Career & Counseling Services
The Career & Counseling Services department coordinates career development and employment services for Southern State. We offer students and alumni assistance in clarifying career goals, exploring educational options and acquiring job search skills. We also assist employers with various objectives including recruitment.
Tom Payton- Coordinator, Career & Counseling Services
- 800.628.7722 x2713
- tpayton@sscc.edu
Office Hours & Locations
- Central Campus
- Student Services Office
- 8:00am – 12:00pm (Monday)
- 8:00am – 5:00pm (Wednesday & Friday)
- Fayette Campus
- Faculty Offices – Room 103
- 8:00am – 5:00pm (Tuesday)
- North Campus
- Room 316A
- 8:00am – 5:00pm (Thursday)
- South Campus Office
- Director’s Office
- 1:00pm – 5:00pm (Monday)
Flexible times available upon request. Counseling hours available via appointment. Contact any Campus Location to schedule your appointment.
How We Can Help
From the beginning of your college experience, through graduation and beyond, Career & Counseling Services is here to help you follow your bliss! We are here to help you learn about yourself, careers and occupations and to plan your education accordingly with your desired career path. We also provide job search assistance, resume and cover letter writing techniques, interview preparation, coaching and debriefing, networking and tips and how-to’s.
We are also here to help you when life becomes overwhelming. Personal counseling is free and confidential to actively enrolled students and their family members for problems such as stress, grief and loss, adjustment to life change, job loss and other concerns. We also offer the Ohio Benefits Bank Services.
I am responsible at this moment, not for past failures, but for my current choices and my current direction and I can change.- -Robert Wubbolding, Ed. D.
- Reality Therapy for the 21st Century
Counseling Services
Southern State provides one-on-one counseling services to its students and family members. These services are completely free, are available at all campuses and include:
- Counseling for adjustment to life changes
- Couples counseling
- Family therapy
- Individual therapy
- Job loss
- Life transitions
- Stress management skills training
- Time management skills training
Contact Tom Payton to schedule an appointment.
Counseling Services – Pass It On Quote of the Week
Courage is when you are scared to death, but you saddle up anyway.- John Wayne
When we feel afraid in our feelings and our body, we can still think and act in ways that are courageous.- Suzi Hallock-Bannigan
Relationship Resources
- All We Need Is LOVE!
- Learn the traits of an intimate relationship.
- Healthy & Deadly Relationship Habits
- Discover what habits to do and avoid in a relationship.
- You Complete Me?
- Understand the barriers to intimacy created by the "Myth of Romantic Love".
Career Counseling Testing Resources
Explore your Career Quality World through these resources:
- Holland Self-Directed Search
- Myers Briggs Type Indicator
- Values Inventory
- Strongs Interest Inventory
- and many more
Contact Tom Payton to get started!
Job Fairs
There’s a few things you should know before attending a job fair. Use this guide to better prepare:
Columbus Career Fair
May 22, 2013 | 11am – 2pm | Hyatt Regency Columbus (350 North High Street, columbus, OH)
We’ve been working hard to bring top employers to the event and they are looking forward to meeting you! Did you know that most employers at our Job Fairs report making hires from the people they meet? That means you have a great opportunity ahead so let’s be sure you’re ready for the day of the event. Review the following items to be sure you are prepared:
- Resume is updated and error proof
- Printed 30 copies of your resume
- Personal marketing pitch is ready (for tips on putting together your pitch Click Here)
- Review companies attending and prepare questions for recruiters (to see the current list Click Here.
- Select appropriate business attire
Featured companies include Lincoln Heritage Life Insurance Company, Welcome Wagon, Aaron’s, Taco Bell, Old American, Woodmen of the World and more! Attendance is free!
Cincinnati Career Fair
June 18, 2013 | 11am – 2pm | Hyatt Regency Cincinnati (151 W Fifth Street, Cincinnati, OH)
Featured companies include Aflac, Daymar College, Strayer University, Lincoln Heritage Life Insurance Company, PFS and more! Attendance is free!
Southern State Community College Annual Spring Job Fair
Each spring, Southern State’s Career Development Center and LRC partner with the One Stop Centers in our service areas for a gathering of employer representatives and job seekers. Attendees can complete applications, interview for open positions and research career possibilities. The event is free and open to the public.
Job Board
Local job openings will be posted here as they become available so check back often! Click on the position title for a complete job description.
| Position | Employer | Location | Removal Date |
| Receptionist | Alkermes, Inc. | Wilmington, OH | 06.14.13 |
| Field Technician 1 | Time Warner Cable | Washington Court House, OH | 06.09.13 |
| Store Manager | Starbucks Coffee Company | Cincinnati, OH | 06.09.13 |
| Business Analyst | Aon Benfield | Cincinnati, OH | 06.06.13 |
| Customer Service Representative | StarTek | Cincinnati, OH | 06.06.13 |
| eMarketing Coordinator | Coldwell Banker Res RE LLC | West Chester, OH | 06.06.13 |
| Customer Service Representative | Family Dollar Stores of Ohio | Cincinnati, OH | 06.06.13 |
| Technical Support Supervisor | StarTek | Cincinnati, OH | 06.06.13 |
| Counselor | Nova Behavioral Health, Inc. | Dayton, OH | 06.06.13 |
| Registered Support Assistant | Ameriprise Financial | Dayton, OH | 06.06.13 |
| Customer Service Representative | WorkflowOne | Grove City, OH | 06.06.13 |
| Technical Support Representative | StarTek | Cincinnati, OH | 06.06.13 |
| Medical Lab Tech | Mercy Health Partners | Fairfield, OH | 06.06.13 |
| Merchandising Specialist | Anderson Merchandisers | Washington Court House, OH | 05.30.13 |
| Store Manager | Family Dollar Stores of Ohio | New Vienna, OH | 05.30.13 |
| LPN | Kindred Healthcare | Lebanon, OH | 05.30.13 |
| Crew Member | Wendy’s | Washington Court House, OH | 05.30.13 |
| Maintenance Electrical Technician | Georgia Pacific | Circleville, OH | 05.25.13 |
| Sales Associate | Maurices | Wilmington, OH | 05.25.13 |
| Assistant Manager | Maurices | Wilmington, OH | 05.25.13 |
| Store Manager | Family Dollar Stores of Ohio | Cincinnati, OH | 05.18.13 |
| Store Manager | Family Dollar Stores of Kentucky | Newport, KY | 05.18.13 |
| Traditional Security Officer | G4S Secure Solutions (USA) Inc. | Kettering, OH | 05.18.13 |
| Program Director | Kindred Healthcare | Portsmouth, OH | 05.18.13 |
| Truck Driver | Conway Freight | South Point, OH | 05.18.13 |
| Banquet Servers | Staffmark | Wilmington, OH | 04.27.13 |
| Assistant Teacher | Timber Faith Preschool | Wilmington, OH | 05.18.13 |
Additional Opportunities & Resources
- Southern State Employment Opportunities
- Find job openings at Southern State!
- CareerBuilder
- Get job advice, search for jobs and have job openings emailed to you.
- CareerJet
- Post your resume, create job alerts and earch for jobs by industry or location.
- CareerRookie
- Search for internships, part-time and entry-level careers.
- Chillicothe Job Bank
- Find local job openings and resources.
- Ohio Means Jobs
- Post your resume and search for thousands of jobs and internships.
- Ohio Means Veterans Jobs
- A resource for veterans that offers the top careers, employers and transition tools to help ease the transition from active duty to a new career.
Job Search Resources
Find assistance and get advice on various topics of job search through these resources.
AARP – Career Tips for Over 50s
Chamber of Commerce – Local Service Area
- Chamber of Commerce – Adams County
- Chamber of Commerce – Brown County
- Chamber of Commerce – Fayette County
- Chamber of Commerce – Highland County
- Chamber of Commerce – Wilmington Clinton County
Job Search – Interview Materials & Aids (Printable Handouts)
Job Search – Job Hunting & Planning (Printable Handouts)
Job Search – Networking Materials & Aids (Printable Handouts)
- Creating a Network List
- Elevator Speech
- Networking and Contact Tips
- Networking Lists – Health Tech – Potential Employment Contacts – Adams Co
- Networking Lists – Health Tech – Potential Employment Contacts – Fayette Co
- Networking Lists – Health Tech – Potential Employment Contacts – Ross Co
Job Search – Resumes & Cover Letters (Printable Handouts)
Job Search Sites
- Advance for Health Care Jobs
- Ag Careers
- Career Builder
- Careers In Food
- College Grad Job Hunter
- Crimical Justice Profiles – Career Guide
- Deep Sweep – Non-profit Jobs
- Environmental Career Center
- Environmental Jobs
- Green Engineering Jobs
- Higher Ed Jobs
- IM Diversity – Minority Career Needs
- Indeed
- Monster
- Ohio Means Jobs
- Pharmacy Tech Jobs & Practice Exam
Licensure Agencies
Professional Journals
Professional Organizations
- American Association of Medical Transcriptionists
- American Association of Medical Assistants
- American Association of Respiratory Care
- American Counseling Association
- American Mathematical Society
- Association for Computing Machinery – Jobs, Career, Salaries
- Association of Addicition Professionals
- Association of Finance Professionals – Jobs, Career, Salaries
- Association of Professional Landscape Designers
- Chamber of Commerce (KY)
- Chamber of Commerce (OH)
- Chamber of Commerce (US)
- National Career Development Association
- Ohio Center for Nursing
- Ohio Manufacturer’s Association
- Society for Human Resource Management
Video – Coping with Job Search Stressors
Video – Interviews
- Interview Example – "Tell me about yourself."
- Part 1 – The Interview Strategy – What is an employer looking for?
- Part 2 – How to Answer Interview Questions
- Part 3 – Interview Preparation – Five Essential Steps
- Part 5 – Questions YOU Should Ask
Video – Job Search
- Building Contacts for Networking
- Follow Up in Networking
- Making Contacts with Employers
- Networking: Who do you see first?
- Networking: Asking for a Meeting
- Networking: Defining Who You Are and Other Important Steps
- Networking: Five Major Reasons Networking Works!
- Rebranding – AKA Changing Careers in the Job Market
Video – Job Search & Social Networks
Additional Resources
- Co–Op America’s National Green Pages (Resources on Green Companies)
- Cost of Living Wizard
- Hoover’s On Line – Business Almanac
- Job–Hunt (Resources, Jobs, Helpful Articles)
- Quintessential Careers
- Riley Guide to Employment
- Salary Checker
- Troops to Teachers – Former Military
- US News & World Rpt Vault – An Insider’s Guide to Employers
- Wall Street Journal – Careers
- What Color is Your Parachute
Student & Alumni Resources
Career development does not end when you start the job but is a lifelong process. As a service free of charge, Career & Counseling Services can help current students and alumni learn about:
- resumes as a career development summary and tool;
- adding value to your job and tracking results;
- career check-ups (Where am I and is my current work experience helping or hurting me in taking me where I want to go?);
- dealing with on the job stress through hardiness and the "3 C’s"; and
- career coaching (learning communication, supervisory and management techniques).
Online Resources
- Job & Career Accelerator
- Job & Career Accelerator from LearningExpress allows you to assess suitable careers based on your interests, explore occupation profiles, find jobs and internships and prepare professional resumes and cover letters.
- Job Web
- This serivce, sponsored by the NACE, allows you to research employers, search for job information, check the salary of job positions and much more.
- Occupational Outlook Handbook
- This service provides descriptions of hundreds of occupations including work environment, pay and more.
- O*Net – Occupational Information Network
- This service of the U.S. Department of Labor provides an excellent job search service.
Employer Resources
If you’re a local employer, Southern State wants to CONNECT with you! We offer various associate and certificate programs in areas ranging from pre-baccalaureate, nursing, business and technology as well as many training opportunities. We also provide job posting opportunities, annual job fairs, on-site interviews and recruiting, employerer assistance to meet your needs interfacing with Workforce Development and access to a resume database of local applicants through Career Services Online.
Posting Jobs
Use the position posting request form to post a job opening on the Job Board online and on each of Southern State’s campuses. You can submit the form electronically, email it to tpayton@sscc.edu or fax it to 937.393.6682.
Recruiting & Other Services
To participate in the annual spring Southern State Job Fair, post an upcoming job fair, interview and recruit on campus, request a speaker regarding career/professional development or for any other assistance, please contact Tom Payton.
Online Resources
Labor Market Information
- Ohio Labor Market Information
- This site, published by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, contains the latest unemployment figures based on county, state and national rates. It also provides wage rates for a number of positions by geographic areas within the state of Ohio. Also available is career information such as specific jobs in demand, projected job growth and training resources.
- Ohio Unemployment Map
- This map shows Ohio’s unemployment rates by county.
- Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH)
- This site provides up-to-date information on 250 occupations summarizing training and education, expected job growth, working conditions and tasks and earning potential. This information is provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Occupations & Wage Survey Data – State of Ohio
- This services allows you to check wages by occupation and metropolitan area.
- Wages by Area & Occupation – Bureau of Labor Statistics
- This site provides wage data on a national, state, metropolitan and regional basis.
Language for Position Postings or Job Descriptions
- Dictionary of Occupational Titles
- This is the complete Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) revised fourth edition as supplied by the U.S. Department of Labor. Contents include job titles and job descriptions accessible in a variety of ways.
- O*Net – Occupational Information Network
- This service of the U.S. Department of Labor provides an excellent source of language for job descriptions.
Interviewing Guides
- Employment Guide to Questioning Applicants
- This is a publication of the Ohio Civil Rights Commission and is a quick and easy guide illustrating questions that are and are not permissible during an interview. This is an excellent training handout for people involved in the selection process.
