Career Development Specialist Jobs
Career Development Specialist jobs are open across higher education, workforce development, healthcare, corporate HR, and nonprofits, at every level from entry-level coordinator to senior director, with specializations in career coaching, program management, and training and development. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Description
Position Summary
The Career Development Program (CDP) Associate participates in a structured, fully employed 18-month development program designed to build broad business knowledge, functional experience, and professional capability through rotational assignments, formal learning, mentoring, and project-based work.
Throughout the program, CDP Associates gain hands-on experience across multiple areas of the business while contributing meaningful work within each assignment. Participants are expected to take ownership of their development, build strong business relationships, apply learning across experiences, and demonstrate increasing levels of capability, accountability, and responsibility.
The CDP is designed to prepare participants for continued career growth by providing exposure to different areas of the organization and helping participants develop the supervisory, skills, experience, and business knowledge needed for future opportunities.
Position Duties/Responsibilities
Primary Responsibilities:
- Complete assigned functional rotations and develop an understanding of the key processes, systems, performance measures, and business drivers within each area.
- Contribute to meaningful projects, assignments, and business priorities throughout each rotation.
- Work collaboratively with managers, subject matter experts, leaders, and cross-functional teams.
- Assess business data and processes across rotating departments and propose solutions for operational efficiencies.
- Own professional development by actively participating in required training, mentoring, professional development, and other CDP learning experiences.
- Partner with rotation managers to define targeted development goals and key performance indicators for each rotation.
- Participate in formal performance and development reviews throughout the program, including self-evaluations.
- Apply foundational skills from each rotation to execute increasingly complex assignments.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
- No formal responsibility for supervising others
Position Requirements
Required:
- High school diploma or GED
- Demonstrated leadership through employment, education, military service, athletics, community involvement, or other experiences.
Preferred:
- Associate's degree in business, operations, engineering, technology, supply chain, construction equipment, automative technology, or a related field.
- Previous internship, co-op, technical, operational, customer service, or other relevant work experience.
- Previous exposure to equipment, service, parts, rental, sales, manufacturing, logistics, or related industries.
- Previous experience working in a project-based or cross-functional team environment.
- Previous experience using business systems, technology, or data to support problem-solving and decision-making.
Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities
The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required to perform each essential duties satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Strong desire and ability to learn, develop, and take on increasing levels of responsibility.
- Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Strong critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to organize work, manage multiple priorities, and meet established expectations.
- Ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
- Strong relationship-building skills and ability to work effectively with individuals across different functions and levels of the organization.
- Demonstrated initiative, accountability, professionalism, and resourcefulness.
- Ability to adapt to changing assignments, responsibilities, environments, and business needs.
- Willingness to seek, receive, and apply feedback to support continued development.
- Ability and willingness to travel between company locations as required by rotational assignments.
Other Requirements of Position
- Works under general supervision. Once trained, employee acts independently to handle standard problems but unusual problems are typically referred to a supervisor/manager.
- Major responsibilities typically require a modest amount of creativity and latitude. Employee typically operates under general instructions with some established procedures and policies
- Maintains equipment and supplies to avoid waste, damage to areas and equipment, and to prevent accidents
The duties and responsibilities outlined in this posting are not exhaustive and may evolve based on business needs.
All MacAllister Machinery companies are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, including Disabled and Veteran applicants.
Description
Position Summary
The Career Development Program (CDP) Associate participates in a structured, fully employed 18-month development program designed to build broad business knowledge, functional experience, and professional capability through rotational assignments, formal learning, mentoring, and project-based work.
Throughout the program, CDP Associates gain hands-on experience across multiple areas of the business while contributing meaningful work within each assignment. Participants are expected to take ownership of their development, build strong business relationships, apply learning across experiences, and demonstrate increasing levels of capability, accountability, and responsibility.
The CDP is designed to prepare participants for continued career growth by providing exposure to different areas of the organization and helping participants develop the supervisory, skills, experience, and business knowledge needed for future opportunities.
Position Duties/Responsibilities
Primary Responsibilities:
- Complete assigned functional rotations and develop an understanding of the key processes, systems, performance measures, and business drivers within each area.
- Contribute to meaningful projects, assignments, and business priorities throughout each rotation.
- Work collaboratively with managers, subject matter experts, leaders, and cross-functional teams.
- Assess business data and processes across rotating departments and propose solutions for operational efficiencies.
- Own professional development by actively participating in required training, mentoring, professional development, and other CDP learning experiences.
- Partner with rotation managers to define targeted development goals and key performance indicators for each rotation.
- Participate in formal performance and development reviews throughout the program, including self-evaluations.
- Apply foundational skills from each rotation to execute increasingly complex assignments.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
- No formal responsibility for supervising others
Position Requirements
Required:
- High school diploma or GED
- Demonstrated leadership through employment, education, military service, athletics, community involvement, or other experiences.
Preferred:
- Associate's degree in business, operations, engineering, technology, supply chain, construction equipment, automative technology, or a related field.
- Previous internship, co-op, technical, operational, customer service, or other relevant work experience.
- Previous exposure to equipment, service, parts, rental, sales, manufacturing, logistics, or related industries.
- Previous experience working in a project-based or cross-functional team environment.
- Previous experience using business systems, technology, or data to support problem-solving and decision-making.
Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities
The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required to perform each essential duties satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Strong desire and ability to learn, develop, and take on increasing levels of responsibility.
- Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Strong critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to organize work, manage multiple priorities, and meet established expectations.
- Ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
- Strong relationship-building skills and ability to work effectively with individuals across different functions and levels of the organization.
- Demonstrated initiative, accountability, professionalism, and resourcefulness.
- Ability to adapt to changing assignments, responsibilities, environments, and business needs.
- Willingness to seek, receive, and apply feedback to support continued development.
- Ability and willingness to travel between company locations as required by rotational assignments.
Other Requirements of Position
- Works under general supervision. Once trained, employee acts independently to handle standard problems but unusual problems are typically referred to a supervisor/manager.
- Major responsibilities typically require a modest amount of creativity and latitude. Employee typically operates under general instructions with some established procedures and policies
- Maintains equipment and supplies to avoid waste, damage to areas and equipment, and to prevent accidents
The duties and responsibilities outlined in this posting are not exhaustive and may evolve based on business needs.
All MacAllister Machinery companies are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, including Disabled and Veteran applicants.
Career Development Specialist Jobs by Experience Level
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Find JobsCareer Development Specialist Job Market
Who's Hiring
- USI Insurance Services28
- White Cap23
- Whole Foods Market16
- Amazon10
- ISG3
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Distribution & Wholesale
- Retail
- Chemicals & Materials
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in career development specialist jobs.
- Bachelor's degree in counseling, human resources, education, or a related field
- Experience delivering one-on-one career coaching or advising to individuals
- Proficiency with applicant tracking systems or career services management platforms
- Knowledge of labor market trends, occupational resources, and job search strategies
- Certifications such as Global Career Development Facilitator or Certified Career Counselor
- Strong facilitation skills for workshops, group sessions, and training programs
Tips for Your Career Development Specialist Job Search
Tailor your resume to program outcomes
Career development specialist hiring managers want to see measurable results, not just duties. Reframe your experience around outcomes like retention rates, program completion numbers, or population served, and align your language to the specific population in each job posting.
Highlight certifications that set you apart
Credentials like the Certified Career Counselor, Global Career Development Facilitator, or Certified Workforce Development Professional carry real weight in applicant reviews. List them prominently near the top of your resume so reviewers spot them before they reach your work history.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists career development specialist openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Search by population served, not just title
Job postings for this role often name the client group first: veterans, returning adults, college students, or dislocated workers. Searching by that population alongside your title surfaces openings you would miss with a generic title search, and it helps you apply where your direct experience translates.
Prepare a case presentation for interviews
Many employers, especially in higher education and workforce agencies, ask candidates to walk through a mock advising session or present a program design. Practice narrating your decision-making aloud, not just your conclusions, so interviewers can follow your approach with a client or stakeholder.
Negotiate scope and caseload, not just pay
In career development roles, caseload size and program autonomy directly affect your day-to-day quality of work. Ask during the offer stage how many clients or participants you would manage, what program budget you would own, and what professional development is funded, before accepting.
Career Development Specialist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most career development specialists?
The companies hiring the most career development specialists right now include USI Insurance Services, White Cap, and Whole Foods Market, with the largest share of openings in California, Texas, and North Carolina, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Demand is strongest in higher education institutions, workforce development agencies, and large healthcare and corporate employers with internal career programs.
How many career development specialist jobs are remote?
About 48% of career development specialist openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with the highest remote share found in roles focused on virtual career coaching, online program delivery, and corporate learning and development rather than in-person advising at universities or workforce centers.
How do you become a career development specialist?
Most career development specialist roles require a bachelor's degree in counseling, education, human resources, or a related field, followed by direct experience advising or coaching individuals through career transitions. Earning a credential like the Global Career Development Facilitator designation strengthens your candidacy. Many practitioners start in adjacent roles such as academic advising, human resources coordination, or workforce program support before moving into a dedicated career development position.
Can you get hired as a career development specialist without experience?
Entry-level career development specialist roles do exist, particularly in workforce development agencies, AmeriCorps programs, and university career centers, where structured training is built into the job. Candidates without direct advising experience can strengthen their applications by volunteering as a job search coach, completing a practicum through a counseling or human resources program, or earning a recognized credential that demonstrates foundational competency in career facilitation.
What does the career development specialist interview process look like?
Most employers conduct a phone or video screen focused on your advising philosophy and experience with specific client populations, followed by a panel interview with HR and program staff. Many hiring processes include a practical component, such as a mock coaching session, a presentation on a career program you would design, or a written case study. References from supervisors who have observed your direct work with clients are typically required before an offer is extended.
Where can I find and apply to career development specialist jobs?
You can find and apply to career development specialist jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Find roles that match your background and apply directly to each listing.
See All 195+ Career Development Specialist Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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