What is an employment specialist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Raina Gandhi

An employment specialist helps job seekers find employment. They work with clients to assess their skills, strengths, and interests to match them with job opportunities. Employment specialists also assist with resume writing, interview skills, and job searches. They maintain relationships with businesses to identify job openings and negotiate hiring terms. Employment specialists may also provide support to clients on the job, helping them navigate workplace challenges. Overall, employment specialists help individuals find employment and achieve success.

What general advice would you give to an employment specialist?

Raina Gandhi

Assistant Dean of Career Services, American University

First impressions matter and will stay with you, so remember to bring your most professional self to work, maintain a positive attitude, and put in the hours. When you make mistakes, learn from them.

Also, take the time to get to know your colleagues and workplace norms, make sure you understand how performance is measured, and don't be afraid to ask for feedback. As you get comfortable with your role, look for ways to take on additional responsibilities to expand your skillset and build your reputation within the company.

You may not land your dream job right away, but this first job is critical for building your experience and gaining transferrable skills. Stay current in your field by reading articles, subscribing to email newsletters, and following relevant people and companies on LinkedIn

ScoreEmployment SpecialistUS Average

Salary

3.1

Avg. Salary $39,530

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

8.0

Growth rate 8%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

7.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.81%

Asian 7.74%

Black or African American 10.24%

Hispanic or Latino 17.16%

Unknown 5.53%

White 58.51%

Gender

female 69.61%

male 30.39%

Age - 40

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 40

Stress level

8.0

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.3

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

7.0

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an employment specialist?

Pros

Variety in daily tasks and responsibilities
Chance to work with a diverse group of individuals and companies
Potential for advancement and growth within the field
Competitive salary and benefits packages available
Ability to work independently or as part of a team

Cons

High pressure to meet job placement quotas
Long hours, including evenings and weekends
High stress environment, with many deadlines to meet
Potential for burnout due to emotional demands of the job
High turnover rate within the industry

Key steps to become an employment specialist

Explore employment specialist education requirements

Most common employment specialist degrees

Bachelor's

65.7 %

Associate

14.4 %

Master's

11.8 %

Start to develop specific employment specialist skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	9.53%
Rehabilitation	8.92%
Mental Health	8.38%
Social Work	6.33%
Competitive Employment	4.93%

Complete relevant employment specialist training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New employment specialists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an employment specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real employment specialist resumes.

Research employment specialist duties and responsibilities

Collaborate with partner agencies to share leads, information and execute OJT agreements.
Assist in managing unemployment claims, wrongful termination claims, civil and EEOC suits.
Demonstrate knowledge of vocational rehabilitation theory and practice along with the hiring needs and job requirements of the local business community.
Present information about vocational rehabilitation to community.

Prepare your employment specialist resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your employment specialist resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an employment specialist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable employment specialist resume templates

Build a professional employment specialist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your employment specialist resume.

Apply for employment specialist jobs

Now it's time to start searching for an employment specialist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do employment specialists rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Employment specialist reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on May 2020

Cons

There is nothing that I dislike.

A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020

Pros

I like the interaction with staff, possible candidates, & hiring managers. I possess not only professionalism but friendliness, too. I'm a team player with a positive attitude and enjoy building relationships and helping possible candidates find their career path.

A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2019