Employment Counselor

Introduction

THIS IS A NEW ASSEMBLED EXAMINATION. The eligible list resulting from this examination will cancel any existing list and may last approximately one year but can be extended.

Applications must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing.

Supplemental Questionnaire : A properly completed Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted with each application. Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing. Failure to submit the Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification.

Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires will only be accepted on-line.

DESCRIPTION

The Alameda County Social Services Agency (SSA) is comprised of 2,400 men and women working collectively and in partnership with community-based organizations to serve the needs of the community. Services are provided through four departments: Administration and Finance, Adult and Aging Services, Children and Family Services, and Workforce and Benefits Administration. To learn more about the Alameda County Social Services Agency, please visit the website at https://www.alamedasocialservices.org/.

THE POSITION

Under general direction, to manage and counsel clients and facilitate and monitor their progress toward self-sufficiency through employment programs that may include training activities; to conduct orientation and appraisals; to evaluate test results, determine eligibility, employment goals, appropriate components and support services; to negotiate client employment plans and make appropriate referrals; to lead workshops; to provide supportive casework to help participants overcome barriers to program participation; to liaise with service providers; and to do related work as required.

This is a journey-level professional counseling classification that manages and counsels' clients through a systematic program designed to assist them in becoming self-sufficient. Clients are public assistance applicants or recipients. Positions of Employment Counselors are found in the Social Services Agency. Employment Counselors are distinguished from Vocational Services Specialists in that Employment Counselors determine public assistance, make referrals and manage clients’ progress through an employment program that may include training activities. They perform duties independently, use on-line computer systems, and provide goal-directed counseling and casework.

Please see the job description at the following link: Employment Counselor Job Description

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate communicates in a professional and courteous manner; demonstrates compassion but is able to provide firm direction and guidance to culturally and economically diverse individuals seeking self-sufficiency. The candidate can work in a team environment, collaborates effectively with culturally diverse co-workers, managers, and community groups to better serve Welfare to Work participants. The candidate is organized, is able to meet deadlines and achieve required outcomes. The candidate successfully maintains client files, and is proficient in using computers and windows based software to accurately enter data or case dictation into a computer. Lastly, the candidate is able to maintain confidentiality of sensitive information and maintain quality work performance while under pressure or opposition.

EMPLOYMENT RELATED GOALS

Employment Counselors conduct orientation and appraisals, negotiate participant employment plans and make appropriate referrals to existing resources for counseling, stress management and assistance in making the transition to self-sufficiency.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

The minimum professional requirements for admission to the competitive assessment process include:

EITHER I

Experience :

The equivalent of one (1) year of full-time experience in the classification of Eligibility Services Technician III or an equivalent or higher-level social service classification in the Alameda County classified service.

OR II

The equivalent of three (3) years of full-time experience in employment-related case management, employment counseling, or in providing employment-related services in a recognized public or private agency.

NOTE :

Graduation from an accredited college or university with thirty (30) semester or forty-five (45) quarter units in sociology, social psychology, vocational counseling, or a closely related social science field may be substituted for one (1) year of experience in patterns I or II above.

License :

Possession of a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator's License is required.

NOTE : The Civil Service Commission may modify the above minimum qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

The most suitably qualified candidates will possess the following competencies:

Knowledge of :

• Principles of counseling, motivation casework, and case management.
• Education and employment requirements and labor market conditions.
• County, State, and Federal laws governing employment, labor conditions, and public welfare.
• Computer systems and applications.
• Community service providers and resources.
• Principles of eligibility determination.

Ability to :

• Provide effective individual and group employment counseling.
• Apply principles of counseling, motivation, casework, and case management.
• Interview and maintain effective working relations with and foster a supportive environment for participants.
• Input and maintain all case record data via online computer system.
• Interpret and apply complex regulations and procedures.
• Acquire and apply program specific technical knowledge and knowledge of community resources.
• Communicate in a clear and understandable manner, orally and in writing.
• Analyze and evaluate individual situations, make independent and sound decisions, and take appropriate action.
• Conduct group meetings.
• Plan and organize.

EXAMINATION COMPONENTS

The examination will consist of the following steps:

1. A review of applicants' applications to verify possession of minimum requirements. Those candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process.

2. A pass/fail written component will be administered and the most successful candidates will move to the next component of the examination.

3. An oral interview which will be weighted as 100% of the candidate's final examination score. The oral interview may contain situational exercises.

Candidates must attain a qualifying rating on each portion of this examination.

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED EXAMINATION STEPS.

Alameda County utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit. Such a system is competitive and based on broad recruitment efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to test in an examination process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position. Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, the eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position. Other recruitments may be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work. To learn more about our recruitment and selection process, please visit the “What You Need to Know” section of our website, www.acgov.org/hrs.

RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION PLAN

Applicants will be informed via email with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their attendance. The following dates are tentative and subject to change based on the needs of the Agency.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT PLAN:

Deadline for Filing:

5:00:00 PM, Tuesday, April 14, 2026

Review of Minimum Qualifications:

April 28, 2026

Conduct a Written Examination

Week of May 18, 2025

Conduct Panel Interviews

Closing Date/Time: 4/14/2026 5:00:00 PM

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• County of Alameda

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