Placement Officers Career Description. Working as a recruiter or career adviser, placement officers basically serve as a liaison between prospective students, schools and colleges and the college’s staff and local recruiting agencies.
Jobs Available. There are several positions that an experienced placement officer can hold at a school. These may include campus representative, student development specialist, a financial aid consultant and career services specialist. Each of these positions requires a different set of skills and education, however.
How to Prepare to Become a Placement Officer. As a college student, you are more likely to be asked to serve as a campus representative since your career will take you to multiple campuses. If you’re already an active college student and want to start serving as a placement officer, you can take some courses related to campus and financial aid administration.
Campus Office Positions. Campus representatives are often asked to serve as a student coordinator or counselor for specific departments. Some of the jobs of a campus representative include making sure students get timely access to the appropriate department for their academic needs and advising students regarding course requirements.
Financial Aid Department. In this position, you will help make financial aid decisions, handle various financial aid documents and prepare and submit application forms for students’ financial aid. This position usually takes place at either the student aid office or at the college’s career center.
College Career Center. You may also work in a college career center, which works closely with both the faculty and staff. This position is best for students who have some experience in college life, but have not yet found their niche within the school system.
Requirements for College Career Center Positions. To be a college career center counselor, you will have to have completed a bachelor’s degree and have three years of relevant work experience in higher education. In addition to having a Bachelor of Science degree, you must also have a background in the academic life sciences. as well as at least two years of experience in an undergraduate student organization, community or other similar endeavor.
As a college career center counselor, you will meet with students, discuss college requirements and job placement options. This position can also serve as a liaison between the faculty and administration. When you meet with students about their career plans, you will often be required to answer questions about course requirements and any administrative work they might need.
College Career Center Counselors typically works at least one summer term, or four or more academic terms, before moving on to the next position. The positions typically last up to two years, after which a campus representative is assigned to another student.
Career Coaches. College career coaches are often asked to work on campus with students who are looking to change their direction or career direction. They may be asked to visit schools or universities to observe students in classes and talk with them about their academic and career goals. A career coach can also act as a referral service to prospective employers.
Career Coaches assists college students in making their career plans, helping them find a new school, a new program and/or help them decide what programs or schools to attend. It is important for them to identify and analyze students’ needs. This includes analyzing their academic records, their extracurricular activities and whether their school fits their personal goals. In addition, career coaches should understand the cultural expectations of the target employer, as this may influence the kind of job they are likely to land.
These positions generally do not require much prior experience, but many have training in preparation and presentation skills, particularly if they have previously worked with college placement professionals. Career coaches should be able to provide referrals to high-performing colleges or universities and to potential employers. Job placement companies are more likely to hire college career coaches that are familiar with placement processes and strategies.
