Job Description:

The Center for Writing and Learning and the Center for Effective Speech and Advocacy will become one unit starting Fall 2024. As such, we are hiring for the combined role of Writing and Speaking Advisor for the coming academic year. A Writing and Speaking Advisor serves as an experienced peer reader and feedback provider to students who are working on drafts of papers, speeches, and presentations from across the disciplines, at any stage in the composing process. A Writing and Speaking Advisor also assists faculty and students in first-year seminars, helping to lead workshops and to provide student feedback on speaking and writing assignments.

While we welcome applicants who feel confident in tutoring either writing or public speaking, it is essential that tutors demonstrate a willingness to help students cultivate skills in both writing AND speaking when working at the CWL. Training and professional development will prepare advisors to work with students in both areas.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities:

  • Work one-to-one with students who come to the CWL with papers or presentations at any stage in the writing or composing process.
  • Act as a liaison to first-year seminars and work with faculty and students in those classes by going to the class and giving an introduction to the CWL, meeting one-to-one with students in the class, and offering writing and public speaking workshops to the class.
  • Collaborate with other writing and speaking advisors, subject tutors, and CWL staff to develop and offer CWL programming.
  • Participate in ongoing training and professional development, including CWL orientation at the start of the fall semester, ongoing readings and activities, and biweekly CWL staff meetings.
  • Other duties as needed.

Minimum Requirements:

Candidates must possess these requirements in order to be hired into this position.

A Writing and Speaking Advisor has an invested interest in supporting students to cultivate strong writing and public speaking skills. They also demonstrate empathy for others and the ability to connect. They must collaborate well with fellow tutors, faculty, and staff. They must be organized, responsible, and able to communicate effectively both orally and in writing. Finally, they must have a positive attitude about writing and public speaking, a strong sense of integrity, and the ability to listen well to others. Prior tutoring experience is not required, but the candidate should describe in their cover letter how their prior experiences prepare them for the role of peer tutor.

Writing and Speaking Advisor positions are open to students with at least a 3.3 G.P.A. Preference will be given to rising juniors and seniors, though we will consider exceptional rising sophomores. The CWL values international travel, and a student’s plans to study abroad in the spring do not prevent their application from being considered.

Candidates must be able to explain and/or demonstrate that they possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities to safely perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Hours per week:

7-9 hours/week. Weekly workload includes about 6 scheduled hours in the CWL and about an hour of liaison work with first-year seminars, plus up to an additional 2 hours/week in fall semester for professional development. Writing and Speaking advisors participate in ongoing training and professional development with an intellectually and socially engaged team of peers at the CWL.

How to apply:

Apply through Handshake and submit the following documents: 

  1. Resume
  2. Cover Letter addressing the following –
    • your interest and fit for the tutor position
    • any previous experiences that have prepared you for the role (ex: interactions with the Center for Writing and Learning and the Center for Effective Speech and Advocacy, personal or academic experience in public speaking, relevant coursework, etc.),
    • how your experiences have prepared you to contribute to a safe, respectful, and diverse learning community.
  3. An unofficial transcript
  4. Two papers (scanned) with professor's comments (preferably from different classes or disciplines)

OR

  • One paper (scanned) with professor's comments AND one presentation recording or speech outline with faculty feedback.

Apply for this position via Handshake. You can search by job title, “Subject Tutor” or "Writing & Speaking Advisor," or look through the list of jobs under the “on-campus” filter.

 

Please send questions to:

CWL Director Deepti Dhir
ddhir@pugetsound.edu

 

If you are creating a resume for the first time, or would like some direction on updating your resume for this application, please review the Career and Employment Services Resume Guide or use Handshake to make an appointment with a career advisor.

 

Last updated January 25, 2024.