Career and Experiential Learning Advisor (Student Career Program Specialist)

Career and Experiential Learning Advisor (Student Career Program Specialist)

POSITION DETAILS

Founded in 1971 in Long Island City, Queens, LaGuardia Community College is one of seven community colleges of the City University of New York (CUNY). LaGuardia offers more than sixty associate degree programs and more than fifty workforce training, ESOL, GED, and pre-college programs. In 2023, LaGuardia served approximately 24,000 students. More than one-third of LaGuardia?s degree-seeking students are born outside the United States; they come from 136 countries and speak 43 heritage languages. Sixty percent are first-generation college students.

Virtually all LaGuardia students are ethnic minorities (89 percent), 58 percent are women, 27 percent are over the age of 25. Forty-six percent of associate degree students are Hispanic. Upon graduation most students transfer to four-year colleges, typically in CUNY, to complete their baccalaureate degrees. Graduates of career programs such as Nursing, Computer Technology, and Veterinary Technology enter the workforce. LaGuardia ranked fifth among U.S. community colleges in economic mobility - moving low-income students into the middle class and beyond - in studies by Stanford University (2017) and the Brookings Institution (2020). Please visit www.laguardia.edu to learn more.

Under the supervision of the Director of the Center for Career & Professional Development (CCPD), the Career and Experiential Learning Advisor plays a key role in helping community college students explore career options, develop professional skills, and gain practical experience through internships and other experiential learning opportunities. This role supports LaGuardia?s commitment to career success by guiding students through career exploration, job search strategies, and skill-building activities that prepare them for transfer and success after graduation.

The Advisor offers personalized career counseling, organizes career readiness programs, and manages internship placements and other experiential learning activities. The role requires working closely with faculty, employers, and campus partners to ensure students gain access to meaningful opportunities that match their academic and career interests. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Career Exploration and Advising

• Deliver one-on-one and group advising to help students clarify career interests, identify goals, and create actionable plans.
• Support students and alumni with resume and cover letter development, interview preparation, and job/internship search strategies.
• Administer and interpret career assessments (e.g., Career Coach, Focus2, Vault) to guide exploration aligned with students? majors, strengths, and values.

Experiential Learning and Internship Coordination

• Promote and coordinate experiential learning opportunities, including internships, service-learning, job shadowing, site visits, and career panels.
• Recruit students for internship programs and manage placement processes, ensuring alignment with academic pathways.
• Monitor student progress throughout experiential learning programs and provide ongoing support.
• Collaborate with the Work-Based Learning Specialist and Assistant Director for Employer Relations to maximize student access to internships and employer partnerships.

Career Readiness Programming

• Design and facilitate workshops, webinars, and events on topics such as networking, LinkedIn, professional communication, and workplace expectations.
• Support employer engagement activities, including career fairs, industry panels, and networking events.
• Maintain and promote career development resources and toolkits tailored to community college students.
• Facilitate first-year seminar career exploration sessions.Stay informed about labor market trends and emerging career opportunities to inform advising and programming.

Connecting Students to Opportunities

• Serve as the primary point of contact for students seeking internships and employment opportunities.
• Guide students in navigating job boards (Handshake), career platforms, and employer events to access available positions.
• Ensure alignment between student skills and available opportunities by collaborating with internal teams and leveraging existing employer partnerships.
• Share timely information about openings, application processes, and hiring timelines.

Data Management and Reporting

• Track and report student participation, internship placements, student outcomes, and career development milestones.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's Degree and four years related experience required.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Master?s degree in education, student affairs, public administration, or a related discipline.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to engage a diverse student population using culturally responsive practices.
• Knowledge of career development platforms and labor market tools.
• Understanding of experiential learning models and high-impact practices.
• Excellent organizational and event coordination abilities.
• Familiarity with career services technology (Handshake, Symplicity, Interstride, Vault, Focus2, Career Coach) and Microsoft Office 365.
• Fluency in a second language preferred (Spanish, Mandarin, Bengali, or other languages spoken by our student population).

Other:

• Occasional travel for employer site visits and career events.
• Some evening or weekend hours are required to support student programming.
• Hybrid role (70% in-person)

CUNY TITLE OVERVIEW

Administers career development programs and services in a College or Unit.

• Assists in developing and implementing career planning programs and services.
• Takes a lead role in a portfolio of ongoing programs, such as orientation or workshop programs
• May supervise a unit or program, hiring, training, and managing staff
• Consults with faculty, staff, administrators, and employers regarding students career development needs
• Assists in collection, tabulation and analysis of outcomes data for students and other stakeholders, as well as research of employment and market trends
• Assists in policy development and strategic planning/special projects.
• Serves as a liaison to student groups, clubs, and athletic organizations.
• Represents career office on college committees, conferences, and to the College community at large
• Conducts outreach programming, orienting employers and other constituents to services
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Job Title Name: Student Career Program Specialist

CUNY TITLE

Higher Education Assistant

FLSA

Exempt

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

$57,252 - $90,838

Salary commensurate with education and experience.

CUNY's benefits contribute significantly to total compensation, supporting health and wellness, financial well-being, and professional development. We offer a range of health plans, competitive retirement/pension benefits and savings plans, tuition waivers for CUNY graduate study and generous paid time off. Our staff also benefits from the extensive academic, arts, and athletic programs on our campuses and the opportunity to participate in a lively, diverse academic community in one of the greatest cities in the world.

HOW TO APPLY

Visit www.cuny.edu, access the employment page, log in or create a new user account, and search for this vacancy using the Job ID or Title. Select "Apply Now" and provide the requested information.

Candidates should provide a resume and cover letter.

CLOSING DATE

April 30th, 2026 (Extended)

JOB SEARCH CATEGORY

CUNY Job Posting: Managerial/Professional

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

CUNY encourages people with disabilities, minorities, veterans and women to apply. At CUNY, Italian Americans are also included among our protected groups. Applicants and employees will not be discriminated against on the basis of any legally protected category, including sexual orientation or gender identity. EEO/AA/Vet/Disability Employer.

Job ID: 31927

Location: LaGuardia Community College

Job Type: Full-Time