Counselor job summary

A good job description starts with an attention-grabbing summary of the position and its role within your company. Your summary should provide an overview of your company and expectations for the position. Outline the types of activities and responsibilities required for the job so job seekers can determine if they are qualified, or if the job is suitable for them.

Example of a Counselor job summary

Our professional services organization is looking for an experienced Counselor to help our staff build coping mechanisms for stressful situations they encounter on-the-job. You’ll work as part of an in-house team that offers our employees guidance and resources for avoiding burnout and other risks. The ideal candidate will provide personalized plans designed to help our clients meet their short and long-term personal goals. Strong verbal and written communication skills are a must, along with a willingness to coordinate with internal teams and external agencies that are also working with your clients. The Head Counselor meets with your assigned clients on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis. The typical work schedule is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with the occasional weekend meeting.

Counselor responsibilities and duties

The responsibilities and duties section is the most important part of the job description. Here you should outline the functions this position will perform on a regular basis, how the job functions within the organization and the title of the manager the person will report to.

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• Evaluate clients needs and create a custom treatment plan
• Teach groups coping mechanisms related to stressful and traumatic they encounter
• Help individuals with the resources needed to reach personal goals
• Monitor client progress and adjust their treatment plan as needed
• Maintain required National Certified Counselor certification for the counseling position
• Coordinate with other healthcare providers, agencies and community resources in order to create a thorough treatment plan

Counselor qualifications and skills

Next, outline the required and preferred skills for your position. This may include education, previous job experience, certifications and technical skills. You may also include soft skills and personality traits that you expect from a successful candidate. While it may be tempting to include a long list of skills and requirements, including too many could dissuade qualified candidates from applying. Keep your list of qualifications concise, but provide enough detail with relevant keywords and terms.

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• Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Social Work, or Counseling
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to empathize with clients
• Ability to leverage internal and external resources as part of a client treatment plan
• Willingness to work on-call
• Experience writing assessments and reports to monitor client progress