In college and right after college I was pretty lost when it came to a career direction.  

About a year and a half after graduating college, with the help of a career counselor named Richard Bolles,  I had an insight.  

I realized that more than anything else, I wanted to work doing something that was inherently interesting, but most importantly, personally MEANINGFUL.  I was pretty sure, for me, that meant working in the field of education. 

My first experience in education was in college career services and lasted 21 years.  I really enjoyed the work but was disappointed that colleges were not taking student career preparation more seriously.  Career services offices resided outside of the regular curriculum, were poorly resourced by colleges and very under-used by students.   (And this still hasn’t changed much).

I will never forget students coming into the college career office AFTER graduating and asking – “What can I do with my major?”  I also remember students saying that they wished they were REQUIRED to use career services and so that they were prepared better for a career while in college.

I tried to get Deans at my college to incorporate career preparation lessons and assignments into courses and program requirements for years.  It was an uphill battle, to say the least.  

I decided to leave college career services to work at an educational software company.  A few years later, the software company was acquired by another company, and I ended up in the job market again.

I became impressed with the potential of online education, so I accepted a job offer from a very large university that is a leader in online education.  In my role, I reach out to and partner with a wide variety of employers who recruit college graduates. I also assist some of our graduating students who are struggling to get good jobs (or any jobs) and launch new careers.

Over the course of my career, I have worked with thousands of students and several hundred employers who hire college graduates.  Below are some of the better-known employers I have worked with and where  students I have assisted went to work.

HOWEVER - Even before the major disruption from the COVID-19 virus, for the last ten years or so, many college graduates have struggled to get good jobs and launch careers upon graduation. The college job market has gotten a lot tougher for recent college graduates since 2008. But college career services and student career preparation hasn’t changed much.

To me, the problem is pretty straight forward.

Because most colleges do not incorporate career development into college programs, too MANY students graduate college WEAKLY PREPARED to secure good jobs and launch careers.

Students need to take charge and PROACTIVELY PREPARE STRONGLY for career launches, using all available resources, at their school and elsewhere.  They need to earn a degree and do MORE!  With the impact of COVID-19 likely to be felt for years, the relatively challenging job market for new graduates will become even more difficult.  New approaches and solutions for student career preparation are needed.  I do not expect colleges to begin pouring resources into career centers or incorporating career preparation into the required curriculum.

For families and students who are COMMITTED to graduating college “career-ready,” I have created C2C Ready.

My mission is to help families maximize their investment in college and assist students in becoming STRONGLY PREPARED for successful launches to meaningful careers. We do this through a structured curriculum of career preparation delivered to students through online learning modules along with individual coaching.

This approach goes way above and beyond what colleges offer and is what I believe can make a significant difference for a college graduate who wants to go into the job market career-focused and informed, appropriately experienced, with a professional network and marketable skills!

If you have any questions, please reach out to me at [email protected]