GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY

Career Center

College Student Affairs Leadership (CSAL)

Graduate Assistants (2)

1C15 0155 A01 EF

1C15 0155 A02 EF

Responsibilities

Participates as a full-fledged member of the Career Center team with direct student, employer, faculty and staff interaction

·  Advises students and alumni on experiential education and career subjects

·  Builds and maintains relationships with employers, faculty and staff

·  Conducts group informational presentations, including evening sessions

·  Researches, utilizes and develops technology to work with constituents

·  Develops a working knowledge of the departmental functions and career resources

·  Plans and conducts career events such as the Etiquette Dinner, Summer Job Fair, Speed Interviewing, Resume Workshops and Careers In…

·  Assists in teaching US102 (Career Planning), US301 (Job Search & Strategies) and/or equivalent courses

·  Supervises a peer advising group (Career Connectors) and Student Ambassadors

·  Researches and completes special projects which preferably will be aligned with personal and professional interests

Receives comprehensive training in how to assist students and alumni with résumé development, networking, interview skills, and strategies for finding internships, co-ops and jobs.

An experienced supervisor will be assigned to each GA. The supervisor and the GA will collaborate to develop a Learning Contract reflecting the CSAL Professional Development Committee’s suggested competencies. Competencies are gained through the work content of the assistantship, the CSAL academic program, and through participation in monthly professional development sessions.

Qualifications

·  Passion for helping students/alumni succeed, with demonstrated willingness to learn more about employment strategies and techniques

·  Ability to convey respect, caring and professionalism to all constituents

·  Excellent verbal and written communication skills

·  Willingness to take initiative, participate in staff/divisional meetings, contribute ideas and insights, and give and receive constructive feedback

·  Strong organizational skills, ability to pay attention to detail while managing multiple tasks

·  Experience with MS Office, including Excel as well as the Internet and current technology

·  Prefer some work experience outside of higher education

This GA requires a baccalaureate degree and admission to GVSU’s Master of Education, CSAL concentration. The GA will work 20 hours per week for a ten month, Extended, contract (generally from the last Friday in July through the last Friday in May.) A tuition waiver covers up to 21 graduate credit hours per academic year and a stipend is also included.

Work Environment

The GA works primarily in the Career Center offices in Allendale and at DeVos at designated work stations. Some travel to other locations, both on-campus and off-campus, such as employer facilities, will be required.

Orientation

Graduate Assistants in the CSAL program are required to attend a week-long orientation/training which generally begins the last Monday in July. The Career Center also provides a documented departmental orientation plan for the first four weeks which details an integrated set of activities to orient the new GA to our staff and related processes.

Supervision

The GA is supervised by one assigned Assistant or Associate Director of the Career Center. Their performance is evaluated at the end of both fall and winter semesters.

All GA supervisors are encouraged to participate in training offered by the CSAL Professional Development Committee. A number of our staff are CSAL alumni.

Primary contact: Ginger Lange, Associate Director,

Selection Process

Candidates are invited to apply for positions by submitting a resume to the Dean of Students Office and following the CSAL application/interview process detailed on the web page at http://www.gvsu.edu/csal/. Current openings are listed at http://www.gvsu.edu/csal/gaopenings.html. Candidates are invited to a campus visitation days held each winter semester. Each visitation day includes information about the academic program, a campus tour, time to meet with current graduate assistants and interviews. Arrangements for the visitation days are made through the Dean of Students Office, which also schedules the interviews. The Career Center makes its selection decision in collaboration with the Dean of Students Office.