Career Coaching for Students: Top Skills and Strategies to Become a Top 1% Professional

Finding a great job is a game that feels rigged. 

You’ve invested in your child’s education for over a decade. You’ve gone above and beyond to get him into a good school. 

And now, even after all these efforts, he’s about to graduate and still hasn’t secured a job at a top company. 

What went wrong?

Is career coaching for students the only answer to this challenge?

In this article, I will share with you everything you need to know about:

• Understanding the career challenges your child is facing

• Learning how to become a supportive parent (without doing the job for them)

• The secrets behind closed doors of how the wealthy get the best opportunities (and how you can do so even without access to legacy admissions and CEO’s in your network)

The challenges our students are facing

This is something I see every day in my interview coaching practice. Capable college students who feel lost about their next steps. 

They’ve spent years getting good grades and mastering their academic subjects but have not learned the necessary skills to get a job. 

This isn’t their fault. And it’s not yours either. 

Today’s job market looks nothing like when we started our careers. 

In 1994, approximately 23% of adults aged 25 and over in the United States had attained a bachelor's degree or higher. In 2004, that number was 27.7%, and it’s currently at 37.7% in 2024. 

The competition is getting tougher. In the past, just graduating from college was good enough. That’s not the case anymore. 

The expectations have changed. 

Our universities excel at teaching academic skills. But there’s a huge gap between acing finals and acing interviews. That’s where career coaching for students comes in. 

Nowadays, the top candidates are getting help in many ways:

• Test preparation 

• Admissions consulting

• Career and interview coaching

• There are even fraternity and sorority coaches 

Just to give you an idea of the type of support some kids are getting, you can check this article in the WSJ that tells the story of Crimson Education and how they are helping kids get into top schools in the US by requiring an investment of $100,000+ to get there. 

The kids who are thriving have a team of supporters behind the scenes. 

And we can either complain that the game is rigged. Or we can learn how to play the game. 

Why career coaching for students matters now more than ever

Would you expect someone to perform surgery without medical training? 

Of course not. Yet, we often expect students to navigate their career journey with no real guidance (while the kids they are competing with are getting all kinds of guidance). 

Here’s what I see students struggling with:

• Choosing career paths that fit their strengths

• Writing resumes that get noticed

• Preparing Interview Themes to conduct interviews that lead to job offers

• Building professional relationships from scratch

• Standing out in a crowded and competitive job market by selling their skillsets

As a career and interview coach, I serve as your student’s professional navigation system. 

I just don’t tell them where to go. I help them discover their own path and give them the tools to succeed. 

What is covered in career coaching for students?

If you want to learn about the different options in the market, you can check my career and interview coaching pricing guide. 

I know I’m not the only coach in town, which is why I’m always transparent about sharing all the options you have available. 

Also, I’m going to be honest with you, there are a lot of reasons why you shouldn’t work with me:

• It’s not cheap

• Your student will be challenged to grow

• You’ll need to step back and let your student do the work

And that’s OK. I’m not for everyone (I’m also very picky about who I work with so that I can guarantee the 100% success rate I’ve been able to maintain for the past 10+ years). 

When you work with me, your student gets personalized, one-on-one support in these crucial areas:

1) Self-Discovery and Career Mapping

• Professional strengths assessments

• Career path exploration

• Goal setting and action planning

2) Job Search Strategy

• Resume and cover letter development

• LinkedIn profile optimization

• Job search techniques that actually work

3) Persuasive Interview Theme

• Mock interview practice

• Question preparation

• Confidence building

• Body language coaching

4) Professional Skills Development

• Networking strategies and how to develop their networking muscles

• Email and communication skills

• Salary negotiation techniques

This investment will give you a return in the short term (your student will get a dream job) and in the long term (your student develops the skills to build a top 1% career). 

Remember: This isn’t just about getting their first co-op.  It’s about learning a life skill that will help them throughout their professional careers.

One thing I’m very proud of is that I don’t have many repeat customers.  Why?  Because I train my students so well, they’re able to get their next job on their own.  It’s terrible for business but great for my students and their parents.  

What can you expect from career coaching for your student?

These are some of the changes you will see happening in your student:

1) Finding Direction 

Before: Scattered focus, applying to random jobs 

After: Clear career targets, organized job search plan

Your student moves from saying "I'll apply to anything" to "Here are the three roles I'm targeting and why they fit my skills."

2) Building Professional Skills 

Before: Generic resume, weak LinkedIn presence 

After: Polished materials that grab attention and get interviews.

3) Interview Excellence 

Before: Nervous, unprepared, speaks in generalities 

After: Confident, prepared, shares specific examples

4) Real Changes You Can See

Confidence Before: "I'm just a student." 

After: "I bring valuable skills to the table."

Focus Before: "I'll take any job I can get." 

After: "I know which roles fit my goals and why."

Action Before: "I'll start applying when I graduate." 

After: "I have a daily plan to reach my career goals."

Communication Before: "Um, I guess I'm good at... stuff?" 

After: "Let me tell you about three projects that showcase my leadership skills."

Here’s what parents are saying about working with me:

“I’d recommend Ramon for any student searching for an internship or co-op.

“Ramon was phenomenal in helping our son Ben search for and ultimately land an internship. He was able to coach him for interviews, optimize his resume, facilitate both written and oral communication, and focus his search parameters. I’d recommend Ramon for any student searching for an internship or co-op.” 

Amy Greeman, Executive Assistant at Cutchins Programs for Children and Families, Inc. 

You can read more about success stories like these here. 

When to start investing in career coaching?

The best time for career coaching is earlier than you might think. 

While many parents reach out a few weeks before graduation, starting several months before that gives us time to:

• Explore more options

• Build stronger networks

• Develop better materials

• Practice interview skills

• Land better internships

If your student is approaching graduation without a clear path forward, let’s talk. 

Here’s what you can expect:

1. A free consultation to understand your student's needs

2. A customized coaching plan

3. Regular progress updates

4. Real results that lead to job offers

Together, we can help your student transition from college to career with confidence. 

Let's give them the tools and support they need to succeed in today's competitive job market.

Book a call today.