Employment Counselor

State of Utah Office of the Governor • Manti, UT

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Workforce Development Division (WDD) at the Department of Workforce Services (DWS) is looking for skilled and motivated individuals to fill an Employment Counselor I position. Employment Counselors will utilize a wide variety of programs and services to assist individuals, families and youth. We work with people one on one or in groups to set career and educational goals and identify and resolve barriers that stand in the way of meeting those goals. Formal training will be provided to assist you in conducting formal assessments and work-ready evaluations according to department standards, and to provide support services and resources from the Department. Additional instruction will be provided in learning of community partner resources and referrals to those resources, in order to help people address barriers that prevent them from succeeding. Training will include how to access and interpret labor market information and employer needs. Monitoring of customer progress and documentation will be done in the Department online case management software program. This position is assigned to the DWS Employment Center located in Manti, Utah. This position may be filled as an Employment Counselor II for an internal applicant, depending on qualifications.

Requirements

• Empathy and compassion for others, and possesses a desire to assist customers who are in difficult situations.
• The ability to present information clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Exceptional customer service skills and ability to assist people in a manner which shows sensitivity, tact and professionalism, without prejudice or bias.
• Possesses interpersonal skills including active listening, ability to build trusting relationships, show mutual respect and mindfulness of others.
• Capable of working in an environment between balancing program policies and compassion.
• Provide family focused career counseling and proactively engage and motivate customers.
• Conduct interviews and assessments utilizing motivational interviewing techniques, in order to collect information and establish a supportive relationship.
• Possess skills needed in order to problem solve and identify creative solutions that lead to successful outcomes.
• Implement best practices for mentoring and coaching customers.
• Understanding in how to interpret and apply programmatic policy and procedures appropriately.
• Maintain and manage sensitive and confidential information in a professional and discrete manner.
• Defuse and resolve complaints/conflicts with angry customers in crisis.

Nice To Haves

• Fluent in languages other than English.

Responsibilities

• Deliver a broad range of services to assist case managed customers, job seekers, the general public and their families to resolve barriers and increase skills in order to obtain and maintain employment.
• Assess needs and educate customers about DWS programs, policies, and services and provide assistance in the application for temporary assistance programs (Food Stamps, Financial, Medicaid, Child Care and Unemployment Insurance).
• Assist customers with resume creation, networking, mock interviewing and job searching with technology.
• Provide career and educational counseling to empower customers to become more self-sufficient and confident.
• Assess customers and their families to identify barriers to self-sufficiency, employment, training and income goals.
• Utilize motivational interviewing techniques to create a supportive environment.
• Develop employment plans with activities leading to achieving goals and/or work readiness, as well as monitoring and evaluating employment plans activities and progress.
• Utilize labor market information, local resources, referral to community partners and employers to assist customers in meeting their goals.
• Conduct home visits when needed to establish relationships, increase rapport, problem solve, engage or re-engage the customer.
• Ensure program compliance and appropriate use of public resources.
• Understand and implement program specific policies, procedures, case management techniques, career counseling, available Division resources, as well as community partner resources.
• Provide employment retention support and resources.

Benefits

• Job Stability: Enjoy the security and reliability of employment within a well-established organization.
• Career Growth: Develop valuable skills and gain opportunities for leadership within a large organization.
• Meaningful Work: Contribute to an important service that benefits the community and supports organizational goals.
• Supportive Work Environment: Be part of a team that values cooperation, strong work ethics, and mutual support.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed