Career Counselor job description.
A career counselor helps individuals identify career goals, develop job search skills, and navigate education or training pathways toward employment. The role includes conducting assessments, reviewing resumes, coaching clients on interview skills, and connecting them with job opportunities or educational programs. Career counselors work in schools, universities, workforce development agencies, and private practice, supporting clients at various career stages from students to career changers.
The Career Counselor job description · $29
The full editable .docx — role summary, 9 worked responsibilities, qualifications, and skills, formatted for your letterhead. Delivered to your inbox within 24 hours — usually instantly.
Role: Career Counselor Reports to: Director of Career Services or HR Director
A career counselor helps individuals identify career goals, develop job search skills, and navigate education or training pathways toward employment. The role includes conducting assessments, reviewing resumes, coaching clients on interview skills, and connecting them with job opportunities or educational programs. Career counselors work in schools, universities, workforce development agencies, and private practice, supporting clients at various career stages from students to career changers.
- Meet with clients to assess skills, interests, and career goals
- Administer and interpret career assessments and aptitude tests
- Review and provide feedback on resumes, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles
What's inside the document.
One-paragraph plain-English explanation of the role's outcome and scope.
9 responsibilities phrased the way the work is actually done.
5 qualifications a candidate must have to perform on day 30.
3 qualifications that would make a candidate excellent in year two.
6 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.
Director of Career Services or HR Director
A complete document set.
- Word document (.docx) — fully editable
- PDF — signature-ready
- Google Docs — one-click copy to your Drive
- 12 months of updates to this document
- Commercial-use licence for internal and client work
The work, not the title.
- Meet with clients to assess skills, interests, and career goals
- Administer and interpret career assessments and aptitude tests
- Review and provide feedback on resumes, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles
- Coach clients on interview preparation, networking, and job search strategy
- Research and share information on educational programs, certifications, and career paths
- Connect clients with job openings, internships, or training opportunities
- Maintain accurate case notes and track client progress toward goals
- Develop and deliver workshops on job search or career development topics
- Stay current on labor market trends and in-demand skills
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- Bachelor's degree in counseling, psychology, human resources, or related field
- Experience providing career guidance, coaching, or counseling services
- Knowledge of resume writing, interview coaching, and job search strategies
- Strong interpersonal and active listening skills
- Familiarity with labor market data and career assessment tools
- Master's degree in counseling or a related field
- Certification such as Certified Career Counselor or Global Career Development Facilitator
- Experience working with a specific population (students, veterans, career changers)
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the Career Counselor job description in Word or your one-click Google Docs copy.
- 02Replace placeholders for company name, reporting line, and location with your specifics.
- 03Tighten the summary to one paragraph that names the team's outcome, not just the role.
- 04Edit the responsibilities to match the actual scope of the seat — aim for 6 to 8 items, not 12.
- 05Separate required qualifications from preferred. Required is what a candidate must have to do the work on day 30; preferred is what would make them excellent in year two.
- 06Add salary range guidance using BLS, Payscale, or your own band data — do not copy generic figures.
- 07Have the hiring manager and one peer read it. Cut anything that wouldn't survive a candidate question.
- 08Publish to your ATS, intranet, and external careers page.
The right document at the right moment.
Use this Career Counselor job description any time you are opening or reopening a seat at this level. The mid band sets the calibration — copy the document, tighten it to your specific scope, and circulate to the hiring panel before the first interview.
The reporting line (Director of Career Services or HR Director) and skills list are starting points. Override either if your org structure or stack differs from the norm — the template is a draft, not a contract.
Honest answers before you download.
- What qualifications are typical for a career counselor?
- Most employers look for a bachelor's degree in counseling, psychology, or a related field, with school and university settings often preferring a master's degree or counseling certification.
- Where do career counselors typically work?
- Common employers include high schools, colleges and universities, workforce development agencies, staffing firms, and private career coaching practices.
Other documents in this neighbourhood.
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An Academic Advisor guides students through course selection, degree planning, and academic policy questions to help them stay on track toward graduation.
Guidance Counselor
A Guidance Counselor supports students' academic, social, and emotional development within a school setting.
HR Consultant
An HR Consultant advises organizations on human resources strategy, policy, and compliance, often working across multiple clients or business units.
This Career Counselor job description is a professionally drafted starting point for your hiring process and is not legal advice. Hiring practice varies by jurisdiction (e.g. pay-transparency laws differ across US states and AU jurisdictions). Adapt this document for your specific location and have employment counsel review any clauses you add before publishing. Salary varies by region, employer type, and experience. Reference BLS or current industry surveys for ranges. Full disclaimer.