SENIOR EMPLOYMENT COUNSELOR
In New Jersey, Senior Employment Counselor is filled through the competitive process: candidates take a civil service exam and are hired off a ranked list, not picked at will.
The stated bar is a master's degree, but candidates can swap in added experience for the diploma. The FY2027 range lands between $69,668 and $101,951, and state payroll currently lists 8 people in the title, most of them at Labor.
How to apply
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Exam
This is an application to sit an exam and be placed on an eligible list for this title, not an application for a specific job. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. There may be no current vacancy behind it, and the list it produces may not be certified for months or years.
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Exam
Open to permanent employees in the competitive division who hold a qualifying lower title in the same unit. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. Like the open competitive exam, this places you on a list; it is not itself a job offer.
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Agency posting
Department of Labor and Workforce Development's employment page may require a click-through to see specific openings. Provisional appointment against a posted vacancy is how most people are actually hired into this kind of title.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 8 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $92,265. The agencies employing the most are:
- Labor (8)
Counts from NJ YourMoney agency payroll. See statewide workforce analytics.
Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator.
Definition
Under the general supervision of an Employment Supervisor or manager in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, serves as team or program leader responsible for providing career counseling and related employment-directed services to job seekers; takes the lead in resolving problems related to occupational choice, change, or adjustment; provides assistance in researching and preparing for job opportunities, and/or provides basic or occupational skills training to achieve an industry valued credential and career path; does other related duties as required.
Examples of work
Develops and implements counseling procedures, establishes standards of performance, and provides technical assistance for counseling personnel. Observes and evaluates counseling activities. Shares observations and makes recommendations to the Employment Supervisor regarding staff professional development, disciplinary action, promotion, performance evaluations, work assignments, and process improvement. Assists in the development of an effective counseling program. May train counseling staff; provides consultation on difficult cases, evaluates case records, evaluates effectiveness of counseling services provided. Explains the counseling program to representatives of social, rehabilitation, training, and other community agencies to encourage their cooperation in providing appropriate service to applicants. May coordinate the counseling program with those of other units. May monitor group orientation and Intensive Manpower Services components. Conducts group counseling and/or job finding techniques. As necessary, presents standardized information to groups regarding a wide variety of job search topics/issues. Coordinates and/or provides subsequent counseling, referral, and testing for those applicants requiring additional services. May organize and monitor local testing programs; trains staff to ensure adherence to US Department of Labor testing policies and procedures. Writes letters and prepares clear, sound, accurate, and informative histories and reports of counseling activities containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Establishes and maintains records and files. May serve as a unit team leader responsible for counseling, selective placement, and/or employability development. Assigns caseload to other employment counselors. Maintain a calendar of staff activities within the unit to ensure staff coverage of scheduled workshops. Reviews keyword applications for completeness and correctness. Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
Requirements
NOTE: Applicants must meet one of the following or a combination of both experience and education. Thirty (30) semester hour credits are equal to one (1) year of relevant experience. Six (6) years of professional experience in career guidance and employment counseling, including or supplemented by six (6) semester hour credits in Non-introductory Sociology or Psychology or other field of study directly related to vocational counseling or workforce and career development, and nine (9) semester hour credits in the Behavioral Sciences, Statistics, or Non-Introductory Labor Market Information courses. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, including or supplemented by six (6) semester hour credits in Non-introductory Sociology or Psychology or other field of study directly related to vocational counseling or workforce and career development, and nine (9) semester hour credits in the Behavioral Sciences, Statistics, or Non-Introductory Labor Market Information courses; and two (2) years of the above-mentioned professional experience. OR Possession of a Master's degree from an accredited college or university in Psychology, Education, Social Work, Personnel Administration, Counseling, Student Personnel Services, or related fields, which shall have included a minimum of fifteen (15) semester hour credits outlined above; and one (1) year of the above-mentioned professional experience.
License
Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
Knowledge of the problems encountered in counseling applicants for employment. Knowledge of the available resources and techniques used to assist applicants to secure employment. Knowledge of the principles and techniques of career guidance. Knowledge of employment interview and counseling techniques. Knowledge of occupational testing and evaluation techniques. Knowledge of the variety of occupations and industries, and of current employment and industrial conditions in New Jersey, and the skills, abilities, qualifications, and training required for specific types of work. Knowledge of the registration, interview, and placement techniques of the assigned agency, and placing of applicants for employment. Knowledge of the methods used to organize and develop employment counseling and selective placement programs. Knowledge of the principles and techniques used to appraise the career potential of applicants. Knowledge of industry and occupation codes, and other reference material. Ability to assign caseloads to other employment counselors. Ability to observe and evaluate counseling activities. Ability to organize assigned career counseling work, analyze specific vocational problems, and develop effective work methods. Ability to observe and evaluate the characteristics, physical capacities, formal education, other training, work histories, and potential abilities and interests of applicants and to relate these factors to prevailing occupational requirements and conditions. Ability to provide employment counseling for special applicant groups and take the lead over lower-level employment counselors. Ability to read, interpret, and apply laws and regulations regarding unemployment compensation, federal social security, and other acts which impact upon agency operations. Ability to develop and maintain cooperative working relationships with associates, applicants, employers, and with public and private community agency representatives. Ability to prepare clear, sound, accurate, and informative statistical and other reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Ability to draft correspondence in connection with the counseling program. Ability to maintain records and files. Ability to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units. Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication. Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible if they can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
Note
The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed. Courses in Public Safety, Criminal Justice, Public Safety Administration and Philosophy will not be accepted toward meeting the special credit requirements in the Behavioral Sciences. "Professional experience" refers to work that is creative, analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range and depth of specialized knowledge of the profession's principles, concepts, theories, and practices; and is performed with the authority to act according to one's own judgment and make accurate and informed decisions.