Career Counsellor

199 days annually

Saskatchewan Polytechnic considers the diversity of our workforce to be one our leading strengths and greatest assets. Our employee diversity enhances our ability to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse student population. Currently, approximately 20% of our students are Indigenous. A continued emphasis on the development of a representative workforce is one of Sask Polytech’s strategic priorities and, as an organization, we are making significant efforts to attract and retain Indigenous employees.

1. Provide individual and group career counselling services through zoom, phone, email and in-person means to Sask Polytech registered students, alumni/graduates and prospective students, which include the public.

2. As part of the career counselling process:
a. Conduct career counselling intake interviews to help determine individual career counselling needs and establish desired outcomes.
b. Select appropriate tools and strategies to help individuals clarify their career goals. Such strategies may include the use of assessments and self-reflection activities as well as the exploration of relevant volunteer, work, networking, and training opportunities.
c. Administer and interpret standardized and non-standardized career assessments in a variety of areas such as interests, values, skills, aptitudes, personality and career decision making styles.
d. Assist individuals in selecting post-secondary and training programs and in accessing prior learning assessment recognition and transfer credit opportunities consistent with their identified goals.
e. Assist individuals in accessing and understanding relevant labour market information to help make informed career and program decisions.
f. Assist individuals in creating and monitoring their career action plans. As part of the career action plan, assist individuals with identifying potential challenges to their career and program success followed by exploring ways to overcome these potential challenges.
g. Assist individuals with monitoring and managing their anxiety pertaining to career related processes and tasks such as exploring education and labour market opportunities, making career related decisions, and then putting into action their plan.
h. Keep confidential and up-to-date client records.
i. Connect career counselling clients as needed to appropriate people and resources within Saskatchewan Polytechnic and within the larger community outside of Saskatchewan Polytechnic.

3. As part of ongoing career counselling services development and improvement:
a. Participate in continuing education to keep up to date on career counselling trends and best practices, as well as on changes in post-secondary programs and the labour market.
b. Assist in the ongoing development of web and print based resources for career counselling and communication/marketing purposes.
c. Keep up-to-date individual client statistics and workshop statistics using Excel, Microsoft Word and/or other electronic platforms. Assist in the writing of year end reports.
d. Assist in developing processes and recommendations for ongoing improvements to career counselling services.

4. Additionally, career counsellors are expected to:
a. Build collaborative relationships within Saskatchewan Polytechnic and within the larger community outside of Saskatchewan Polytechnic.
b. Educate prospective students, registered students, alumni, our colleagues and other stakeholders on the nature and value of a career planning process at Saskatchewan Polytechnic.
c. Maintain an ethical and professional standard of career counselling practice.

1. Masters Degree with a supervised practicum in one of the following: Educational Psychology, Psychology, Counselling or Social Work. A combination of education and experience will be considered in place of the Masters Degree.

2.Two years of recent, relevant experience in career, educational or mental health counselling which includes: addressing client issues pertaining to career and life planning, conducting holistic intake assessments and utilizing psychometric instruments. Experience working in post-secondary education is an asset.

3. Foundational knowledge of psychological assessment with the demonstrated ability to select and use appropriate formal and informal assessments to meet the client needs.
4. Ability to provide individual and group career counselling through zoom, phone, email, and/or in-person.

5. Strong generalist counselling skills which include effective interpersonal and communication skills in complex and emotionally charged situations.

6. Experience counselling individuals from diverse backgrounds and stages of development who are addressing educational and career indecision (e.g., choosing a major, program and career direction) and/or re-evaluating career choices.
7. Knowledge of labour market and education/training information, as well as how to integrate this information within a career planning process.

8. Demonstrated understanding of social, economic and cultural issues facing Indigenous people in Saskatchewan and the relationship of these issues in the support of Indigenous students.

9. Demonstrated ability to value diversity, and experience working in diverse work environments and supporting diverse populations.

10. Ability to travel and to provide on-site career counselling services at both the Moose Jaw Campus and the Regina Campus.

11. Ability to work evenings and split shifts on occasion.
12. Ability to work as a member of a multidisciplinary team.
13. Proficiency in the use of the internet, e-mail, MS Office Suite software (specifically, PowerPoint, Word & Excel at Introductory Level)
14. May require a criminal record check and vulnerable sector check.

15. A membership in a relevant professional association is an asset.