Graduate Assistant - SGCOE Next Level Career Development & Reflective Writing Project

July 17, 2023

The Engineering Office of Career Development & Corporate Relations (CDCR) seeks a Graduate Assistant (GA) beginning August 2023 to support the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering (SGCOE) Next Level Career Development and Reflective Writing project. This project is supported by the Auburn University Bright Idea Seed Grant in association with the AuburnAchieve quality enhancement plan.

Part of the SGCOE mission is to prepare students, through high quality internationally recognized instructional programs, to practice engineering professionally and ethically in a competitive global market. Educational experience is integrated with career development objectives, which ultimately lead to secured jobs after graduation. The Next Level Career Development and Reflective Writing Project will launch in 2023-24 as a college-wide approach to embed career development and reflective writing assignments within the engineering disciplines. As an embedded component of the engineering curriculum, the project aims to provide an equitable and systemic approach to career development across student populations in the engineering disciplines. Further, it aims to evoke critical thinking and reflective writing related to career discovery and strategy at the undergraduate level.

The Next Level Project GA will provide support to the Next Level Project team (made up of faculty and staff from multiple departments) and the CDCR staff on project needs, in addition to supporting Next Level Faculty Fellows who incorporate Next Level assignments within their courses. The GA will report to the Manager for Career Development Content and Strategy within the CDCR, participating in training and activities within the CDCR and Next Level Project teams.

Responsibilities

  • Develop a training session and accompanying materials to help SGCOE faculty implement Next Level assignments in identified courses
  • Provide grading support for Next Level assignments in a variety of undergraduate course levels.
  • Provide support for assignment evaluation and written feedback that is returned to students to improve their assignment / career artifact. Sample assignments include:
    • Career competencies reflection paper
    • Resume worksheet and resume
    • Cover letter
    • Informational interview experience and written reflection
    • Professional e-mail correspondence
    • Skills, values, interests exercise and elevator pitch
    • LinkedIn profile
    • Personal statement
    • Financial literacy
    • College to career transition paper
  • Provide support for maintaining repository of resources in a non-credit Canvas course
  • Provide support for collection and curation of assignment materials and additional content for publication of the Field Guide to Your Engineering Career companion guide
  • Provide support for data collection for assessment purposes and publication proposals
  • Track and maintain records related to Next Level assignments
  • Participate in required training and team meetings
  • Other duties as determined by supervisor

Required Qualifications
Applicants should hold a bachelor's degree and be enrolled as a full-time student in a graduate level program in engineering, English, communication studies, higher education administration, another related field.

  • Excellent written communication skills
  • Proven oral communication skills; comfort presenting to groups of peers and faculty / administrators
  • Organizational and coordination skills
  • Proven ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines
  • Responsive to fast-paced, quick turnaround environment
  • Highly attentive to detail
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Excel
  • Willingness to learn / comfort using necessary software platforms and programs (Canvas, career development software such as Quinccia, Candid Career)
  • Dependable self-starter who is comfortable taking initiative, working independently and in collaboration
  • Interest and willingness to learn about career development approaches and best practices in career services and engineering education

Additional Desired Qualifications

  • Experience grading assignments and/or teaching a course
  • Familiarity or experience using the Canvas platform for instructional purposes
  • Basic familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite

Work Hours + Pay Rate

  • Number of hours per week: 20
  • Weekly work schedule: Between 7:45 AM - 4:45 PM
  • Annual Stipend (paid monthly): $18,000
  • Tuition waiver included upon approval from student's academic college

Application Materials Required

  • Resume
  • Cover letter than conveys rationale for interest in the position and related experience that prepares you for the role
To apply, send application materials to Jessica Bowers, Manager of Career Development Content + Strategy, at jgbowers@auburn.edu.

Review of materials will begin immediately with preference for August 2023 start date.

 

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Support for preparation of application materials: