Employment Counselor, DES

The Employment Counselor advises customers on such matters as job search methods and job interview process; review and analyze customer information through records, tests and interviews; conducts counseling interviews with customers; describe, explain or answer inquiries concerning eligibility, procedures and benefits related to agency programs; maintain liaison with public and private organizations; compile occupational, edu­cational and other information; and perform related work as required.  The basic purpose of this work is to assist customers in determining and achieving individual vocational, educational and/or training goals.

Duties include, but are not limited to the following:

• Conduct RESEA reviews which include intensive one-on-one career plan and job search review.

• Advises customers on such matters as job search methods, job interview process and/or dealing with social problems to motivate customers and to recommend specific courses of action to prepare customers for employment and/or training opportunities.

• Reviews and analyzes customer information through records, tests, and interviews to appraise interests, aptitudes, abilities and personal characteristics, to determine eligibility for agency programs and services and to determine the most appropriate individual vocational, educational and/or training goals based on customer needs and available services.

• Conducts comprehensive assessment of each customer including utilizing labor market information and resume review to determine marketability and to develop a career action plan.

• Work with customers to identify training needs, participate in a team approach in determine the customers suitability for participation in WIOA and TRADE funded training programs.

• Oversee a complex and extensive case load which involves maintaining ongoing customer contact (minimum of 30 days) to determine progress of job search and/or training until the customer has found employment.

• Ability to conduct workshops and seminars when needed, such as Career Center Seminar, resume writing, interviewing etc.

• Maintain and document all services and notes in the Massachusetts One Stop Employment System database for monitoring review and compliance.

• Assist in the certification of eligibility for customers to enroll into WIOA, TRADE, National Emergency Grants and specialty funded services when needed.  Verifies all documents/records to ensure the justifications are properly contained for monitoring and compliance with the DOL regulation and Agency policies and procedures.

• Conducts counseling interviews with customers to guide them, to suggest approaches and to assist them in achieving occupational, educational, or vocational goals according to agency guidelines.

• Describes, explains, or answers inquiries concerning eligibility, procedures and benefits using agency guidelines to inform customers and other interested parties of agency programs and services.

• Maintains liaison with public and private organizations, including community organizations, to promote agency programs and services, to exchange information and to develop the resources necessary to provide customer services.

• Compiles occupational, educational, and other pertinent information to assist customers in determining vocational and educational interests and goals.