Situations

Phoebe is a 23-year-old art history major that graduated from a top 20 university in the Midwest a year ago. She is currently working at a local coffeeshop as a barista, trying to decide if she is going to take on more debt and get her MFA or spend time in Italy or possibly get an entry level job as a designer… her parents are disappointed with her lack of urgency and inability to action a specific plan.  #FOCUS

• Should Phoebe continue to work at the coffee shop?
• How does Phoebe concentrate on a purpose and begin to make choices?
• Is it possible she can achieve each of her goals in the long term?

Geoffrey, a 22-year-old with a BS in mechanical engineering from Purdue, got mono during the fall of his senior year. He missed all the on-campus interviewing sessions with big companies like GE. All his friends are beginning jobs over the summer, but no job offer has come through for him despite multiple interviews. He is still on the hunt for an employer. Anxious that nobody wants him, he is spending hours on the PS4 and can’t shake a gloomy attitude.  #FORWARD

• What weekly goals would get Geoffrey re-engaged in the search?
• How did Geoffrey present in an interview?
• Is he able to stand out as unique and differentiated?

Brent is a college sophomore who was diagnosed with ADHD in middle school. With supportive counseling and medication, he became an A student and won his town’s “Golden Apple” award for running his own lawn business since 10th grade and hiring classmates with disabilities. He was accepted into a large state university with a well-respected business program. Unfortunately, the last 3 semesters have been disappointing– a 3.0 GPA– not enough to be a business major. The large classes are overwhelming and his study habits inconsistent. He went to office hours and tutoring, but often help was from teaching assistants who had no experience with ADHD.  #ADVOCATE

• What internal support mechanisms are available at the school that have not been leveraged to help Brent be successful?
• Should Brent transfer schools? Change majors?
• Can he reach his goals and dreams in a non-traditional way?

Mary Helen is a senior at Kenyon College with a double major in Environmental Science and Creative Writing; she will probably graduate magna cum laude in May. Her 3 college summers have been spent supporting her professor’s research project in Ecuador and she is currently contributing to the research paper to be submitted for publication. When thinking about her future, Mary Helen decided to apply to 5 highly selective programs to get her PHD. The good news/bad news is that she has been invited to interview at all 5 Universities. Mary Helen has no idea how to present herself and her accomplishments in a clear and compelling manner in an interview.  #ACADEMICACHIEVER

• What Campus resources are available to Mary Helen?
• Can Mary Helen Present her field research in a compelling way?
• How does she prepare for 1-on-1 and group interviews common in grad programs?

Patrick is a 21-year-old business school graduate from OSU seeking employment as a management consultant in New York City. His past internships include key assignments in the technology sector working on clients in the Palo Alto corridor. He is a disciple of the design thinking methodology, having completed the MIT online class over the summer, and is ready to further learn how to impact organizational efficiency.  #GROWTH

• Should Patrick move to NY without a job?
• Given the highly competitive nature of his chosen profession, how does Patrick stand out and get noticed?
• What is a better strategy to get hired—cold calls, thoughtful cover letters, leveraging Dad’s connections or networking with University alumni?

Kiara, a 26-year-old, has been working at a start-up for 18 months. She took the position hoping to be exposed to multiple facets of the growing business (Sales/Marketing/Finance) and leverage her Math/Business Administration double major. However, she is completely overworked and overwhelmed by the owners fast-paced pivots. She cannot focus on any one area of the business and has become a jack of all trades, master of none.  #STREAMLINE

• Should Kiara quit her job without another one and just move on?
• Is there a way to stay at the start-up and be more effective in her current position?
• What skills and knowledge has Kiara developed since graduating college and how can she use them to find a better career fit?

It is the spring of June’s senior year in college. She is nervous about mid-terms approaching, but also has been thinking about using her upcoming break to interview for jobs. She wants to be successful in both, but just doesn’t know how to start or to juggle these 2 priorities. Instinctively she knows she needs some support but does not want to ask her parents.  #PRIORTIZE

• What comes first the tests or the job search in senior year?
• What job search tools does June need to be successful?
• What are realistic expectations for June to have during her spring break? And what are legitimate milestones she can set for her job search?

Ethan is a sophomore in college who has significant social anxiety that brings on a nervous tick. Often, he freezes up in the middle of conversations and then displays awkward social behavior. He wants to get a 40 hour a week summer job, but just cannot fathom filling out job applications and interviewing with someone for a half hour.  #CONFIDENCE

• As a parent, how do I support my child to encourage him to try to find a job?
• How can Ethan adapt to be enthusiastic instead of nervous to pursue job opportunities?
• Can Ethan learn to prepare for unknown circumstances and leverage those skills for the rest of his life?

Susannah is a mother of 2 who left her job as a marketing analyst 5 years ago. She has enjoyed raising her kids, although it was lonelier and tougher than she ever imagined. Now she wants to get back to work, reignite a successful career and find balance. She is fearful she is outdated in her skills, her network and certainly her wardrobe. How does she even begin? Indeed? Monster? It’s overwhelming… #FINDINGMYWAYBACK

• Should Susannah “pick up where she left off”?
• Is it realistic for her to plan on a salary commiserate with her exit 5 years ago?
• What are realistic expectations she can set for her job seeking timeline?

Avi is a 35-year-old self-made businessman. He has worked a myriad of jobs since he graduated high school and has never been too proud to mop the floors of his farm-to-table restaurant on Sunday night closing. Recently his “vegan special sauce” was heralded by a famous gourmand. He acted quickly and effectively to leverage that review to close a manufacturing deal within days. He is seeking help to organize and craft a strategic commercialization plan to grow specialty gourmet sauces as a new business.  #ENTREPRENEUR

• How does he start a new venture when business as usual is all-consuming?
• Avi knows he wants to grow his sauce business nationally—but how?
• What key leadership role(s) does he need to add to his team?