Career Advisor/ Pre-Law Advisor

Position Summary :

The Career Coach provides comprehensive college-to-career guidance through dynamic and engaging programming content and coaching services to undergraduate students interested in law and policy. Coach students in innovative ways to support their career goals, collaborate with campus partners, student organizations, and academic partners to facilitate workshops across campus, identify area-specific resources, and assist with website content. Design experiential learning opportunities to expose students to the range of paths within the field of law. This position works closely with the Director of Pre-Law Advising and the Employer Relations team to assist in developing an understanding of career paths and opportunities for students related to their post-graduate career plans.

About the Work Unit :

Launched in fall 2021 under the leadership of the new Vice Provost for Career Advancement and Engagement & Executive Director of the Evans Family Career Center, the Office of Career Advancement and Engagement (CAE), centrally supported within the Provost’s Office, drives radical campus-wide collaboration by integrating career advancement activities into the broader VU student experience.

The new CAE division comprises three key areas:

• Career Center - serves undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral scholars while continuing to support career and professional coaching of recent graduates (0-2 years) after graduation
• VU Network – oversees a network of regional hubs that promote activity and engagement with Vanderbilt’s growing community of students, alumni, parents, faculty and partnership corporations
• Corporate Partnerships – fosters enhanced employer and alumni engagement and facilitates high-impact corporate partnerships

The new CAE office offers enhanced career advancement services to connect the wide variety of academic programs and experiences to student career development. In addition, the office reimagines the link between corporate relations and corporate partnerships to generate greater career opportunities and outcomes for students and alumni. Further, the CAE office is currently laying the groundwork for the VU Network Hub, a national engagement program that identifies and stands-up regional hubs to facilitate activity and community interaction for Vanderbilt students, alumni, parents, faculty and partnership corporations.

Key Functions and Expected Performance:

• Engage with students through individual and group coaching related to specialized topics.
• Create scalable measures to reach all students by developing intentional programs that connect to a diverse range of career paths and interests.
• Enhance Career Center relationships with faculty and administrators across campus by serving as a key resource for career development and career planning programs for student residences, student organizations, Immersion, and other venues to expand students’ opportunities.
• Build relationships with law school admissions offices for collaborative programs.
• Collaborate proactively with internal and external stakeholders who share in the career empowerment aspirations of the Career Center.
• Coordinate with the marketing coordinator to maintain webpage, handout content, and other marketing/informational materials supporting students in career and major selection, developing internships and summer experiences, and learning about the job market and careers related to education and the social sciences. Collaborate with marketing and communications team to design creative communication strategies (social media; email; etc.) that provide targeted messaging to students and enhance student experience with the Career Center.
• Create programming content primarily about law fields for that includes alumni, parents, employers, etc.
• Design experiential learning opportunities (e.g. shadowing, internships, treks, etc.) to expose students to the range of paths within the field of law.
• Develop and deliver programming content for students considering legal careers, including the timeline of the pre-law path, and an initial understanding of the application process and necessary application documents.
• Use the latest research and coaching techniques from positive psychology and appreciative inquiry to create workshops around career assessment, career/major decision-making, and career development.
• Collaborate with the Director of Pre-Law Advising and the Employer Relations team to identify potential programming, employment opportunities for students interested in legal careers, focusing on part-time, internships, summer jobs, and post-graduate employment in the United States and internationally. Assist the Employer Relations team with events, special programming, and employer information sessions.

Supervisory Relationships :

This position does not have supervisory responsibility. This position reports administratively and functionally to Associate Director, Undergraduate Coaching.

Education and Certifications

Master’s degree in counseling, higher education, or related field is necessary

Juris Doctor degree preferred

Experience and Skills :

• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills; strong interpersonal and presentation skills.
• Strong initiative, with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Highly creative, innovative, continuous learner with an entrepreneurial style.
• Ability to conduct individual and small group coaching sessions using an active goals-oriented career coaching model such as appreciative inquiry or positive psychology.
• Knowledge of a broad range of career paths and insight into the application process for graduate school including decision-making related to careers, selection of graduate schools, and application process for graduate school.
• Thorough understanding of all aspects of career decision-making and the job search process including: career assessment instruments, resume-writing, job search correspondence, interviewing (including behavioral interviews) and the summer job/internship search.
• Demonstrated success in program development and delivery and project management skills for at least one year.
• Responsible and independent nature: able to set goals and achieve them.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of records and information.

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

At Vanderbilt University, we are intentional about and assume accountability for fostering advancement and respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff. Our commitment to diversity makes us who we are. We have created a community that celebrates differences and lets individuality thrive. As part of this commitment, we actively value diversity in our workplace and learning environments as we seek to take advantage of the rich backgrounds and abilities of everyone. The diverse voices of Vanderbilt represent an invaluable resource for the University in its efforts to fulfill its mission and strive to be an example of excellence in higher education.

Vanderbilt University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Please note, all candidates selected for an offer of employment are subject to pre-employment background checks, which may include but are not limited to, based on the role for which they have been selected: criminal history, education verification, social media review, motor vehicle records, credit history, and professional license verification.