Graduate Student Worker - Career Education & Programming Specialist, Nevada Career Studio

The University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) appreciates your interest in employment at our growing institution. We want your application process to go smoothly and quickly. Final applications must be submitted prior to the close of the recruitment.

If you need assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please contact our recruitment helpline at (775) 784-1495 or jobs@unr.edu. For UNR Med professional job postings, please contact the Office of Professional Recruitment at (775) 784-6778. 

Job Description

The Nevada Career Studio (NCS) is seeking a motivated graduate student to serve as the Career Education & Programming Specialist. Under the supervision of the Coordinator of Career Education and Programming, the Career Education & Programming Specialist is an advanced peer career educator who provides specialized career coaching for graduate students, while also supporting undergraduate students and alumni.

Graduate students interested in applying are required to visit the Nevada Career Studio during drop-in hours or an appointment for support with preparing their application materials. Applicants who have not attended a drop-in session in the spring 2026 semester will not be considered.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a peer career educator for graduate students, offering advanced support tailored to graduate-level career pathways
• Support undergraduate students, graduate students, and alumni in their career development journey through drop-in support and virtual and in-person appointments
• Review and provide feedback on client resumes, cover letters, academic CVs, and application statements
• Provide recommendations and resources related to exploring career paths, job and internship searches, interview preparation, and career fair preparation
• Respond to virtual document review requests through the careerhelp@unr.edu email
• Research, create, and update career development and planning resources for graduate students
• Serve as a secondary point of contact to support day-to-day operations, including confirming drop-in coverage, punctuality, and appropriate task completion, and escalating concerns to Coordinator of Career Education and Programming as needed
• Assist with hiring, onboarding, and training of new Career Mentor trainees, particularly around graduate student support and advanced career topics
• Serve as a resource to Career Mentors on graduate student issues
• Act as a liaison between the Nevada Career Studio and the Graduate Student Association (GSA) to strengthen communication, data sharing, collaboration, and outreach
• Assist with operational needs (i.e. training, scheduling, data analysis) to support the Coordinator of Career Education and Programming
• Answer and direct incoming phone calls and respond to emails
• Process and distribute incoming mail and prepare outgoing mail
• Open and close office, maintain organized workspaces, and ensure career resources are stocked and available
• Greet, assist, and direct clients, guests and meditation room users
• Utilize the Handshake platform to review job postings and check clients in and out for drop-ins and appointments
• Assist with calling alumni and collecting post-graduation outcome data as a part of the First Destination Survey
• Work Nevada Career Studio and Graduate Student Association events, including, but not limited to, tabling, career fairs, networking mixers, outreach events, and informational sessions
• Design, create, and facilitate workshops and presentations specifically for graduate students
• Engage in weekly 1:1 coaching sessions with supervisor to reflect, set goals, and receive supportive feedback
• Complete regular evaluations to reflect on opportunities for growth and core strengths
• Model professional communication, inclusive practices, and leadership behaviors for the Career Mentor team
• Participate in and lead regular team staff meetings
• Assist with other projects and duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

• Currently enrolled at the University of Nevada, Reno as a graduate student in good academic standing (3.0 GPA minimum)
• Ability to commit to working the 2026-2027 academic year; position may be renewed each academic year dependent on performance and graduation date
• Knowledge or willingness to learn about career development
• Strong presentation and writing skills
• Ability to manage multiple responsibilities, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Experience using Microsoft 365 tools (Outlook, PowerPoint, Word, Teams)
• Ability to attend regular trainings during the fall and spring semester on Fridays from 10 – 11 AM
• Ability to attend virtual, synchronous training from August 10 through August 14, and in-person training August 19, August 20, August, and August 21

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience teaching, tutoring, or mentoring
• Experience using Canva

Schedule

Approximate Hours per Week: 15

This position is expected to begin April 27, 2026 and will include academic breaks including, including wintermester and spring break. The Nevada Career Studio will work around your class schedule.

Compensation Grade

Student Level 2

Hourly wage: $17.00/hour

Please note, this is not a graduate assistant position.

Students interested in applying are required to visit the Nevada Career Studio for support with preparing their application materials. Applicants who have not attended a drop-in session or appointment in the spring 2026 semester will not be considered.

Exempt

No

Full-Time Equivalent

37.5%

Required Attachment(s)

Please note, once you submit your application the only attachment/s viewable to you will be the attachment/s to the resume/CV section of the application. Any additional required attachment/s to the cover letter, references, additional documents sections of the application, will not be viewable to you after you submit your application. All uploaded attachment/s will be on the application for the committee to review. To request updates to attachments, prior to the committee review of applications, please contact the candidate helpdesk at jobs@unr.edu.

Attach the following attachment(s) to your application

Resume/CV – (required) List a detailed description of the major duties that you performed as part of each job. You must demonstrate that you qualify for the position and your education and experience must be clearly documented.

Cover Letter – (required)

Contact Information for Two Professional References – (required) Please include name, contact information, and relationship.

This posting is open until filled

Qualified individuals are encouraged to apply immediately. Recruitment will close without notice when a sufficient number of applications are received or a hiring decision has been made.

Posting Close Date

Note to Applicant

A background check will be conducted on the candidate(s) selected for hire.

  

HR will attempt to verify academic credentials upon receipt of hiring documents. If the academic credentials cannot be verified, HR will notify the faculty member that an official transcript of their highest degree must be submitted within thirty days of the faculty member’s first day of employment.

  

References will be contacted at the appropriate phase of the recruitment process.

Applicants hired on a federal contract may be subject to E-Verify.

  

As part of the hiring process, applicants for positions in the Nevada System of Higher Education may be required to demonstrate the ability to perform job-related tasks.

  

For positions that require driving, evidence of a valid driver's license will be required at the time of employment and as a condition of continued employment.

    

Schedules are subject to change based on organizational needs.

The University of Nevada, Reno is committed to providing a place of work and learning free of discrimination on the basis of a person’s age (40 or older), disability, whether actual or perceived by others (including service-connected disabilities), gender (including pregnancy related conditions), military status or military obligations, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, race (including hair texture and protected hairstyles such as natural hairstyles, afros, bantu knots, curls, braids, locks and twists), color, or religion (protected classes). 

About Us

The University of Nevada, Reno is a leading public research university committed to the promise of a future powered by knowledge. Founded in 1874 as Nevada’s original land-grant university, the University serves more than 23,000 undergraduate and graduate students from all 50 states and 63 countries.

Classified by the Carnegie® Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as an R1 (“Very High Research”) university, it is also recognized in the Carnegie® Community Engagement classification. The University is also ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the “Best National Universities” and “Best National Public Universities.” It also ranks in the top tier of the WSJ/Times Higher Education World University Rankings and the New York Times’ “Top Colleges for Economic Diversity.”

Since 2009, nearly $1 billion has been has invested in advanced labs, facilities, and residence halls on the main campus. The University is home to Nevada’s first medical school – the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine and the Wayne L. Prim Campus at Lake Tahoe, where education, research, and creative work thrive in a stunning mountain setting. The University delivers on its original land-grant mission with outreach across the state through the University of Nevada, Reno Extension, Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, Nevada Small Business Development Center, the Nevada Seismological Laboratory, and Wolf Pack Athletics.

The main campus is in Reno, Nevada, a burgeoning global technology hub with a vibrant midtown and downtown. Found where the high desert of the Great Basin meets the High Sierra and Lake Tahoe, the beautiful, 290-acre main campus is also a Nevada State Arboretum. The University’s physical infrastructure is expanding with ongoing construction of the newly named John Tullock Business Building, set to open in fall 2025. Groundbreaking is also planned for a new State Public Health Laboratory Building on campus, alongside the recent acquisition of 16 parcels near campus, known as “University Village,” to provide affordable housing for graduate students and early career faculty.

Collaborating with world-renowned organizations, the University fosters innovation through initiatives such as the Digital Wolf Pack partnership with Apple, which ensures equitable access to technology for students, providing new incoming freshman or transfer students with an iPad Air and accessories. Google’s TechWise initiate is an 18-month program that fully supports undergraduate students in becoming entry-level software engineers by graduation.

In 2023, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced that Nevada – led by the University of Nevada, Reno – was named one of the inaugural 31 Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs (TechHubs). Nevada was selected from a competitive pool of 489 applicants from across the United States and its territories. Nevada’s Tech Hub will strengthen America’s lithium batteries, critical elements and other electric vehicle materials industry sectors within the state.

Through its commitment to high-impact education, world-improving research and creative activity, and outreach that’s transforming Nevada’s communities and businesses, the University continues its 150-year tradition of benefitting our state, nation and world.

The University recognizes that diversity promotes excellence in education and research. The inclusive and engaged community on campus recognizes the added value that students, faculty, and staff from different backgrounds bring to the educational experience.

Today, the University delivers on its original land-grant mission of access to education and knowledge by investing in the academics, facilities, support, engagement and vibrant campus life that promote our diverse students’ cognitive growth and academic achievement – all while remaining one of the best values in American higher education.

For more information, please visit the University’s website.

University of Nevada, Reno