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Graduate Assistant Job Description

What does a Graduate Assistant do?

A Graduate Assistant is a university student employed by the institution to work in various capacities, which may include teaching, research or administrative duties. Their responsibilities may vary depending on the role assigned to them. Some of the responsibilities of a Graduate Assistant may include supporting faculty members in their research projects, conducting research on their own, assisting in teaching undergraduate courses, grading assignments, conducting tutorial sessions, proctoring exams, and performing administrative tasks such as coordinating workshops or conferences. Overall, a Graduate Assistant is an essential member of the academic team, providing valuable support to faculty, staff and students.

Our Graduate Assistant job description includes the Graduate Assistant responsibilities, duties, skills, education, qualifications, and experience.

Graduate Assistant Example


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If you need an example job description for a Graduate Assistant download the one below, alternatively we have many other Science job description samples and a job description library with over 3000 job descriptions templates that you can download for free.

What does a Graduate Assistant do?

A graduate assistant is a role that provides administrative and research support to a department or team. The role requires an individual to have a good knowledge of the industry and have a high level of organisation. Graduate assistants are expected to have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, as well as the ability to work independently and as part of a team. Typical duties include providing administrative support to faculty members and staff, conducting research, preparing materials for meetings and events, and assisting with the development and implementation of projects. This role is ideal for an individual who has recently graduated and is looking to gain practical experience in an academic setting.

Graduate Assistant Role Purpose

The purpose of a Graduate Assistant job role is to provide support to academic staff, departments or research teams in the form of administrative, research and teaching assistance. This role is typically filled by a graduate student who is looking for additional academic experience to complement their studies. The graduate assistant can help with a variety of tasks from organising events and seminars, to providing technical support and assistance with research projects. They may also be asked to help with the teaching of undergraduate courses, providing support and guidance to students as they complete their studies.

Graduate Assistant Role

A Graduate Assistant is a student employee who assists faculty with research, instruction and administrative tasks. They may also provide support to other students, and can help to create a more interactive learning environment.

Graduate Assistant Duties

  • Assist faculty with research projects, teaching activities and administrative tasks
  • Support students in their academic studies
  • Mark assignments and provide feedback
  • Attend and present at conferences, workshops and seminars
  • Develop educational resources and materials
  • Carry out administrative duties such as data entry and filing
  • Perform other related duties assigned

Graduate Assistant Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree in relevant field
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • Strong organizational and problem-solving abilities
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team

Graduate Assistant Skills

  • Excellent written and oral communication skills
  • Good interpersonal skills
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications
  • Experience of working with databases

Graduate Assistant Personal Traits

  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • Strong organisational and problem-solving skills
  • Good attention to detail
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team

How to write a Graduate Assistant Job Advert

Use our job advert template to write a job advert for posting on job sites and job boards. Our job advertising templates are carefully created to help you reach your audience and beat the competition to the best talent.

A job description informs the reader about a job, whereas a job advert’s main objective is to sell the job opportunity to attract as many suitable applicants possible. A job advert maybe the first touch-point a candidate has with your company so it is important to create a great impression.

Job Advertisements should enticing, so considering using short, exciting language which get the reader’s attention.

How to write a Graduate Assistant Job Description

To write a job description, we recommend starting with a job description template from our job description library, which contains examples for 800+ positions and professions. Our job description examples include a job summary with duties and responsibilities and skills and requirements, which can be personalised for your job vacancy.

Job Description Advice - Guidance on How to Personalise a Graduate Assistant Job Specification

The hiring process and recruiting new employees to fill your key roles requires a degree of personalisation if you are to attract the best employees in a competitive employment market. The right person for a crucial role or more senior roles will likely have other employers targeting them. As your job description will be the first point of contact, you need to nail your pitch and provide the best possible service.

Job Description Tips - Help on formatting a Graduate Assistant Job Specification

When creating your bespoke description and advert, you should cover and promote these points:

Job title: This should accurately reflect the role and include keywords that top talent might be using to search for jobs.

Job duties: The day to day duties, such as administrative tasks, which vary depending on the company and inform the candidate if they can complete the role.

Technical skills: These are the hard skills required through training, such as proficiency with Microsoft Office.

Soft skills: These include the interpersonal skills and general abilities the right candidates will possess. For example, the competency to prioritise multiple tasks, handle customer queries and customer complaints, work alone, or build a good relationship with coworkers.

The company's culture: Highlighting your company culture and values ensures employees thrive and find outstanding job satisfaction. Candidates that are not the right fit won’t waste their time completing the application process, meaning you can focus on qualified individuals and hire in a more timely manner.

Career progression: Including the career path will entice candidates looking for career growth. 

Training and development programs: Smaller companies may need employees with previous experience or provide educational assistance over internal training offered by larger organisations with more significant resources. 

Employee benefits: Compensation and benefits often fail to appear in job ads and while you may want to hold your cards close to your chest, failing to include them is a mistake. Consider answering common questions, such as working hours and paid leave. Researching the average salary for the role in these early stages will ensure you don’t waste your interviewer’s and the candidate’s time.

Skill gaps: Your company may need to bring in new skills beyond those required to complete the key role and duties. Thinking on an organisational level can be beneficial when contemplating skills diversity.

Legal requirements: Ensure your job advert and description does not ask for inappropriate or discriminatory personal details, such as age, marital status, or religion.

How to Hire a Graduate Assistant

Once you have selected your Job Description download it or convert it to a Job Advert. From here you can post/advertise your job across our network of job boards. If you wish to use the job description for a CV Template click through for advice and Convert to a CV

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