Career Advisor

American University; United States; Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

American University in Washington, DC is seeking a Career Advisor who provides comprehensive, industry-informed career advising to undergraduate students, graduate students, and recent alumni from diverse backgrounds and identities.

The role emphasizes advising within industry clusters and collaboration with Employer Relations and Career Center colleagues to build industry-specific employer intelligence and internships.

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.
• Familiarity with career assessment tools such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator or Strong Interest Inventory.

Responsibilities

• Career Advising & Student Coaching: Provide individualized career advising to students and alumni across industries.
• Career Education, Programming & Outreach: Design and deliver workshops, panels, orientations, and resources.
• Industry & Employer Engagement: Build knowledge of employers and trends within clusters and share insights with colleagues.
• Team Collaboration & Program Support: Participate in planning, assessment, and program initiatives with the Career Center.

Skills

Career Advising

Student Coaching

Industry Knowledge

Team Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Master'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:

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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, government, media, technology, public service, education, or related fields).
• Familiarity with career assessment tools such as the Myers‑Briggs Type Indicator or Strong Interest Inventory.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications:

• Knowledge of career development theory and career advising practices.
• Demonstrated understanding of employment trends and hiring practices relevant to one or more career industry areas.
• Strong communication, listening, and presentation skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced, collaborative, and student‑centered environment.
• Computer literacy, including use of internet research tools and social media platforms.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with students, employers, faculty, alumni, and campus partners.

Other Duties:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Benefits:

AU offers a competitive benefits package. Click here to learn about American University's unique benefit options.

Other Details:

Hiring offers for this position are contingent on successful completion of a background check.

Employees in staff positions at American University must deliver their services to the university from either the District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia, or perform work on‑site at the university.

Please note this job announcement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

American University is an E‑Verify employer.

Current American University Employees:

American University current employees must apply through their employee Workday account. If you are a current employee at American University, please log into Workday and select the Find Jobs report which will take you to our internal career listings.

Contact Us:

For more information or assistance with the American University careers site, email [e-mail].

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

American University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution that operates in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, personal appearance, gender identity and expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, source of income, veteran status, an individual’s genetic information or any other bases under federal or local laws (collectively "Protected Bases") in its programs and activities.

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.