Career Coach, Undergraduate and Professional Students

About Western

Since 1878, Western University has been committed to serving our communities through the pursuit of academic excellence and by providing students, faculty, and community members with life-long opportunities for intellectual, social, and cultural growth. We seek excellent students, faculty, and staff to join us in what has become known as the "Western Experience" - an opportunity to contribute to a better world through the development of new knowledge, new abilities, new connections, and new ways to make a difference.

About Us

Student Experience fosters equitable learning environments in which all students can thrive to their full potential. Through our commitment to integrating research, theory, and practice across all of the programs, resources, and supports we provide, Student Experience leads an ecosystem of people, places, and spaces that empower student thriving. Our vision is for all Mustangs to discover their personalized pathway through Western’s rich, wholistic learning environment; engage in brave conversations with our diverse community on and off campus, and develop the courage to be uncomfortable without fear of failure in order to thrive throughout their degree and after graduation.

At Western, the Student Experience portfolio is organized into three inter-dependent pillars that provide the programmes and supports that inspire Western Students to discover themselves; engage with their communities and thrive as learners. These Pillars are: Wellness & Wellbeing (Wellness & Equity Education, Health & Wellness and Student Support & Case Management), Sport & Recreation (Sport, Recreation, and Spirit & Tradition), and Leadership & Learning (Academic Support & Engagement and Careers & Experience). Professional and student staff working across these three pillars collaborate with student organizations and academic and administrative leaders throughout campus to foster inclusive and wholistic learning environments that maximize the potential of each student. Careers & Experience helps students deepen their academic learning and actively plan for personal and professional growth through career education, experiential learning, and industry exploration. We foster an environment in which students are able to discover their potential and design their future.

The vision of Careers & Experience is for all Western students to have the skills and confidence to successfully navigate their career paths, thoughtfully engage in communities, and build a meaningful life.

Responsibilities

The Career Coach, Undergraduate and Professional Students will help Western students connect their academic learning to career paths and future goals in support of the University’s mission to build an equitable and thriving campus. The Career Coach, Undergraduate & Professional Students will be responsible for designing career development programming that meets the needs of undergraduate students, across all Faculties, as well as all students within Western’s Professional Programs (Dentistry, Education, Law, Medicine, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy) and supports them to navigate their career and life plans. The role will assist undergraduate students and professional students with preparing for work integrated learning (WIL) opportunities, job applications and interviews, and career planning and exploration. The Career Coach, Undergraduate & Professional Students will collaborate with the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies to deliver on Western’s commitment of supporting students in professional programs to develop skills for meaningful careers.

KEY ROLE ACCOUNTABILITIES:

1. Provides short-term, structured one-on-one support to students in career decision-making and exploration, gaining experience, job search, further education, and/or work-integrated learning (WIL) contexts, using a Life Design approach which focuses on making meaning through work

• Assesses needs and develop strong, supportive coaching relationships that are adaptable to students from all identities and experiences, making appropriate referrals where necessary
• Cultivates trust with students, centering attention on the values and needs of the individuals seeking support and creating an environment that encourages the development of self-efficacy and career optimism
• Tailors approaches based on setting (in person, by phone, online) and the individual’s needs through active listening, facilitating reflection, and relevant content knowledge (e.g., job search strategies, career development theory)
• Supports students in identifying and synthesizing self-information for use in a variety of career, employment, and further education settings
• Helps students find and access the tools and resources that align with their priorities and goals
• Guides students in accessing and using labour market and other sources of information to build their understanding of the world of work
• Supports students to understand and navigate employment and institutional systems

2. Delivers inclusive, group-based career education programming, often in partnership with campus stakeholders (e. g. Faculty of Law, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, Faculty of Health Sciences)

• Facilitates learning through group advising, workshops, webinars, presentations, events and digital resources to meet student/alumni needs, customized to the audience (e.g., specific associations/academic programs; in and outside of the classroom)
• Designs creative approaches to supporting students in career, employment, further education, and/or experiential learning settings, including career exploration and planning, job search, networking, interview preparation, navigating academic and non-academic career paths, etc.
• Grounds career development approaches in contemporary career education and student development theories (e.g., Design Thinking, Narrative, Active Engagement, Planned Happenstance, Career Construction) and with an equity, diversity, and inclusion lens
• Maintains awareness of current career development issues and labour market trends
• Develops and maintains a thorough knowledge of Western and community-based resources
• Develops training and tools and shares with fellow Career Coaches; share expertise and supports cross-training
• Supports the assessment and evaluation of programming, and contributes to the development and revision of evaluation tools consistent with the goals of the Department

3. Strengthens on-campus reputation as a central source of curricular and co-curricular career education

• Promotes awareness and understanding of Careers & Experience (e.g., professional programs’ student orientation programs, outreach presentations)
• Supports Faculty-based career professionals in developing services aligned with best practices for career education (e.g., using a Life Design approach)
• Influences stakeholder perspectives on career education, such as: the value and pervasiveness of non-linear pathways, emerging labour market trends, and relevant career development theories
• Builds relationships with campus colleagues to educate on referral processes, resources, and professional development opportunities (e.g., Life Design Collective)
• Improves access to career resources that anticipate, and address campus partners’ needs in supporting students

4. Curates digital career development resources

• Reviews relevant local, national, and international career education and higher educational resources (e.g., EAB, CERIC, NCDA, Academic Group, etc.)
• Curates content for the Career Education website, and ensures online information reflects current trends in career development, meets accessibility requirements, and addresses the unique needs of Western’s student body
• Facilitates the integration of digital tools that specifically enhance programs and supports for professional students
• Maintains membership in relevant organizations

5. Leads key programs and services for undergraduate and professional students

• Supports students to gain WIL opportunities and other employment (e.g., job search tactics, interviewing skills, negotiating salary)
• Coaches students on identifying and articulating skills, knowledge, and abilities
• Supports the goal of increasing the number of students engaged in a range of experiential learning activities through conversations that connect these experiences with students’ future career goals
• Addresses the unique career development needs of professional students to support individualized career goals in a variety of fields/areas
• Designs and delivers group programming specific to the needs of professional students on topics including career exploration & planning, job search, networking, interview preparation, skills articulation, etc.
• Coaches professional students on relevant strategies for professional networking and the identification of academic and industry mentors
• Ensures professional student representation in Career Profile Advisor positions, and serves as a point of contact for the Student Leader for matters related to professional students
• Facilitates pop-ups for resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile support across campus
• Supports the integration of digital tools that enhance student career preparedness (e.g., JobScan, InterviewStream)
• Contributes to the development of annual reports, strategic planning documents, grant proposals, and other formal documents as required

ROLE REQUIREMENTS:

Professional Qualifications & Education:

Minimum required:

• Undergraduate Degree in Liberal Arts, Social Science, or related fields
• Career Development Practitioner Certification completed, or in progress

Preferred:

• Master’s Degree in Education or related field
• Coaching Certification

Experience:

Minimum required:

• 3 years of experience working in a career-related advising/coaching environment
• Experience with active listening and using coaching/advising skills (preferably in a professional development or career development context)

Preferred:

• 2 years of experience in Student Affairs in a higher education setting
• Demonstrated use of an inclusive design framework to apply an EDI lens in career program development

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of career development theories, Life Design framework, labour market trends, and job search skills
• Expertise in creating safe spaces for trusting/helping conversations
• Ability to avoid sharing “expert” advice and, instead, focus on supporting people in their own learning and reflection
• Commitment to deepening coaching skills through individual reflective practice and on- going professional development
• Awareness of own social location and how it affects the power and privilege in coaching relationships
• Established ability to develop engaging and tailored curricula, group programming and digital resources, particularly for equity-deserving groups
• Non-judgmental, empathetic and creative approach to working through challenges
• Understanding of professional scope and able to make appropriate referrals to community, institutional, and student-led services, considering potential barriers to access individuals might face
• Experience facilitating reflection and learning within group settings; interest in pedagogy, group learning theories, and activity-based learning
• Ability to build relationships and collaborate with colleagues both inside and outside the department
• Ability to manage own schedule and balance competing priorities in a fast-paced work environment
• Appreciation of the purpose and value of quality work integrated learning in preparing students for future work and life
• Ability to maintain working knowledge of relevant technology, including facilitation tools (e.g., polling platforms), and social media/online platforms (e.g. LinkedIn)
• Possesses a reputation for resourcefulness, with a strong sense of accountability and initiative
• Intermediate Skills with Microsoft Office Suite, Microsoft Teams, Google Docs, and other online productivity tools (e.g., for webinars and one-on-one online engagement)

Why Western?

Western offers a broad and exciting variety of part-time and temporary employment opportunities with ample room for job exploration and growth. Within our beautiful campus, you are part of a progressive work environment that promotes work/life balance including access to our state-of-the-art recreation centre. Apply for an opportunity to be part of the Western community and contribute to its success!

Applying at Western

To ensure that your application is given full consideration, please complete all relevant sections of the application. In addition, you can choose to supplement your application with a cover letter and current resume.

Consideration of applicants will include an assessment of previous performance, experience, and qualifications. Applicants should have oral communication skills in English.

Western Values Diversity

The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Western is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcomes applications from women, members of racialized groups/visible minorities, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation, and persons of any gender identity or gender expression.

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you require accommodations for interviews or other meetings, please contact Human Resources or phone 519-661-2194.

Please Note:

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those chosen for an interview will be contacted.