Internship/Cooperative Education Job Descriptions

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Co-op Education Coordinator (large public university)

Coordinator, Career Services (medium public university)

Experiential Learning Coordinator (large public university)

Internship Coordinator (medium public college)

Program Coordinator, Career Development Center (small private college)




Co-op Education Coordinator (large public university)

Description/Goals

The university's co-op is one of the leading programs of its kind in the nation, placing more than 1,200 students annually in paid, study-related internships.

Responsibilities

  • Counsel, advise, and place students in career-related positions.
  • Serve as a liaison with companies listing internships with co-op program.
  • Conduct career preparation workshops on resume writing and interviewing skills.
  • Assist with recruiting efforts.
  • Monitor quality of placements and conduct site visits.
  • Coordinate special events/projects.

Qualifications

Education
Master's degree in career counseling or related field.

Experience
Excellent communication and presentation skills, relevant experience, and computer skills.

Special Requirements
Must be a positive, upbeat, and team-oriented person.



Coordinator, Career Services (medium public university)

Description/Goals

The career services coordinator develops and implements career services activities within the university. Assists with overall planning and operational activities of the program. Coordinates job placement with employers, conducts in-progress assessment of student success in the work environment, and evaluates the total work experience, primarily through the use of surveys and follow-up interviews. Advises students on various aspects of entering the world of work, including resume writing and interviewing skills.

Responsibilities

  • Provides assistance to students by serving as a liaison for specific academic departments concerning credit issues and program information, by providing career information about fulltime and internship opportunities, and by assisting in all aspects of a professional credential preparation, including resume writing and interviewing skills improvement.
  • Ensures the learning experience for students is effective by working closely with faculty advisers.
  • Facilitates employer recruitment of students by identifying, locating, and referring eligible students for job placement.
  • Ensures quality work experiences for students by assisting employers in the development of positions, which complement and enhance students' academic and professional goals.
  • Promotes a positive work experience for students after job placement, through follow-up activities with students and employers.
  • Promotes career services by making presentations to classes and student organizations and by assisting in coordinating special events, programs, receptions, etc.
  • Coordinates major projects, which may include career fairs, teacher placement days, on-campus interviews, etc.
  • Promotes the university and career services through participation in professional organizations.
  • Contributes to the overall success of career services by performing all other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

Education
Bachelor's degree is required. Master's degree is preferred.

Experience
Strong preference given to individuals with previous experience in cooperative education, career services, or other student service areas at the college/university level. Work experience in a sales or marketing environment is desired.

Special Requirements
Position requires some physical lifting of boxes and reaching for supplies stored on high shelves.



Experiential Learning Coordinator (large public university)

Responsibilities

  • Individual/group advisement for students interested in experiential learning, develop and facilitate innovative workshops, and manage, develop, and advertise the experiential learning career information resources available through career and employment services.
  • Assist students by conducting resume/cover letter critiques and job-search strategies and providing guidance regarding application procedures and university recognition.
  • Facilitate placement of students in positions related to their academic major, monitor students' on-site assignments, and develop support documentation for academic credit and/or university recognition.
  • Oversee the maintenance of accurate records of student information. Maintain up-to-date written guidelines outlining procedures to be used: application and qualification process, course/work schedules, date/calendar/deadlines, standard forms (job descriptions and liability agreements), outline expectations/requirements for students, employers, advisers, and administrators; circulate program descriptions through publications and electronic media. Maintain critical communications with supporting departments, i.e., financial aid.
  • Collaborate with other departments/student services to effectively market experiential learning through outreach programming. Promote the accessibility of experiential learning postings as well as experiential learning job-search strategies. Conduct outreach to current/prospective students and family members to promote benefits of experiential learning.
  • Coordinate promotional materials, i.e., news releases directed to college administrators, faculty liaisons, student organizations, and targeted student populations. Direct special efforts to promote full use of career and employment services by students.
  • Coordinate career events to include such activities as a part-time job expo, volunteer service fair, and related experiential learning events.
  • Conduct assessment and follow-up studies through electronic communications, direct mail, telecommunications and classroom visits (coordinated with CES administrative staff members) of all CES registered underclass students to determine employment/service experience and salary. In coordination with associate director, employer relations, conduct assessment and follow-up studies with CES employers.
  • Identify appropriate library and web-based resources
  • Conduct site visits to include campus, local, and regional employers to maintain relations as well as further expand experiential learning opportunities, promoting out-of-the-classroom experience and learning activity related to students' academic studies and career direction. Participate in area business, not-for-profit associations, and chamber of commerce activities with emphasis on relation development.
  • Provide input into program administration and ongoing employer relations.
  • Participate in staff activities/meetings, an annual performance evaluation, and professional development activities including involvement in state, regional, and national associations.
  • Additional services as assigned by the associate director.

Qualifications

Education
Bachelor's degree. Preferred qualifications include a master's degree (emphasis in student affairs, marketing, human resource management, or related field).

Experience
Two years of experience in a business or career office setting. Strong organization, written, and oral communication skills, demonstrated ability to oversee multiple tasks with attention to detail, a motivated/enthusiastic work style, and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment with a broad range of internal and external constituents.

Special Requirements
Preferred computer skills include knowledge of the Internet and career services software, 1stPlace.



Internship Coordinator (medium public college)

Responsibilities

Internship Coordination and Advising

  • Advises students on available internship opportunities and helps them acquire internships appropriate to their goals, through set drop-in advising hours and by individual appointment. Provides internship advising for the leadership opportunity awards participants.
  • Identifies internship employers, solicits their involvement in our internship program, and acquires their internship materials for our internship files.
  • Develops, organizes, and maintains the internship section of the career resources library and the 5-STAR database.
  • Creates system (binder/bulletin board/other) to advertise important internships with urgent deadlines.
  • Develops internship information handouts.
  • Keeps staff informed about new internship opportunities.
  • Works with the registrar's office to get student internship notation placed on transcript.
  • Evaluates program and implements improvements.

Workshops

  • Conducts quarterly workshops on selecting an internship.
  • Collects workshops evaluation from attendees.

General Advising

  • In 20-minute advising sessions with clients, assists in the determination of initial career center service needs.
  • Reviews resumes and cover letters, making recommendations for improvement.
  • Answers questions and helps clients find resource materials. Introduces advisees to the career resource library.
  • Collects evaluations.

Database Management

  • Trains and supervises student worker for data entry of internship opportunities and career advice network information.
  • Works with our systems analyst regarding any problems with the career center database.
  • Designs and updates student data sheet forms.
  • Prepares student usage reports annually and upon request. Generates student labels upon request.

Multicultural Career Conference

  • Assists in coordinating alumni participation in the career conference for students and alumni of color.
  • Attends all committee meetings.
  • Prepares meeting reports regarding alumni activity.
  • Maintains conference alumni database.
  • Develops alumni information forms and alumni correspondence.
  • Develops conference program.
  • Prepares annual statistical report on conference participation and student and alumni comments.
  • Tracks alumni annually.



Program Coordinator, Career Development Center (small private college)

Description/Goals

Under minimal supervision by the director, the program coordinator uses independent analysis and judgement to develop, coordinate, and supervise complex and varied administrative tasks to provide exemplary career services to the campus community. The position encompasses the following three distinct areas of responsibility: internship development and coordination, on-campus recruitment, and office management.

Responsibilities

Internship Development and Coordination

  • Provides leadership in the development and implementation of a viable internship program.
  • Facilitates student learning by assisting students to secure appropriate internships to enhance overall academic experience and learn skills essential to conduct a successful job search.
  • Initiates and maintains contacts with employers to develop internships.
  • Works collaboratively with faculty and administration to create policy and procedures for ensuring the academic quality and integrity of internships.
  • Arranges meetings with faculty and academic department chairs to identify and promote relevant internships for specific majors.
  • Conducts site visits to evaluate appropriateness and relevance of internships for students.
  • Develops and revises internship policies and procedures.
  • Coordinates and administers all aspects of the internship program.
  • Identifies, develops and monitors current internship sites.
  • Works with faculty to identify and promote internships.
  • Counsels and advises students in career planning and career-related decisions.
  • Plans and conducts internship workshops and information programs.
  • Develops an internship manual and promotional material and updates it as needed.
  • Trains and supervises student staff to input internship information into a database and maintains written information.
  • Researches appropriate websites as they support the program.
  • Makes presentations to campus community and business community on experiential learning.
  • Assesses the effectiveness of experiential learning programs.
  • Attends conferences on experiential learning.

On-campus Recruitment

  • Designs, implements, and administers recruitment programs for a diverse group of companies and organizations as well as graduate schools.
  • Administers the on-campus recruiting program and calendar.
  • Assists employers and trains students on use of scheduling program.
  • Assists director in the development of employer relations through verbal and written communications and membership in professional organizations.
  • Visits employers to promote students.
  • Arranges for employers to visit campus and possibly meet faculty.
  • Organizes employer and graduate school information sessions.
  • Maintains database administration.
  • Coordinates two fairs to promote jobs and internships.
  • Markets all career events for on-campus recruitment.
  • Conducts on-campus interviewing orientation.
  • Develops and facilitates workshops dealing with job-search, i.e., networking at a career fair, using the Internet in job search, resume writing, etc.
  • Critiques resumes, cover letters, and employment applications.
  • Counsels and advises students regarding employment opportunities through various employers.

Office Management

  • Responsible for general administration and management of the career center in the absence of the director. Solves short-range problems that develop.
  • Oversees the student office workers (5-6) working in the reception area, supervises their answering phones, making appointments, and opening the mail. Delegates appropriate projects to assure smooth operation of career center and programs.
  • Advises students on a walk-in basis.
  • Helps director coordinate special events throughout year, i.e., orientation, etiquette dinner.
  • Promotes and maintains the ASK (Alumni Sharing Knowledge) program. Oversees student assistants updating the database.
  • Assists in marketing the services and programs through developing appropriate materials as well as advertising special events.
  • Monitors operations/revenue budgets and maintains financial records.
  • Oversees production of program materials and informational publications, such as an office newsletter.
  • Determines what incoming information via mail needs to be communicated to the campus community. Independently drafts correspondence.
  • Supervises the maintenance of the career resource library, handles book order requests, order office supplies as needed.
  • Performs other essential duties and tasks specific to position.

Qualifications

Education
Requires a bachelor's degree in business, marketing, psychology, communication, public relations, or other related major. Master's degree preferred.

Experience
Four or more years of progressively responsible office or higher education program administration experience. Must possess sufficient experience in a collegiate environment to understand the academic culture and must have the ability to effectively interact with faculty, staff, students, parents, and administrators. Familiarity with corporate and nonprofit human resource management. Understanding of experiential education and academic/career advising. Experience in presentation of workshops or public speaking. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Must be a self-starter and possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Demonstrated ability to organize and work independently as a leader and as part of a team.

Special Requirements
Good interpersonal skills with a demonstrated commitment to cultural diversity. Proficiency with windows environment including word processing, knowledge of database programs.

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