How to hire a job placement counselor

How to hire a job placement counselor, step by step

Here's a step-by-step job placement counselor hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The job placement counselor 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

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a job placement counselor to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a job placement counselor that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of job placement counselor salaries for various roles:

   Type of Job Placement Counselor	Description	Hourly rate
   Job Placement 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.	$15-26
   Education Internship	An education intern is responsible for assisting class activities, teaching students with various learning methodologies under a head instructor's supervision. Education interns create comprehensive lesson plans subject for the teacher's review and develop engaging activities and learning materials to create an active learning environment to monitor the students' personal and social development... Show more	$11-23
   Admissions Representative	As the name entails, admissions representatives assist prospective and new students attending a university. They give these students the information they need to make a well-informed decision regarding enrollment, make admissions decisions, and review documents... Show more	$11-28

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Assess Training
   • Background Checks
   • Mental Health
   • Vocational Rehabilitation
   • Community Agencies
   • Cold Calls
   • Employment Services
   • Community Resources
   • Career Development
   • Competitive Employment
   • Training Programs
   • Phone Screens
   • Career Exploration

   Responsibilities:

   • Utilize aforementioned partnerships to assist TANF recipients in obtaining employment which lead to career advancement and case closure.
   • Demonstrate strong communication and leadership skills in effectively designing and implementing strategies in coaching disable high school students at their jobs.
   • Provide behavior modification and social skills training to children and adolescents with ADHD and other behavioral and emotional disorders.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your job placement counselor job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A job placement counselor can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, job placement counselors' average salary in south dakota is 51% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level job placement counselors 42% less than senior-level job placement counselors.
   • Certifications. A job placement counselor with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a job placement counselor's salary.

   Average job placement counselor salary

   $42,307yearly

   $20.34 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level job placement counselor salary

   $32,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 31, 2025

4. Writing a job placement counselor job description

   A good job placement counselor job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a job placement counselor job description:

   Job placement counselor job description example

   • Associate's Degree
   • License or certification from appropriate state.
     • CA: CADC, LAADC, CATC, or SUDCC
   • Minimum 2 years freedom from chemical use problems
   • Proficiency with technology and computer skills to document in an electronic health record system, attend virtual meetings, and manage outlook emails and calendars
   • CPR certification or attain within 60 days
   • Must be 18+ years of age

   Preferred Qualifications

   • Bachelor's Degree

   Overview

   The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation (HBFF) is the largest nonprofit addiction recovery organization in the United States. It is also one of the most mission-driven places you will find. The HBFF team is passionate about providing hope and ultimately healing. As a living, growing and evolving institution, the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is - at our core- a people-powered organization. HBFF is comprised of 1600+ employees, seventeen treatment sites and produces $190 million dollars in annual revenue. This exemplary organization serves nearly 25,000 people annually and is committed to provide hope and healing for those experiencing addiction to alcohol and other drugs.

   What makes this organization unique is its total ecosystem approach to prevention, education, research, advocacy and treatment. All of the parts of the organization work together to inform, develop and deliver evidence- based practices that help people reclaim their futures and restore their hope.

   Being “a best place to work” is a strategic goal of HBFF and it's a goal that every employee plays an active role in helping to achieve. Our culture is a reflection of how encouraged and energized we each feel about contributing our ideas and performing to our greatest ability. Join us and do meaningful work.

   We deeply value our employees. Working at HBFF includes a comprehensive benefits package, including:

   • Competitive Health, Dental and Vision Plans
   • Retirement savings plan with employer match
   • Paid time-off
   • Tuition reimbursement

   
   The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. We believe that diversity and inclusion among our colleagues is critical to our success as a force of healing and hope for individuals, families and communities affected by addiction to alcohol and other drugs; and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool.

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5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right job placement counselor for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with job placement counselor 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 job placement counselor

   Once you have selected a candidate for the job placement 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.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

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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