Career Development Advisor, Banking, Markets & Financial Services

Title: Career Development Advisor, Markets

Department: SEO Career  

Report to: Associate Director, Banking

Compensation: $70,500 - $83,000

FLSA: Exempt

Location/Hours: Hybrid – 3 days/week in office

All candidates must be within commutable distance of SEO’s offices at 55 Exchange Place, New York, NY 10005, upon hire.  

ABOUT SEO

Founded in 1963 during the Civil Rights Movement, SEO closes educational and career opportunity gaps for 7,000 ambitious young people annually.

SEO Career recruits and prepares high-achieving undergraduates for summer internships in corporate America, including Wall Street, commercial real estate, and technology, with more than 80% leading to coveted full-time jobs.   

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Career Development Advisor (CDA), Banking, Markets & Financial Services, is a finance-forward advising role designed for professionals with direct experience in financial institutions or in advising candidates pursuing front-office and investment-related roles. This role supports students pursuing careers in Sales & Trading, Investment Management, Wealth Management, and Investment Research, guiding them through the full recruiting and internship lifecycle—from early exploration and technical preparation to internship performance and full-time conversion. This is not a general career coaching or marketing role. We are looking for candidates with exposure to finance recruiting cycles, technical interview preparation, or investment-related roles.

Mentoring

• Assist a cohort of students in the Markets track through the stages in the SEO Career student lifecycle.

Edge

• Liaise with the recruiting team and the Partner Access CDA to provide insight into the talent pipeline, assist with preparation of resumes, prepare students for the interview process, and help students confirm the track is a fit for their skills and interests.
• Assist cohort of students with career development by helping them meet an “interview readiness” standard, select targeted career paths, create an impactful resume, and introduce them to roles, industries, and SEO partner companies.

Partner Access

• Assist cohort of students (who have met minimum standards for interview readiness and selected target interest areas) with career development by discussing prospective career paths, evaluating interview performance, and introducing them to roles, industries, and SEO partner companies.
• Work to align talented, diverse, pre-professionals with opportunities at partner companies by engaging them in SEO Career’s partner access process and curriculum.
• Liaise with the partner team to relay high potential candidates and to incorporate partner feedback into individual development conversations.

Success

• Prepare cohort of students for their internship experience.
• Provide coaching and guidance throughout the internship and position students to receive a full-time offer.

Training & Development

• Work with the team to provide inputs necessary for the creation of relevant curricula, course content, and materials.
• Collaborate with Career Mentors for the track to deliver coaching and guidance to cohort of students.

Data & Reporting

• Track interactions with participants in relevant applications to collect data to measure progress toward engagement, conversation, and offer rate goals set by SEO Career leadership.
• Create student feedback loops via surveys or other means to accurately gauge the student experience and student satisfaction throughout the entire lifecycle.
• Perform other assigned duties in service of the Careers team objectives and SEO’s mission.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited 4-year institution.
• 3-5 years of professional work experience, with a minimum of 3 years of experience in Markets related roles or supporting students in obtaining these roles.
• Preferred markets roles include Sales & Trading, Wealth Management, Investment Management, or Investment Research (including recruiting or career services professionals supporting students in these roles/industries).
• Exceptions can be made for SEO alumni who have worked in Banking, Markets & Financial Services roles.
• Experience working in a mentoring or advising capacity preferred.
• Counseling coaching certifications strongly preferred.

COMPETENCIES & SKILLS

• Passion for SEO’s Mission: A deep curiosity about the barriers to entry for pre-professionals and a dedication to closing opportunity gaps.
• Coaching/Mentorship: Proven ability to motivate, coach, and mentor high-achieving college students. Passionate about SEO Career’s mission and helping participants get the practical knowledge and skills they need to gain an internship offer and ultimately have a successful and enriching internship experience.
• Strong Organizational Skills: Able to multi-task and meet the needs of the Programs Team while successfully keeping participants’ needs at the forefront. Strong time management skills and willingness and ability to take on ad hoc projects as needed.
• Communication: Able to communicate in writing and orally in a manner that is understandable to a diverse audience to include candidates, current SEO Career student interns, partners, SEO Career recruitment team members, and executive team members. Must be comfortable with speaking and presenting in public.
• Critical Thinking and Flexibility: Capable of anticipating needs, employing best resources, and employing careful decision making. Able to adjust to changes and work demands quickly while maintaining a strategic and tactical vision to efficiently complete work. Ability to be both a self-starter and a team player who builds people-first relationships and prioritizes the participant experience every step of the way.
• Must be proficient in Microsoft Office applications, and adept at learning and using technology, systems, and processes, especially career-related software.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS 

SEO offers a competitive compensation package and comprehensive benefits plan including low-cost health, vision, and dental options, a generous holiday schedule and PTO policies, disability coverage, fully paid time off for new parents, and employer contributions to health reimbursement and retirement accounts. We are constantly working to improve our benefits each year based on the needs of our employees. We value wellness and strive to put people first and foremost.

The compensation listed in this posting reflects what SEO believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position, and SEO reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time.

EEOC Policy

At SEO we are committed to cultivating a team that embodies the backgrounds and experiences of the constituencies we serve and the communities we live in, and a workplace that reflects the impact we make in the world. Candidates from all communities – including people of color, women, members of the LGBTQIA+ Community, veterans, and people with disabilities – are strongly encouraged to apply.

Equal Employment Opportunity is not just the law, it is our commitment.

Sponsors for Educational Opportunity is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer – M/F/D/V. We will consider all qualified applicants for employment regardless of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information or characteristics, or any other legally protected status.

If you need accommodation while applying for a role with SEO, due to a disability, please email SEO Talent.

THE ORGANIZATION

Established in 1963 by Michael Osheowitz, SEO (Sponsors for Educational Opportunity) is an educational non-profit founded on the belief that talent is everywhere; but opportunity is not. Our programs are designed to educate, train, mentor, and amplify the voices of our participants to give them a seat at the table – every table. We propel human potential.

SEO is an innovator in education, mentorship, and creating educational career opportunities that maximize the full potential of our participants. Each year SEO serves 7,000+ participants nationally, and the organization is widely recognized for developing best-in-class programs with exceptional results.

Not every SEO participant is on the same journey, but all are hungry for opportunity and SEO creates an ecosystem of excellence. Learn more about SEO's programs here: https://www.seo-usa.org/our-programs/.