MightyRecruiterIf you need a new admission counselor, you don’t want to hire just anyone. You need someone who can work well with students from a diverse range of background and build alumni networks for recruiting. How do you accomplish this? To start, you need a great job description that will engage professionals you’re interested in hiring. You’ll need to be clear about your expectations and make the initial steps in the application process easy to follow. As far as the content, you’ll need to pinpoint what is more important in your ideal professional. To help you begin, look over the Admissions Counselor job description sample found below.
Admissions Counselor Job Summary
You will be responsible for developing relationships with students through the development of alumni networks. You will evaluate recruitment methods and materials for effectiveness and make adjustments as needed. You will plan and implement student recruitment campaigns and interview prospective candidates.
Admissions Counselor Job Responsibilities
- Develop an alumni network of volunteer recruiters to aid in network activities.
- Conduct research regarding current student populations via interviews and questionnaires.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of various recruitment tactics and advise other admissions staff on best practices.
- Guide prospective students through interviews, paperwork, campus tours and conduct follow-up interviews.
- Manage effective recruiting operations in adherences to university standards.
- Avoid legal liability issues through thorough adherence to state, federal and local educational law.
- Enhance the university admission department and overall reputation with excellent counseling and strong student body relationships.
Admissions Counselor Qualifications
- 5+ years of experience as an admissions counselor
- Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Counseling
- Excellent verbal and written communication
- Customer service skills and/or experience
- Driven by results
- Quality motivator
Company Profile
Southern State University was establish in 1892 as a liberal arts university and has built a reputation for academic excellence. Our students and staff constantly seek to challenge themselves and make positive contributions to the world. Our law and business school have consistently ranked in the top 10 nationally since day one, and we are excited to work with professional who want to uphold that high standard. Because we value our dedicated team of educators, we provide full benefits to all full-time staff members as well as generous research and academic resources.
Dos and Don’ts for Writing a Job Description
- Just like with resumes and cover letters, job descriptions have a list of best practices. Remember, you ultimately have to discover what will work best for you and your organization. However, if you follow these guidelines and tips, you’ll certainly be on the right track.
- Do use bulleted lists in your requirements and qualifications sections. Bullets make your job posting easy to scan, which makes it easier for applicants to decide if it’s the right position for them.
- Don’t make the submission process complicated or difficult. If the applicant has to fill out a questionnaire, send a resume, write a cover letter and then fill out a survey, they probably won’t apply.
- Do use strong action words. In your lists of responsibilities and qualifications especially, you have plenty of opportunity to use strong words to make an impression. For example, instead of “work with the CFO” say, “collaborate with the CFO.”
- Do make a case for the benefits of working with your organization. Do you have a great 401K package? Do you offer excellent networking opportunities? Play your strengths and show off a little bit. The reader should be excited to work with your organization.
- Don’t use a vague post title. In many job databases, the applicant will look at the post title and a short description before deciding whether or not to open the page. Give them a good reason to keep reading.
- Don’t go too far over 700 words per job post. When you actually make the first point of contact, you can start giving potential hires more insider information, but for your job post, keep it short and sweet.
- Do be specific with your words. A short post shouldn’t equal a vague post. After reading your description, the job candidate should have a clear idea of what is expected.
Admissions Counselor Job Responsibilities
Your admissions counselor plays a critical role in your organization, so you need to attract and hire the best talent for the position. Your task begins with composing a strong admissions counselor job description that plainly details the individual’s daily responsibilities and how he or she adds to your organization’s overall success. In fact, the job responsibilities section is the weightiest component of your posting, and since most jobseekers will read it first, you’ll need to take some time and effort to make it compelling and easy to read.
This section of your admissions counselor job description doesn’t need to be an extensive list of every single task your new hire will take charge of. Instead, it’s vital to focus on 6-8 key responsibilities that define the position. Place these in bullet points, and don’t forget to incorporate dynamic, descriptive action verbs in your text. You’ll not only add emphasis, but you’ll also impart a solid picture of what the selected candidate will do in this role.
Here are some suggestions of admissions counselor job responsibilities that you can adapt for your own posting:
- Schedule visits to area high schools, churches, vocational centers and other appropriate venues
- Identify and meet with individual prospects to determine their career goals and suggest appropriate degrees and programs
- Develop strategies to recruit students from underserved or marginalized populations
- Write and revise text for admissions department informational materials
Admissions Counselor Job Specifications
The job skills and qualifications section immediately follows the list of responsibilities in your admissions counselor job description. You may think this portion is simpler to compose than the first half of your posting, but you shouldn’t discount the importance of communicating strongly here, either. Jobseekers will study this section, too, to determine if their own skills, education and career experience fit your guidelines. For that reason, you need to convey your expectations clearly and succinctly.
Before cranking out a single word of your admissions counselor job description, your first step should be collaborating with the direct managers or supervisors for the open position. They know what abilities, schooling and expertise your new hire will need. As you work with them, don’t forget to split the list of qualifications into “required” and “preferred” categories.
Try these sample admissions counselor job specifications as a starting point for your own list:
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in education or similar profession
- At least 3 years of previous experience in higher education admissions
- Computer proficiency, including familiarity Microsoft Office applications and Populi
- Self-motivated, with strong multi-tasking and time management abilities
- Excellent written, oral and interpersonal communication skills
- Prior experience with public speaking and presentations
