How to hire a university counselor

How to hire a university counselor, step by step

Here's a step-by-step university 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 university counselor job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new university counselor
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The university 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

   A university counselor's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, university 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.

   This list presents university counselor salaries for various positions.

   Type of University Counselor	Description	Hourly rate
   University 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.	$19-30
   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
   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:

   • Legal Advice
   • Social Work
   • Litigation
   • Legal Issues
   • Admissions Process
   • Intellectual Property
   • Legal Research
   • Financial Aid
   • Freshman
   • Alumni
   • Affiliation Agreements
   • Enrollment Process
   • Academic Integrity
   • Academic Support

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Monitor caseworkers to ensure rehabilitation services are properly coordinate to aid clients in achieving self-sufficiency.
   • Provide individual counseling for children, adolescents and adults as well as career transition and study skills.
   • Reinforce proper study habits, and supervise appropriate social activities.
   • Monitor and report academic progress and continuing eligibility of assign students in accordance with NCAA and university policy.
   • Provide leadership to provide psychological, physical and cognitive rehabilitative services to individuals with intellectual disabilities and mental illnesses.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, university counselors' average salary in south dakota is 46% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level university counselors 36% less than senior-level university counselors.
   • Certifications. A university 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 university counselor's salary.

   Average university counselor salary

   $52,076yearly

   $25.04 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level university counselor salary

   $41,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 1, 2026

4. Writing a university counselor job description

   A university 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 a university counselor job description:

   University counselor job description example

   Come Grow With Us
   
   Grand Canyon Education (GCE) is a rapidly growing educational service company that has long been an industry leader in providing educational, operational, and technological support services to the post-secondary education sector. Formerly part of Grand Canyon University (GCU), GCE still works closely with GCU to benefit thousands of students, families, and the local inner-city community. We put people first, drive innovation, and do good in the community that we live and work in.
   
   Join us at Grand Canyon Education and begin your career helping Grand Canyon University- Traditional Ground Campus students succeed! We are looking for a motivated University Admissions Counselor to oversee the Louisville, KY territory in this unique remote (work from home) opportunity. Starting salary is $55,800 per year with a tenure-based compensation plan that allows you to increase your earning potential upon the completion of each year-long recruitment cycle.
   
   Who you are:
   
   *Must live in or near Louisville, KY*
   
   You find fulfillment in serving others and are passionate about the power of education. You've demonstrated success as a team player who hustles, is adaptable to change, and does everything intentionally.
   
   You know it's not all about achieving (and often crushing!) your goals. While that does get you excited, what you really thrive on is making a positive impact on the world by helping high school students make one of the most important decisions in their lives through a quality education and community at Grand Canyon University's campus in Phoenix, AZ.
   
   Now is the time to bring your talents to Grand Canyon Education, where you'll have the opportunity to be involved in your local community and play an integral role in helping Grand Canyon University students find their purpose from application through their first few weeks on campus. Here's a taste of how you'll make your mark as a University Admissions Counselor with us.
   
   As a University Admissions Counselor, every counselor:
   
   + Has a servant's heart. You'll be involved in the community through hosting and implementing event/activity plans for your territory that build awareness of our academic programs and campus community and drive inquiry generation. Through a variety of mediums, you will use your passion for serving others to provide exceptional counseling to prospective students and their families. Whether in-person, over the phone, via email, text or Zoom, you will champion the GCE mission, promoting Grand Canyon University student success and institutional growth.
   
   + Hustles. You'll be busy using your unique ability to connect with high school students, teachers and staff in local school districts and engage with youth groups in your territory, while maintaining a full schedule that includes fairs, school visits, presentations, community/campus events and hosting campus visits.
   
   + Bleeds purple. You'll take pride in being the face of Grand Canyon University in your territory and will not only promote our transformation, but you will get to be a part of it.
   
   + Is purposeful. This is a work from home role with ambitious targets! Working independently, you'll be using your out-of-the-box critical thinking skills to support prospective Grand Canyon University campus students and families through the admissions process, guiding them on the right path towards a successful campus experience.
   
   The role might be right for you if you have:
   
   + A bachelor's degree. No delinquent or in default on a federal student loan as verified in your credit report. If in a rehabilitation program, your credit report must reflect that you are current, not delinquent, on your payments.
   
   + Outstanding time management and organization skills. In this role, you'll be wearing many hats, so you'll need to show that not only have you honed your time management skills, you also know how to organize and prioritize competing priorities even while travelling.
   
   + Clear communication and engaging presentation skills. You can explain just about anything to anyone and you're comfortable communicating in person, in writing and on the phone. You are confident and can engage any room while presenting no matter what audience is in front of you. You'll also need to have well developed listening skills.
   
   + Self-motivation and drive to succeed. You volunteer for new challenges without waiting to be asked and love to go above and beyond what's expected. You're going to take ownership of the time you spend with Grand Canyon University students and truly make a difference.
   
   + High emotional intelligence. In this role, you'll be coaching a diverse range of Grand Canyon University students and families, each with unique circumstances. You'll also have relationships with school districts and their staff to develop and nurture. Ability to demonstrate empathy is key to success in this role.
   
   + A valid driver's license, reliable transportation, a flexible schedule and is willing to travel. Since this role requires extensive travel in your territory, you'll need a clean driving record and ability to use your personal vehicle. Some events require evening and/or weekend availability. For those who reside outside of Phoenix, you can expect to travel here 1-3 times per month.
   
   + Computer literacy. As part of a remote workforce, we rely on a number of digital tools to help you execute your work and keep you accountable. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite is required.
   
   Bonus points if you have:
   
   + Attended Grand Canyon University on campus and as an Alumni, can share your experience with prospective students.
   
   + Relevant industry related professional experience.
   
   + Experience working with CRM tools.
   
   What we'll offer in return:
   
   + A career where your work makes a difference.
   
   + A stable income with a good salary.
   
   + Opportunity to own your part of the business without the risks of owning your own business.
   
   + Ongoing professional development and growth.
   
   + Outstanding benefits and work perks.
   
   + Collaborative and supportive work environment. ...and more!
   
   Application Instructions
   
   Please click on the link below to apply for this position. A new window will open and direct you to apply at our corporate careers page. We look forward to hearing from you!
   
   Apply Online
   
   Click Here to
   
   Apply Online

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right university 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 university counselors they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit university 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 university counselor job on Zippia to find and recruit university counselor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with university 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.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   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 university counselor

   Once you've found the university counselor candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   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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