How to hire a vocational rehabilitation consultant

How to hire a vocational rehabilitation consultant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step vocational rehabilitation consultant hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a vocational rehabilitation consultant, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A vocational rehabilitation consultant's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, vocational rehabilitation consultants 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 vocational rehabilitation consultants and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Vocational Rehabilitation Consultant	Description	Hourly rate
   Vocational Rehabilitation Consultant	Rehabilitation counselors help people with physical, mental, developmental, and emotional disabilities live independently. They work with clients to overcome or manage the personal, social, or psychological effects of disabilities on employment or independent living.	$14-25
   Work Counselor	A work counselor's responsibility is to know the employee's problems including stress, workplace depression, declining productivity, and anxiety, and help solve them by resolving negative patterns, rehabilitation, and prevention to improve quality of life. Such purpose is to reduce sickness absence and pressure... Show more	$22-31
   Consultant	Consultants are individuals who were tapped by a company or an organization to work on a specific activity, depending on their field of expertise. They act as guides for the organization in undertaking projects that are related to their field... Show more	$27-51

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Rehabilitation
   • Vocational Rehabilitation
   • Transferable
   • Vocational Assessments
   • Long-Term Disability
   • Workers Compensation
   • Vocational Evaluations
   • Labor Market Surveys
   • RTW
   • Rehabilitation Programs
   • Plan Development
   • Social Security
   • Insurance Carriers
   • On-The-Job Training

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Collaborate with institutions of higher learning and local organizations to help assign veterans achieve independent living and academic success.
   • Facilitate vocational assessments and support vocational rehabilitation program development to best facilitate occupational analysis on long-term disability.
   • Provide occupational definitions and transferable skills analyses to assist claims team in determining liability for disability claims.
   • Analyze clients for the following: transferable skills, employment readiness, appropriate placement opportunity and labor market availability.
   • Ensure early identification of disability rehabilitation candidates and develop appropriate rehabilitation plans.
   • Review files to ensure CARF standards are meet.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, vocational rehabilitation consultants' average salary in oklahoma is 49% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level vocational rehabilitation consultants 40% less than senior-level vocational rehabilitation consultants.
   • Certifications. A vocational rehabilitation consultant 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 vocational rehabilitation consultant's salary.

   Average vocational rehabilitation consultant salary

   $40,783yearly

   $19.61 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level vocational rehabilitation consultant salary

   $31,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 12, 2025

4. Writing a vocational rehabilitation consultant job description

   A vocational rehabilitation consultant 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. To help get you started, here's an example of a vocational rehabilitation consultant job description:

   Vocational rehabilitation consultant job description example

   UnitedHealthcare is a company that's on the rise. We're expanding in multiple directions, across borders and, most of all, in the way we think. Here, innovation isn't about another gadget, it's about transforming the health care industry. Ready to make a difference? Make yourself at home with us and start doing **your life's best work.(sm)**
   
   You'll enjoy the flexibility to telecommute* from anywhere within the U.S. as you take on some tough challenges.
   **Primary Responsibilities:**
   
   + Individuals in this position are Licensed Vocational Rehabilitation Consultants who are responsible for supporting the Financial Protection Claims Organization with regard to assessment of vocational data submitted in support of disability claims
   
   + Effectively and professionally utilize sound judgment, technical knowledge, communication skills, and resources (Claims Organization, OASIS, DOT, etc.) to meet the needs of the Financial Protection Organization
   
   + File reviews in response to questions posed by the Claim organization
   
   + Completion of Transferable Skills Analysis, Labor Market Surveys and Occupational Assessments
   
   + Provide vocational rehabilitation services to referred claimants
   
   + Provide vocational expertise at Claims Conference and other roundtable settings
   
   + Provide vocational consultations with claims specialists and others
   
   + Compile customer vocational reports, as business requires
   
   You'll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear direction on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in.
   
   **Required Qualifications:**
   
   + Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
   
   + Licensed Vocational Rehabilitation Consultant (Active in state of practice)
   
   + 3+ years of vocational experience
   
   + Demonstrated ability to document interactions and manage activities (diaries) in accordance with departmental standards
   
   + Demonstrated solid understanding and comfort utilizing multiple computer systems/applications, including Microsoft Office products
   
   **Preferred Qualifications:**
   
   + 3+ years of Disability, Accommodations, or other insurance background and experience
   
   + Understand UnitedHealth Group's Pay For Performance culture
   
   + Ability to adhere to established service standards, volumes and turnaround times
   
   + Ability to accurately track all types of vocational referrals in the database
   
   + Ability to meet the departmental quality review standards as per documented criteria
   
   + Ability to assess customer needs and requirements, especially non-standard requests and problems, and respond or refer to appropriate resources
   
   + Experience teaching, coaching, and mentoring others
   
   + Demonstrated ability in customer service issue resolution and relationship building
   
   _To protect the health and safety of our workforce, patients and communities we serve, UnitedHealth Group and its affiliate companies require all employees to disclose COVID-19 vaccination status prior to beginning employment. In addition, some roles and locations require full COVID-19 vaccination, including boosters, as an essential job function. UnitedHealth Group adheres to all federal, state and local COVID-19 vaccination regulations as well as all client COVID-19 vaccination requirements and will obtain the necessary information from candidates prior to employment to ensure compliance. Candidates must be able to perform all essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation. Failure to meet the vaccination requirement may result in rescission of an employment offer or termination of employment._
   
   **Careers at UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual.** We all want to make a difference with the work we do. Sometimes we're presented with an opportunity to make a difference on a scale we couldn't imagine. Here, you get that opportunity every day. As a member of one of our elite teams, you'll provide the ideas and solutions that help nearly 25 million customers live healthier lives. You'll help write the next chapter in the history of health care. And you'll find a wealth of open doors and career paths that will take you as far as you want to go. Go further. This is **your life's best work.(sm)**
   
   *All Telecommuters will be required to adhere to UnitedHealth Group's Telecommuter Policy.
   
   **Colorado, Connecticut or Nevada Residents Only:** The salary range for Colorado residents is $66,100 to $118,300. The salary range for Connecticut/Nevada residents is $72,800 to $129,900. Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to education, work experience, certifications, etc. In addition to your salary, UnitedHealth Group offers benefits such as, a comprehensive benefits package, incentive and recognition programs, equity stock purchase and 401k contribution (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements). No matter where or when you begin a career with UnitedHealth Group, you'll find a far-reaching choice of benefits and incentives.
   
   _Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere: UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law._
   
   _UnitedHealth Group is a drug - free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment._

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right vocational rehabilitation consultant 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 vocational rehabilitation consultant job on Zippia to find and recruit vocational rehabilitation consultant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting vocational rehabilitation consultants requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 vocational rehabilitation consultant

   Once you've selected the best vocational rehabilitation consultant candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new vocational rehabilitation consultant. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are 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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