What are the responsibilities and job description for the Career Development Specialist position at Western Michigan University?
Join a dedicated team of professionals working to support students to secure jobs. The Career Development Specialist will focus on providing one-on-one career coaching, presenting job search and career focused workshops, ensuring career resources are up to date, and assisting the greater Career and Student Employment Services to support regular events.
Major Duties:
- Advises and educates students and recent alumni about career assessment, exploration, decision making, negotiation, sensitive issues, professional development and job search strategies. Develops relationships with students and alumni who meet with and continue working with them through the completion of their primary goal (securing a job, internship, or graduate school admittance).
- Plans, develops and implements programs, workshops, and events to guide students to develop professional readiness, implement a career development plan, and perform a job search.
- Administers and interprets career-related assessments, including those to identify talents and strengths. Coaches individual students based on assessment outcomes.
- Collaborates with faculty to assure confluence of professional development efforts with curricula of the college.
- May engage with wellness efforts, including coaching students in healthy behaviors.
- Hires, trains, evaluates and supervises staff and student employees.
Minimum Qualifications
- Master’s degree in related field from an accredited institution.
- Two years’ relevant experience.
- Strong interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills.
- Knowledge of employment practices, relevant labor markets and career development models.
- Ability to work irregular shifts and extended hours, including weekends and holidays.
- Ability to travel during concentrated recruitment periods.
About Career and Student Employment Services
Mission: Support students to sec
ure jobs.Vision: All WMU graduates actively engaged in a position they are satisfied with, related to their chosen career field, within three months of their graduation.
Themes – How we accomplish our mission and work towards our vision.
- Experience-Driven Learning – Equip students with diverse, resume-worthy experiences that build essential skills and career readiness.
- Career Coaching – Guide students in articulating their experiences and strengths, and support them through the job search.
- Community Connections – Cultivate robust partnerships with employers, community organizations, and alumni to create a network of opportunities for students.
Values
- Equity – We provide each student, staff member, and partner with what they need to be successful, honoring their unique experiences, needs, and bac kgrounds.Relat
- ionships – We cultivate genuine, respectful, and collaborative relationships with students, colleagues, and partners, fostering a community of trust and shared purpose. Stren
- gths – We celebrate and leverage the unique talents, experiences, and perspectives that each person brings.Futur
- e Focused – We inspire students to achieve their long-term aspirations while embracing forward-thinking approaches, constantly evolving our services to stay at the forefront of career services.Integ
- rity – We act with honesty, transparency, and accountability to uphold our commitments.Excel
- lence - We relentlessly pursue the highest standards in all that we do, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
