Career Services Advisor

University of Southern California; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 89,401,000 - 100,871,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Flexible work policy

Job summary

The University of Southern California's Viterbi Career Connections seeks a Career Services Advisor to guide engineering and computer science students in career planning, job-search strategies, internships, and employment readiness. You will provide individual and group advising, connect students with resources, and stay current on labor-market trends.

You will support resume and interview prep, coordinate appointments and events using Handshake CRM, liaise with employers, and contribute to

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Counseling, Higher Education, or Human Resources.
• 1 year in career services, HR, recruiting, or related field.
• Advanced knowledge of employer recruiting strategies and job-market trends.
• Experience working with international students or diverse populations.

Responsibilities

• Provide career counseling to students in person and remotely.
• Manage student appointments and events using Handshake.
• Assist with resume, interview prep, and job-search planning.
• Support employer recruitment needs and outreach.
• Plan and execute VCC events.
• Document advising activity and track engagement.

Skills

Career counseling

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Time management

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Counseling, Higher Education, or Human Resources

Tools

Handshake CRM

Google Workspace

Microsoft Office

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

POSITION SUMMARY

Viterbi Career Connections (VCC) is a full-service career center that hosts several annual flagship career events, including two Engineering Career & Internship Expos, as well as several networking activities and career-readiness workshops. The team also manages daily on-campus recruiting activities, such as company information sessions and on-campus interviews, and provides career advisement to students and supports experiential learning opportunities.

The Career Services Advisor position provides career guidance to engineering and computer science students on career planning, job-search strategies, employment readiness, internships, and other career-related matters.

The position provides individual and group-based career support, connects students with relevant employment resources, stays current on labor-market and recruiting trends, and helps maintain relationships with employers and industry partners to increase student and employer engagement.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provides career counseling and advising services to students in person and remotely, including assistance with career exploration, career assessments, job searches, and evaluation of career-path options.
• Manage student appointments, events, reporting, and other requests as needed; currently utilizing the Handshake CRM.
• Supports students with resume and application material development, interview preparation, employment-readiness strategies, and internship and job-search planning.
• Assists in supporting employer recruitment needs, which includes outreach for recruitment events and job postings
• Participate in the planning and execution of VCC events, taking a key role in these when needed or requested. Current VCC events include the Career & Internship Expo and Fair, as well as career-readiness, networking, recruitment, and interview-preparedness events.
• Conduct quantitative and qualitative program and event assessments for continuous improvement.
• Supports students seeking guidance and enrollment in internship or Practicum courses.
• Uses available assessment, online, and case-management tools to document advising activity, track client engagement, and provide informed feedback and follow-up.
• Collects, organizes, and shares employer information, directories, resource guides, online materials, and other career-development resources for student use.
• Serves as a liaison between employers and students, encouraging and facilitating recruitment for internships and employment opportunities.
• Maintains awareness of labor-market conditions, employer recruiting practices, occupational information, and trends across relevant industries.
• Develops and maintains an active network of employers and professional contacts to strengthen employer-student engagement.
• Provides administrative and project support to senior advisors and management, participates in departmental meetings and conferences, and represents career services as assigned.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced knowledge of employer recruiting strategies, job-market trends, and occupational, career, and employment information resources.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Strong professionalism, attention to detail, discretion, diplomacy, and sound judgment when working with students, alumni, employers, and university partners.
• Ability to deliver high-quality services and manage multiple assignments, priorities, and deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with individuals and groups from varied backgrounds and experiences.
• Two years of experience in career services, human resources, recruiting, or a related field.
• Experience providing leadership or guidance while balancing multiple projects and priorities.
• Experience working with international students, faculty, or staff in higher education.
• Familiarity with employment-related immigration regulations and procedures, including non-immigrant visas, permanent-residency sponsorship, and employment of foreign nationals in the United States (Curricular Practical Training and Optional Practical Training).
• Working knowledge of California and multistate employment law and employment issues affecting different populations.
• Experience with office communication, social media, and content management tools, as well as Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite.
• Experience supporting communications or marketing efforts across publications, video, websites, social media, presentations, or public programs.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Work Modality and Schedule

This position is designated as hybrid and is expected to work onsite at USC for four days per week. The specific work schedule will be determined and managed based on operational requirements, service needs, and coverage expectations. Occasional evening and weekend hours may be required to support events and activities.

This hybrid work arrangement is subject to and must remain in compliance with the Viterbi Flexible Work Arrangements (FWA) Policy. Flexible work is a discretionary workplace privilege, not an employee right or entitlement, and is contingent upon continued position eligibility, performance, policy compliance, and organizational needs. The arrangement may be modified or revoked in accordance with the FWA Policy. This position is not eligible for fully remote work.

Compensation

The base compensation range for this position is $33.28 - $37.55/hour ($64,896 - $73,222.50 annualized). When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as scope of responsibilities, work experience, education and training, skills, internal equity, and market conditions.

Disclaimer

This description outlines the general nature and level of work performed and is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or skills required. Management may assign or reassign duties to respond to organizational priorities and evolving needs. USC reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.

Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree In Counseling Or Higher Education Or Human Resources Or in related field(s) Minimum Experience: 1 year in career services, human resources, recruiting, or a related field. Minimum Skills: Advanced knowledge of employer recruiting strategies, job market trends, and occupational, career, and employment information sources. Superior level of professionalism, exceptional attention to detail, and excellent written and oral communication and interpersonal skills. Proven business savvy, the ability to deliver quality services, and passion as it relates to impact on outcomes. Demonstrated experience interacting with various groups, exercising diplomacy, good judgment, and discretion. Preferred Experience: 2 years in career services, human resources, recruiting, or a related field. Preferred Skills: Leadership and guidance skills with the ability to manage, balance, and prioritize different tasks and projects. Experience with federal and international immigration employment regulations and procedures as it relates to non-immigrant visas, permanent-residency sponsorship, and the hiring of foreign nationals in the U.S. Working knowledge of California and multi-state employment law. Experience working with international students, faculty, and/or staff in higher education, and familiarity with academic medical center environments. Understanding of employment issues affecting various groups, (e.g., wage gaps). Fluency in Spanish, American Sign Language (ASL), or other languages in addition to English. Demonstrated experience with office management communication software and tools, (e.g., Google suite, Slack, Skype), and social media management. Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite software. Demonstrated experience managing multi-platform communications and marketing plans involving publications, videos, websites, social media, and public speeches and presentations.