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JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE:
Careers Adviser
DEPARTMENT:
Careers and Employment Service (Academic Services)
GRADE:
6
CATEGORY:
Support
1.
PURPOSE OF THE POST
The primary purpose is to provide careers guidance to students/graduates at the University of
Northumbria through individual guidance and group work. The careers adviser also researches
career opportunities, works with academic Faculties to enhance employability, writes careers
information, and liaises with employers and other external organisations.
2.
RESPONSIBLE TO:
Head of Careers & Employment Service
3.
MAIN DUTIES
1. To enable the Careers & Employment Service achieve its Mission which currently is to
enhance the employability of Northumbria students to enable them to make a satisfactory
transition to employment following the completion of their course of study and to manage
their future career successfully.
2. To provide students/graduates with individual careers guidance which enables them to:
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Work through a process of personal review, research ideas and opportunities,
make decisions and take action
Plan a career that is satisfying for them in accordance with their aspirations,
interests and values.
Make informed and realistic choices about what they can do after they finish their
course.
Identify the skills they have developed and relate these to career options.
Demonstrate to employers that they possess the skills required.
Find employment, further study and training or other alternatives.
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3. To design and deliver presentations, seminars and workshops with groups of
students/graduates covering the areas such as self assessment, opportunity awareness,
decision making, transition learning and action planning identified above.
4. To administer and interpret psychometric tests of ability, interest or personality which
help students/graduates in choosing a career or in preparing for employer selection
methods.
5. To research career opportunities, and student and graduate employment, and the
graduate labour market through information sources, surveys, contact with employers,
external agencies, professional bodies and educational institutions.
6. To help students/graduates make effective use of careers information resources including
ICT systems.
7. To work with academic Faculties in the negotiation, design and delivery of activities and
elements within and alongside the curriculum which enhance the employability of
students by developing their key transferable skills, career managements skills, and
opportunities for work experience
8. To write careers information, learning material, reports and publicity/marketing materials
using new technologies including social media as appropriate.
9. To market Northumbria students/graduates to employers and assist them with
recruitment.
10. To keep records including statistics which are required for the management of the Service
and quality assurance processes.
11. To work with the staff of the Careers & Employment Service, Academic Services and other
departments and Faculties to support students.
12. To engage in Continuing Professional Development including an active contribution to the
work of the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services.
13. To contribute to the development of careers guidance at Northumbria through peer
support and staff development as a member of the Guidance Team and through cross
service working groups.
14. To undertake ad hoc projects related to student support and employability such as internal
research or externally funded employability projects.
15. To contribute to ensuring the service retains its Matrix quality accreditation.
16. To take the lead on a particular area of service delivery or development as determined by
the Head of Careers & Employment Service.
17. Any other relevant duties as reasonably required by the Head of Careers & Employment
Service within the scope of the post.
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Postholders are expected to adhere to the Academic Services’ Health and Safety Guidelines in
carrying out their work.
4.
LOCATION
The post will be mainly based at either the City Campus or Coach Lane Campus and allocated
responsibility for liaison with particular subject programme areas. This location and allocation
of programme responsibilities may be changed in the future and the post-holder must be
prepared to be flexible. The post-holder will be expected to travel within the NE and UK
occasionally to visit employers or attend conferences.
5.
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS
Full time 37 hours per week. A flexible working hours scheme is in operation subject to the
requirements of the Service. The majority of leave will need to be taken during the vacation.
The post-holder may be required to undertake occasional evening and weekend work for the
service such as attending employer events or delivering groups work sessions and for
University wide activities which could include: Open Days/Course Fairs/Clearing
activities/Enrolment events. During University term time, staff may also be required to work
occasional public holidays. Your pattern of work may be reviewed annually by management in
accordance with the requirements of Academic Services. This may result in changes to your
pattern of work to meet the needs of the service.
6. WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
The post-holder will work in collaboration with the staff of the Careers &Employment Service
and Academic Services, and also with relevant staff of other Departments and academic
Faculties, employers and external organisations.
Good communication with all Service users is essential.
7.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
References
Contact with your present or most recent employer will be made if you are offered the
position. Please complete the relevant section in the application form.
CRB
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 therefore the successful
candidate will be subject to a Criminal Records Bureau check.
NOTE: Appointments are made to a particular grade and staff may be considered for transfer
to other vacant posts on that grade from time to time.
Date and Author
Ann Smart, Head of Careers & Employment Service, 2009, revised Jan 2013.
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PERSON SPECIFICATION
JOB TITLE:
Careers Adviser
SELECTION CRITERIA
E/D
A/I
1. Specific Knowledge
a. of the theory and practice of careers education and
guidance for students and graduates
b. of the graduate labour market and recruitment and
selection processes
c. of the HE sector including the careers and employability
agenda
d. of the needs of international students
e. of Matrix National Quality standard
E
A/I
E
A/I
E
A/I
D
D
A/I
A/I
E
A/I
E
A/I/P
E
A/I
E
A/I
E
A/I
E
A/I
E
A/I
2. Skill and Abilities
Excellent communication and inter-personal skills in both of
the following areas:
a. individual careers guidance interviewing
b. careers education group work and presentations
Able to work independently on own initiative and be self
motivated as well as co-operatively within a team, enthusing
others and with staff with different roles across a range of
partners.
Well organised, with excellent planning skills and able to cope
with a variety of tasks under pressure, prioritising workloads
and managing time efficiently.
Computer literate with familiarity with standard applications
for word-processing, email, internet usage, database usage
and presentations, e-learning platforms, social media and
other digital technologies and the willingness to learn new
skills.
Good analytical skills with ability to translate data and reports
to inform the service delivery and others understanding.
Able to work innovatively with a positive attitude to change
and improving service delivery.
3. Experience
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Relevant experience of careers work including substantial work
with Higher Education students or prospective HE students or
graduates is essential.
E
A/I
D
A
D
A/I
A degree in any discipline is essential
E
A
A post-graduate diploma qualification in careers guidance (or
equivalent training) is essential.
E
A
BPS qualifications in level A/B psychometric assessment
D
A
Experience of any field of graduate employment in industry or
business , education, public service, or the
professions is desirable.
Experience of project management
4. Education/Training
Key to Abbreviations
E Essential A Application Form
P Presentation
D Desirable
I Interview