How to hire an advising assistant

How to hire an advising assistant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step advising assistant hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The advising assistant hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   An advising assistant's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, advising assistants 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 advising assistants and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Advising Assistant	Description	Hourly rate
   Advising Assistant	Social and human service assistants provide client services, including support for families, in a wide variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, and social work. They assist other workers, such as social workers, and they help clients find benefits or community services.	$12-33

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Financial Aid
   • Customer Service
   • Scheduling Appointments
   • Administrative Tasks
   • Administrative Assistance
   • Repair Orders
   • Front Desk
   • Service Drive
   • GPA
   • Financial Reports
   • Telephone Calls
   • International Student
   • PowerPoint
   • Student Data

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Identify project priorities and work with senior account managers/team leads to identify most critical projects and communicate them with account coordinators.
   • Monitor and adjust parts inventory using ADP software.
   • Organize events, memorials and trips design to provide camaraderie between veterans and the community.
   • Monitor students' degree progress and GPA, perform needs assessment and maintain detailed computerize files.
   • Work to ensure accuracy of system data transfer and reconciliation of employment procedures with ADP system capabilities.
   • Prepare and help mentor and direct veteran students transitioning from active duty and reserve and veterans family members that share benefits.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, advising assistants' average salary in utah is 56% less than in connecticut.
   • Seniority. Entry-level advising assistants earn 62% less than senior-level advising assistants.
   • Certifications. An advising assistant 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 advising assistant's salary.

   Average advising assistant salary

   $42,453yearly

   $20.41 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level advising assistant salary

   $26,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 22, 2025

4. Writing an advising assistant job description

   A job description for an advising assistant role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's an advising assistant job description:

   Advising assistant job description example

   Cable Dahmer Chevrolet of Kansas City is hiring a Service Advisor Assistant for their growing service team to work Wednesday-Saturday (4 - 10hr shifts)
   Perks & Benefits:
   
   Paid Vacation
   Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance & Pharmacy Coverage
   Health Savings Account
   Paid Short Term Disability
   401k + Company Match Contributions
   Growth Opportunities with Continuous Training and Development
   Employee discounts - Service, Parts, Body Shop and Sales
   
   What you'll do as an Advisor Assistant:
   
   Greet service customers in a timely manner
   Schedule appointments, and maintain an organized schedule
   Conduct post repair follow up
   Explain any cost & service time requirements
   Educate customers on work completed and any cost adjustments
   Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment
   Exceptional customer service skills and follow up required
   
   What you'll need as an Advisor Assistant:
   
   Proven record of achieving exceptional customer satisfaction
   Above-average energy level
   A desire for a long-term career with a growing organization
   Personal and professional integrity
   Computer skills and willingness to learn new programs
   
   What you'll need to be an Automotive Service Advisor:
   
   Proven record of achieving exceptional customer satisfaction
   At least 2-years experience as a service advisor, assistant lane manager or service consultant
   Above-average energy level
   A desire for a long-term career with a growing organization
   Personal and professional integrity
   Computer skills and willingness to learn new programs
   
   What you'll do as an Automotive Service Advisor:
   
   Obtain customer and vehicle information
   Clearly report all vehicle symptoms as described by the customer
   Determine and recommend maintenance based on age, mileage, and history of vehicle
   Prepare a complete and accurate estimate of costs for labor and parts
   Inform customers about potential cost savings and warranty protections
   Oversee and manage scheduling and workflow
   Monitor the progress of each vehicle throughout the day, and update customers frequently
   Verify that the final invoice reconciles with the work performed on the repair order
   Explain all completed work and charges to customers
   
   We are an equal opportunity employer and prohibit discrimination/harassment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find advising assistants for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any advising assistants they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level advising assistants with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with advising assistant candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   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 advising assistant

   Once you have selected a candidate for the advising assistant 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 good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new advising assistant first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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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