Career Advisor (Grant-Funded)

Chesapeake College•Wye Mills, MD

About The Position

The Career Advisor mentors and advises students on academic and career matters, encourages career development and progress toward academic goals, and helps students develop meaningful educational plans. The role helps students clarify educational, career, and life goals; find relevant information and services; understand institutional, general education, and major requirements; and monitor academic progress, course choices, and schedules in relation to their personal and career goals. The Career Advisor evaluates student diagnostic exams related to learning styles, career goals, and academic stressors, and analyzes Colleague student information system data to understand challenges faced by student populations. The position maintains current knowledge of academic and advising policies and services, manages advising records through Colleague and AdvisorTrac, and collaborates with administrators, Student Success colleagues, faculty, and campus groups to develop practices that support student success. The role provides case management for a diverse student population and follows up on career assessment results, conducting further exploration and helping students align career objectives with academic programs. The position provides online and in-person academic and career advising to new and returning students, supports registration and class scheduling, interprets placement and Accuplacer results, and connects students with academic, tutoring, and other resources. It also contributes to career education, advisor training, policy review, and workforce-aligned pathway development.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Counseling, Career Development, Higher Education, Human Resources, Business, Education, or a related field.
At least 2 years of professional work experience in a fast-paced setting supporting adult learners.
Ability to work with a diverse population.
Ability to manage time and set priorities effectively.
Ability to work effectively in both in-office and virtual settings.
Ability to be a responsive and responsible team member.
Professional written and oral communication skills.
Ability to manage high volumes of student information sensitively and efficiently.
Technology proficiency, including use of the internet and social media, and willingness to learn new computer applications and programs.
Leadership skills.
Ability to help high-risk students develop personal and academic plans that support academic success.
Regular professional development in academic and career advising and retention, including participation in affinity groups and seminars or conferences as needed.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree.
Fluency in Spanish.
Academic advising and career experience at the community college level or in the private sector.

Responsibilities

Mentor and advise students on academic, career, and life goals and help them develop educational plans.
Provide individualized career advising, including identifying goals, transferable skills, strengths, interests, and values.
Help students understand industry requirements, credentials, certifications, educational pathways, and workforce-aligned career options.
Provide online and in-person academic advising and schedule advising sessions for new and returning students.
Collaborate with students to create academic plans using the student planning module.
Verify transcripts from other institutions and programs, schedule students for appropriate classes, and explain placement scores, policies, and procedures.
Refer students for Accuplacer testing, interpret Accuplacer scores, and schedule classes based on score interpretation.
Support students during registration periods and direct them to online registration and planning resources.
Explain in-state ARTSYS and out-of-state transfer opportunities.
Refer students to internal and external academic resources, including academic and tutoring support for students on academic probation.
Follow up with students on career assessment results after success-coach meetings and conduct additional career exploration as needed.
Evaluate diagnostic exams related to learning styles, career goals, and academic stressors, and analyze Colleague data to understand student challenges.
Create, maintain, and monitor advising records and files in Colleague and AdvisorTrac.
Run AdvisorTrac reports to assess services and revise the system as needed.
Recommend adaptations to advising processes and participate in reviewing policies that affect advising; enforce college advising policies.
Collaborate with administrators, Student Success colleagues, faculty, and campus groups to develop initiatives and practices that support student and academic success.
Work in a case-management capacity with a diverse student population and develop support strategies for adult learners, veterans, displaced workers, and students changing academic or career pathways.
Conduct or participate in career education workshops and seminars.
Assist with faculty and staff advisor training and compilation of the Academic Evaluation Report (AER).
Communicate with instructors and staff.