Human Services & Social Impact

Make your community better wherever you are, however you can. This Career Community connects you with professionals who channel their compassion every day to make a tangible difference in the world.

It’s ideal for students interested in psychology, sociology, criminal justice, international relations, mental health counseling, non-profit MBA, and Masters in Public Administration.

Meet Lauren Gray, Senior Associate Director of Your Career Community

Lauren joined Suffolk University in 2017 after working for 10 years in the non-profit sector as an employer relations specialist and career counselor. Prior to that, she served the homeless community as a member of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Sacramento, CA. In her current role, Lauren engages with employers, organizes events, coordinates job shadowing, and most importantly, advises students on a variety of career development topics. She also has experience as an instructor in the Sawyer Business School’s Career Links program. She holds a B.A. in English from the College of the Holy Cross, an M.S. in Nonprofit Management from Northeastern University, and an M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from Suffolk University. She lives in Jamaica Plain with her husband and their cat Gatsby, and enjoys attending musical theater performances and sporting events.

Schedule an Appointment with Lauren

ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) Specialist
Behavioral Health Technician
Human Resources Specialist
Mental Health Assistant
Social Worker
Substance Abuse or Substance Use Disorder Counselor
Activities Coordinator
Advocate
Case Manager
Care Coordinator
Clinician
Community Health Worker
Correctional Officer
Counselor
Development/Fundraising Associate
Direct Care Professional/Worker
Guest Service Specialist
Grant Writer
Housing Coordinator
Instructor
Intake Coordinator
Paraprofessional
Program Assistant
Research Assistant
Residential Program Assistant/Counselor
Outreach Specialist
Teaching Assistant
Volunteer Coordinator
Youth Worker

Familiarity working with the population served (for example: adults experiencing homelessness, individuals with mental health disabilities, at-risk youth)
Knowledge of community resources and referral sources (housing, medical care, substance abuse treatment, adult education, childcare support, etc.)
Written and verbal communication skills
Knowledge of MS Office programs, able to learn new software and technology as needed
Good time management and organizational skills
Effective at maintaining accurate documentation and collecting data
Strong problem solving skills
Interpersonal skills, able to form strong relationships and set appropriate boundaries
Able to work well as part of a team
Thrive in a fast-paced environment
Flexible, adaptable, and creative
Patient, caring, empathetic
Dedicated to helping others, passionate about making a difference
Commitment to social, racial, economic, and gender justice issues
Multi-lingual ability helpful
Driver’s license preferred
Able to pass CORI and background check

Make a strong first impression and wear business formal attire, even if the environment is more casual
Practice your “tell me about yourself” response or “elevator pitch” – include information about your academic and professional background, and your interest in this particular job and company
Demonstrate passion and enthusiasm for the mission of the organization
Human services, non-profit, and social impact work is both rewarding and challenging, so be sure to convey through your answers that you are prepared to handle both sides of working in this industry
Be ready to answer situational questions that reflect the types of real life experiences you may encounter on the job
Review the job description to have a thorough understanding of what the job responsibilities are and anticipate typical situations and challenges you may encounter
If you do not have direct experience performing the job responsibilities listed, think of related or transferrable situations from your background, and how you handled them
Use the STAR format to share examples: Situation (set the scene), Task (what you were required to do, what was the challenge), Action (what you did to resolve the situation), Result (how it turned out). Always be the star of your STAR and highlight your unique contributions, rather than the team dynamic or outside support you got
Ask thoughtful questions which show genuine interest in the position and highlight that you did your research in advance
Always follow up with a personalized thank you note to every person you met with

Check out our page on Interviewing Skills. For additional assistance, please schedule an appointment with Lauren Gray or visit Quinncia, an AI-powered mock interview and resume review platform.