How to hire an adoption counselor

How to hire an adoption counselor, step by step

Here's a step-by-step adoption counselor hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an adoption counselor job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new adoption counselor
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your adoption counselor job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find an adoption counselor for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An adoption counselor's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, adoption counselors from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of adoption counselors and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Adoption Counselor	Description	Hourly rate
   Adoption Counselor	School counselors help students develop academic and social skills and succeed in school. Career counselors assist people with the process of making career decisions by helping them develop skills or choose a career or educational program.	$11-19
   Peer Mentor	A peer mentor is an individual who builds a relationship with another person or mentee who is new to the career or at the same level. Peer mentors must serve as a social role model and educate mentees on various resources and services... Show more	$10-17
   Job Coach	A job coach is responsible for evaluating people's skills and qualifications, advising them with career paths, helping with their aspirations, and promote employment opportunities. Job coaches help the clients build self-confidence and explore their maximum potentials to develop their professional growth... Show more	$14-21

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • PET
   • Customer Service
   • Behavior Issues
   • Front Desk
   • Animal Shelter
   • Process Adoptions
   • General Care
   • Schedule Appointments
   • Animal Handling
   • Adoptive Families
   • Adoptable Animals
   • Birth Parents
   • Health Issues
   • Computer System

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Take animal photographs and write biographies for website.
   • Stay abreast of all animals' biographies within the shelter to aid potential adopting families in a successful placement.
   • Screen and counsele potential adopters for eligibility, preparation and responsibilities of pet ownership.
   • Evaluate potential pet adoption candidates for safety, human interaction, and overall compatibility with their human counterparts.
   • Remain non-denominational, open, flexible and ecumenical in service to patients while also providing additional resources from local spiritual communities.
   • Assist in SPCA sponsor events.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your adoption counselor job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An adoption counselor salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, adoption counselors' average salary in west virginia is 49% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level adoption counselors earn 43% less than senior-level adoption counselors.
   • Certifications. An adoption counselor with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an adoption counselor's salary.

   Average adoption counselor salary

   $15.00hourly

   $31,200 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level adoption counselor salary

   $23,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 13, 2025

4. Writing an adoption counselor job description

   An adoption counselor job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of an adoption counselor job description:

   Adoption counselor job description example

   *_Adoption Counselor Part Time_*
   *Sat-Tuesday 10:30am-6pm with Wed-Friday off*
   *Summary*
   The Adoption Program at ACC has a goal that is simple and powerful: we are looking to help end animal homelessness in New York City by connecting people and pets for adoption. ACC employs an open adoption approach where we understand that there is no such thing as the “perfect home” and we welcome all clients as potential adopters. Using an “open adoptions” approach, the adoption process is conversation based and non-judgmental. Our focus is on matching pets with people and providing resources to continue assisting these new families post adoption. Adoption Counselors are the voice of the homeless pet population and work to promote their adoptions. They will need to provide superior customer service skills and must be willing and prepared to answer a wide variety of questions regarding animal husbandry.
   We are looking to hire an Adoption Counselor who has experience handling large breeds (50+ lbs) and is comfortable facilitating adoption interactions with dogs who may have one or more of the following potential challenges: poor impulse control, social hyperarousal, leash-biting, strength/leash pulling, mouthiness/poor bite inhibition, resource guarding, etc.
   *Responsibilities*
   Customer Service (50%)
   
   * Provide exemplary customer service to our adopters by effectively communicating and guiding them through the adoption process.
   * Escort clients to view available animals for adoption to find out what they are looking for in a pet and explain kennel cards.
   * Work with adopters to find a good match for their families by accurately communicating the medical and behavioral needs of the pet and supplying them the necessary information and resources during counseling sessions to set them up for success.
   * Review adoption applications, interview prospective adopters and make decisions on the outcome of adoptions.
   * Perform reference checks as needed.
   * Check and provide answers via email on a shared adoption account.
   * Occasionally attend offsite adoption events and participate in community outreach.
   * Answer phones and check voicemails in a timely fashion.
   * Provide follow-up post adoption to answer any questions or to address and work through common challenges.
   
   Husbandry and Handling (20%)
   
   * Interact with and get to know available animals in order to provide information and to provide the best matches.
   * Handle and conduct interactions between animals and their potential adopters.
   * Prepare animals to leave the shelter by properly fitting dogs with collars and/or harnesses and placing cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs into carriers using low-stress techniques.
   * Conduct and write rabbit evaluations to promote their adoptions.
   * Write bios and take photos to help increase adoptability.
   
   Administrative/Other (30%)
   
   * Process adoption paperwork and payments. This includes closing animal records, entering rabies/dog license information, processing payments and donations, etc.
   * Review and document any pertinent customer information into the Shelterbuddy database.
   * Ensure that all adoption paperwork is filed and organized according to policy.
   * Photograph and keep track of positive adoption stories or “Happy Tails” to share with other members of the organization.
   * Clean and organize adoption areas.
   * Other duties as assigned.
   
   *Qualifications*
   Comfortable working in a fast-paced, often high-stress, ever changing environment. Customer-driven and focused on providing a positive, upbeat experience for all clients. High attention to detail, Strong work ethic, and thrive working in busy environment. The ability to handle different breeds and sizes of dogs. Treating animals and people with respect and employ humane handling techniques whenever possible. Work well independently but also function seamlessly as a member of a team.
   *Education and Work Experience*
   High School Diploma or GED required. This is an entry-level position. At least six months customer service experience is required. Prior dog handling experience required.
   *Work Environment*
   At Animal Care Centers it's all hands-on deck. We work together as a team, which means you may be asked to help with tasks that involve working outside in all sorts of weather. As a busy animal shelter in one of the biggest cities in the world it can get noisy inside. Employees should have the ability to remain calm yet professional in stressful situations involving animals and/or members of the public. Animal Care Centers houses hundreds of animals in its facilities at any given time and with that comes fur, odors and other airborne particles in abundance.
   Animal Care Centers offers many low-cost services to pets and people in need. This includes compassionate end-of-life services for people who cannot afford to go to a private veterinary office but still want to provide a professional and peaceful transition for their beloved pet.
   Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required. New Hires must be fully vaccinated by the first day of employment. Reasonable accommodations will be considered.
   *Reports To: * Adoptions Manager
   Overtime: This is a non-union hourly position and eligible for overtime.
   Animal Care Centers of New York City is committed to being an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate because of race, color, creed, gender, religion, national origin, disability, age, pregnancy, genetic predisposition or carrier status, marital status, citizenship status, or sexual orientation. Accommodations will be provided to qualified individuals requiring them. EOE/M/F/D/V/SO.
   
   Job Type: Part-time

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right adoption counselor for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with adoption counselors they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit adoption counselors who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your adoption counselor job on Zippia to find and recruit adoption counselor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit adoption counselors, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new adoption counselor

   Once you have selected a candidate for the adoption counselor position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new adoption counselor. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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