How to Work As a College Advisor

Advisors help students build their class schedules.

College advisors perform a variety of duties, so extensive training and education are essential. Advisors help students understand their course requirements and schedule classes; guide them toward career goals; monitor their progress; encourage them to try programs such as study abroad; and keep track of all this information in databases. To juggle all of these responsibilities, a college advisor must be well-versed in higher education, computers and communications.

Instructions

1. Enroll in a master's degree program in higher education. This type of degree teaches skills such as student assessment, administration and development theory. Degrees in areas such as social work, counseling and psychology similarly prepare you for this career path (see References 1).

2. Obtain experience while in school by applying to be an advising assistant. Such a position, or a position volunteering for a student affairs office, gives you hands-on experience that will help you in your job search.

3. Improve your speaking and communication skills. As an advisor, you will have to communicate effectively with different types of people, including those for whom English is not their first language. Take classes in public speaking and communications to improve your ability in these areas.

4. Get trained and certified in office-oriented computer programs to make yourself a competitive candidate. Advisors must be proficient in such programs, so if you have little experience, take a training course.

5. Learn about and meet any specific requirements that may be unique to your state and/or school. Depending on the type of advising you are doing, you may need to be state certified (see Reference 2). You can find out these requirements by contacting the human resources department at the school to which you are applying for employment. This department will also provide information regarding the type of experience you may need to be qualified for that particular institution.

6. Apply for college advising jobs for which you are qualified. Search for these jobs by checking with the human resources department at any school in which you are interested. Many schools list their job openings online, allowing you to see which institutions are looking for advisors and what the qualifications are.

References

• NACADA: How to Become an Academic Advisor
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Counselors

Resources

• Education Portal: College Counselor: Job Info and Requirements for a College Counseling Career