I currently supervise a team Student Career Paraprofessionals called Peer Advisors -- the group size changes each year, but is typically between 7-10 students. Managing this group of Peer Advisors involves recruiting, hiring, and training student staff, as well as
providing ongoing training and one-on-one supervision. The following is a
list of my main responsibilities as Supervisor of the Career
Paraprofessional Program:
- Actively recruit UWRF students to apply for the Peer Advisor (PA) position. Recruiting techniques include advertising the position
during career workshops and at student organization meetings, utilizing posters and brochures, and sending the job vacancy description through an all-student email. In addition, networking with faculty and staff also provides a great list of quality candidates.
- Provide a week of fun and intensive training that will provide PAs with a basic understanding of the different facets of their positions and of our services. The PAs learn a great deal of information during this time, but they are also able to connect with staff and fellow PAs before the busy school year begins. Training sessions are usually filled with games and interactive lessons, and veteran PAs also help lead some training sessions. Photos: game, icebreaker1,
icebreaker2, icebreaker3,
icebreaker4, icebreaker5
- Train students in a group format every other week and provide individual one-on-one meetings during the off-weeks. Group meetings are usually a review of training materials, training on new issues, or preparing for upcoming events. Individual meetings are an opportunity to track how the student is doing on projects and goals, if he/she needs additional training, or if he/she has
any concerns/issues.
- Supervise students' quality of work with clients, as well as monitor the various projects they are involved with. Projects consist of designing flyers, creating web portfolios, coordinating outreach, creating bulletin boards, etc.
Also coordinate and supervise workshops where PAs give career-related presentations to students, faculty, and alumni.
- Evaluate students twice a semester on the following criteria:
presentation skills and performance, interpersonal skills with clients,
knowledge of our services and the career planning process, professionalism
and attitude, and project performance. PAs also evaluate my
performance and their positions twice a semester.
- Develop a sense of community and togetherness with PAs and Career Services Office by scheduling fun events and celebrations--PA reunions, PA Alumni Newsletter,
spaghetti lunch meeting, Mexican
Fiesta, Japanese Etiquette Dinner, etc.
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