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[sarah11085]

I am currently getting my Masters in Community and College Counseling. I will not be done until Fall of 2014, but I was curious what could I do to increase the chances of getting a job right out of college? My undergrad is a Bachelor of Science (Education).   I've just recently decided I want to become an academic advisor. Thank you in advance. 

[msparticularity]

Overall, the job market in academic advising is not great; there appear to be an increasing number of people who are interested in it--or in beginning there for other jobs in student services. Given your background in education, though, you may be in a slightly better situation because colleges of ed often have dedicated advisement offices with (relatively) larger staffs than university-wide advisement offices.

My best advice is that you begin by keeping an eye on the job listings; find out how many jobs are opening up, and see whether or not you are actually qualified for them. You don't mention whether you're open to a major move, either; you should definitely pay attention to where jobs are. Finally, see if you can find out how many applications places are receiving for these jobs and/or how many of these are qualified applicants. All of that should give you some sense of whether this is a viable plan for you. 

[rcjett]

I was just hired as an academic advisor. There are a plethora of job openings, it seems, in southern community colleges, so depending where you are, you might need to be willing to relocated. That said, you will need some experience beyond internships or externships. Try volunteering at a non-profit that helps people in the community obtain work, or at least helps them with job hunting skills. Attend seminars geared towards community work trends (local workforce boards will be able to help you with that). You could even develop your own seminar/ class that offers help in career choices.

These are just thoughts. Just remember that employers (whether private, nonprofit or academic) look for people who have ideas and are willing to act on those ideas.

[octoprof]

I am currently getting my Masters in Community and College Counseling. I will not be done until Fall of 2014, but I was curious what could I do to increase the chances of getting a job right out of college? My undergrad is a Bachelor of Science (Education).   I've just recently decided I want to become an academic advisor. Thank you in advance. 

Some universities (and some colleges within them) have their own academic advising offices that hire student advisors to help with the workload. Have you looked into that at your current university?

[sarah11085]

Yes, I have and plan to volunteer at a local university in their academic adivisng office to get some experience. To answer the questions above, I am willing to move anywhere in the U.S. I can get an academic advising job.

[beccalynn2010]

Yes, I have and plan to volunteer at a local university in their academic adivisng office to get some experience. To answer the questions above, I am willing to move anywhere in the U.S. I can get an academic advising job.

This is definitely a good plan.  Make sure to talk to the people you are volunteering with about structuring your experience like an internship.  Volunteering and just refiling files is helpful to the office, but isn't going to get you the experience you are looking for.

Find out of any of the colleges at your institution use summer advising assistants for Orientation.  They frequently LOVE interns/volunteers because it saves them on paying someone.  I got my foot in the door and placed into my job by working as a summer advising intern.

Join NACADA (The National Academic Advising Council).  Student memberships are $20/year, and give you access to the journal, their job boards, conferences, etc.  http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/Membership/student.htm

Good luck!

[sarah11085]

Thank you for the advice. I also work part-time, so the intern thing probably wouldn't work, but I'll see what I can come up with.

[dale1]

Good ideas, all.  Most of the positions I have seen in advising are very competitive at 4-year institutions.  Do not know about the 2-year sector.  It is routine to receive over 200 applications for a full time position paying less than $40,000 with a MS required.  Very few people are hired FT with just a bachelor's degree at most 4-year institutions in my experience.

One of the major trends is to combine academic advising and career counseling, so you are best set up when you have both types of experience.

Best of luck.  I have been on many committees, so if you want, PM me.

[dkm1776]

We just advertised for a part time advising position that garnered over 100 applications, of which 46 met the minimum requirements of an MA/MS/MS.ed.  We are in a suburban CC, of a (somewhat) desirable city. I've found most of the academic advising jobs in this area-- four-year schools and community colleges-- require an MA or equivilant. Some schools may want you to have some experience with a subject area--- such as a major in English or Biology-- but that's usually if you are aiming for a departmental advisor rather than generalist.

[dale1]

Good and important distinction, dkm.  There are often positions at "general" advising centers, such as University Division at Indiana University in Bloomington, that hire advisors with any academic background and a graduate degree in higher ed/student affairs, counseling, and so on.  There are often other units (smaller, usually) that hire one or two undergraduate student advisors for an academic school or department.  In those cases, an undergraduate or graduate degree in the field(s) in question are no doubt helpful; it's not necessarily going to get you the job if you have a MS in biology and you want to be an advisor for biology students, for instance, but knowing the field is a good thing.  It would be hard to be hired at my metropolitan research university if you did not also have a background in student affairs/student development.