Career Advisor

American University; Mukilteo (WA); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

American University in Washington, DC seeks a Career Advisor to provide industry-informed career advising to undergraduates, graduates, and alumni across assigned clusters, combining advising with current labor market insights.

The role develops and delivers career education programming—workshops, panels, orientations, and online resources—and collaborates with Employer Relations to expand internships and post‑graduate opportunities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent.
• 3–5 years of relevant experience.
• Two or more years of progressively responsible experience in a professional or advising role.

Responsibilities

• Provide individualized career advising to undergraduate students, graduate students, and recent alumni interested in assigned career industry clusters.
• Coach students through all stages of career development, including exploration, application strategy, interviewing, networking, and offer negotiation.
• Collaborate with Employer Relations staff to build industry knowledge and connect students with employers and opportunities.
• Support team planning and contribute to Career Center initiatives such as events, panels, and mentoring programs.

Skills

Career advising

Student coaching

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

American University is a student-centered research institution located in Washington, DC, with highly-ranked schools and colleges, internationally-renowned faculty, and a reputation for creating meaningful change in the world. Learn more about American University

Department:

Career Advising 1

Time Type:

Full time

Job Type:

Regular

FLSA Status:

Exempt

Work Modality:

Hybrid 01 (On Campus 3-4 Days/Week)

Union:

SEIU Local 500 - Provost & Enrollment Division

This position is part of a collective bargaining unit represented by SEIU Local 500 - Provost & Enrollment Division. That means the terms and conditions of your employment are governed by university policy (including the Staff Personnel Policies Manual) and any collective bargaining agreement entered into between American University and SEIU Local 500 - Provost & Enrollment Division.

Job Description:

Summary:

The Career Advisor provides comprehensive, industry‑informed career advising to undergraduate students, graduate students, and recent alumni from diverse backgrounds and identities. Each Career Advisor supports students interested in specific career industry clusters rather than academic schools, combining a strong foundation in career advising with current knowledge of labor market trends and employer expectations within assigned industries.

The Career Advisor develops and delivers high‑quality career education programming, including workshops, panels, orientations, and online resources, and collaborates closely with Career Center colleagues particularly Employer Relations staff to build industry‑specific employer intelligence, alumni connections, and experiential and post‑graduate opportunities for students. The Career Advisor works collaboratively with other Assistant Directors, career advisors, employer relations staff, and alumni career staff. This position reports to the Director, Experiential Education and Career Advising.

Essential Functions:

1. Career Advising & Student Coaching

   Provide individualized career advising to undergraduate students, graduate students, and recent alumni interested in assigned career industry clusters.

   Coach students through all stages of career development, including exploration, application strategy, interviewing, networking, and offer negotiation.

   Guide students in connecting academic learning, co‑curricular involvement, and experiential learning to industry‑specific career pathways.

   Apply broad career advising frameworks alongside current market knowledge relevant to assigned industries.

   Deliver advising appointments through multiple modalities, including in‑person and virtual formats.

2. Career Education, Programming & Outreach

   Collaborate with Career Center colleagues to design and deliver career education resources and programming informed by student feedback, employer insights, and employment trends.

   Create and present live and virtual workshops, panels, and orientations that support career readiness and experiential learning for audiences ranging from incoming students to alumni.

   Integrate nationally recognized career competencies into advising, programming, and resources.

   Partner with faculty, academic administrators, and student organizations to reach students across disciplines and promote engagement with career resources.

3. Industry & Employer Engagement Collaboration

   Team closely with Employer Relations staff to build and maintain knowledge of employers, hiring practices, and trends within assigned industry clusters.

   Share industry insights, employer intelligence, and potential job or internship leads with Career Center colleagues.

   Incorporate employer and industry information into advising conversations, programming, and student resources.

4. Team Collaboration & Program Support

   Participate in regular team meetings focused on planning, assessment, and continuous improvement.

   Collaborate with colleagues to support Career Center initiatives such as career industry events, employer panels, alumni mentoring programs, networking events, and career‑related site visits.

   Contribute to a collaborative, inclusive, and student‑centered team culture.

Supervisory Responsibility:

May oversee the work of one or more Federal Work‑Study (FWS) student employees.

Competencies:

• Serving Customers.
• Displaying Creativity.
• Prioritizing and Organizing.
• Acquiring and Analyzing Information.
• Supporting Coworkers.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:

Full-time. 35 hours per week.

Salary Range:

$65,000.00 - $70,000.00 annually.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent.
• 3 - 5 years of relevant experience.
• Two or more years of progressively responsible experience in a professional or advising role.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Master's degree or equivalent.
• 4 - 6 years of relevant experience.
• Previous experience advising college or university students.
• Experience working in or closely with industries aligned to assigned career clusters (e.g., nonprofit, private sector, governm