What does a student services counselor do?
Student Services is a part of the school program that focuses on helping students in their studies. A Student Services Counselor handles this task and is the contact person for all students who need help or who have problems and issues requiring solutions and answers. In a culturally diverse population in schools, it is the student service counselor's job to connect each student to relevant student service programs available in the school. Ultimately, the welfare of the students and their success in school is the goal of this position.
Student services counselor responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real student services counselor resumes:
- Assist in all aspects of the FAFSA, insuring that every eligible student apply accurately.
- Verify FAFSA applications for accuracy.
- Plan retention and recruitment opportunities for students, prospective employers and alumni through interdepartmental and professional cooperative efforts.
- Create, construct and maintain a student info PowerPoint presentation.
- Draft general email correspondence, introduction/thank you letters, excel spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations.
- Develop formal policies/procedures for daily operations such as program approvals/tracking, financial tracking systems, staff meetings and leadership opportunities.
Student services counselor skills and personality traits
We calculated that 18% of Student Services Counselors are proficient in Customer Service, Financial Aid, and Student Services. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Listening skills, and Speaking skills.
We break down the percentage of Student Services Counselors that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Customer Service, 18%
Staff Facilitator - Facilitated university-wide customer service training
- Financial Aid, 11%
Communicate effectively with students and families regarding billing statements, payment options, financial aid requirements, and university policy.
- Student Services, 10%
Worked directly under Director of Student Services analyzing, creating and distributing reports to department.
- Social Work, 7%
Produced student attendance report for social workers and group home counselors.
- Rehabilitation, 7%
Worked closely with the Division of Rehabilitation Services and other agencies in providing educational opportunities for their clients.
- Mental Health, 4%
Gained essential knowledge of Addictive disorders and co-occurring mental health disorders and counseling.
Most student services counselors use their skills in "customer service," "financial aid," and "student services" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential student services counselor responsibilities here:
Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a student services counselor to have is analytical skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "school and career counselors and advisors interpret student records, schoolwide data, and assessments to match interests and abilities with potential careers. ." Student services counselors often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "process student grants and maintain office files; data entry on computer system using excel program. "
Listening skills. Another essential skill to perform student services counselor duties is listening skills. Student services counselors responsibilities require that "school and career counselors and advisors need to give full attention to students and clients in order to understand their problems." Student services counselors also use listening skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "communicated with student government, student affairs, and other student organizations to successfully execute operational functions. "
Speaking skills. This is an important skill for student services counselors to perform their duties. For an example of how student services counselor responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "school and career counselors and advisors must communicate effectively with clients and students." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a student services counselor: "represented student health office in lectures, student health education at dorms, and school orientation programs (open house). ".
Interpersonal skills. For certain student services counselor responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "interpersonal skills." The day-to-day duties of a student services counselor rely on this skill, as "school and career counselors and advisors must be able to work with people of all backgrounds and personalities." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what student services counselors do: "consulted and referred student athletes to resources for mental, interpersonal, and academic support. "
The three companies that hire the most student services counselors are:
- Strategic Education13 student services counselors jobs
- University of Vermont6 student services counselors jobs
- The City University of New York4 student services counselors jobs
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Compare different student services counselors
Student services counselor vs. Student advocate
Student workers are students who are employed while also enrolled at the university. They usually work in a department or college where they handle different tasks. Most of the time, student workers are assigned to do administrative activities. Their tasks include sorting mail, sending outgoing mail, manning telephone lines, filing documents, updating records, liaising with other departments, and documenting meetings, among others. Student-workers may also be assigned to handle or assist in university-wide events and activities. They are expected to be technologically savvy so that they can really help out in the department they are assigned to. Student-workers should be responsible, trustworthy, and diligent.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, student services counselor responsibilities require skills like "customer service," "student services," "social work," and "rehabilitation." Meanwhile a typical student advocate has skills in areas such as "educational programs," "community organizations," "administrative hearings," and "academic support." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
The education levels that student advocates earn slightly differ from student services counselors. In particular, student advocates are 2.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a student services counselor. Additionally, they're 4.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Student services counselor vs. Student worker
Often, counselors are known to be the go-to person in times we are in need of emotional and psychological support. They help people to manage and overcome the issues which affect their mental health and well-being. Counselors face different kind of situations which may involve trauma, addiction, disabilities, abuse, suicide, anger management, career, and even personal relationships. They provide care, counseling, rehabilitation, and support services. Every counseling requires collaborative effort both from the counselor and client to become effective.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real student services counselor resumes. While student services counselor responsibilities can utilize skills like "student services," "social work," "rehabilitation," and "mental health," student workers use skills like "twitter," "computer lab," "alumni," and "scheduling appointments."
Student workers earn a lower average salary than student services counselors. But student workers earn the highest pay in the retail industry, with an average salary of $26,351. Additionally, student services counselors earn the highest salaries in the government with average pay of $45,469 annually.In general, student workers achieve lower levels of education than student services counselors. They're 8.0% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 4.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for student services counselors in the next 3-5 years?
Lisa Wallace
Director of Career Services, Rocky Mountain College
Student services counselor vs. Counselor
The work of education counselors revolves around giving students advice about their course choice, career structuring, and supporting them in their school endeavors. They must have the empathy to help students adjust to their everyday struggles and personal conflicts. They often give students information about scholarship grants and help them apply. They organize seminars talking about alcohol consumption and smoking. Counselors also discuss strategies to improve school performance regarding overall counseling services.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from student services counselor resumes include skills like "customer service," "student services," "rehabilitation," and "mental health," whereas a counselor is more likely to list skills in "patients," "substance abuse," "cpr," and "family therapy. "
Counselors make a very good living in the education industry with an average annual salary of $37,750. On the other hand, student services counselors are paid the highest salary in the government industry, with average annual pay of $45,469.Most counselors achieve a similar degree level compared to student services counselors. For example, they're 4.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.8% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Student services counselor vs. Education counselor
Types of student services counselor
Updated January 8, 2025
