairs, student engagement initiatives, and other programs supporting student success and career readiness. Collaboration and Student Connections Collaborate with the Program Manager for Career Readiness and other Muller Center staff to connect students with employer engagement, work-based learning, mentoring, networking, career fairs, and career placement activities. Coordinate with faculty, staff, employers, and campus partners to connect students with appropriate resources, programs, and opportunities. Participate in institutional committees and working groups that advance career readiness, student success, and the goals of the grant-funded initiative. Technology, Assessment, and Professional Practice Maintain accurate and timely records of student engagement and services, track participation and outcomes, and contribute data and narrative updates for grant reporting, program assessment, and continuous improvement. Use career development technology and assessment tools effectively, helping students engage with available platforms and using participation data to inform outreach and programming.