WHAT IS THE CAREER COACH PROGRAM?

The Career Coach Program (CCP) provides an opportunity for experienced, professional volunteers to work directly with Summer Search participants by supporting their career exploration and helping them develop the hard and soft skills required to secure an internship or job. CCP allows Summer Search post-secondary participants and recent alumni to benefit from the caring support, professional skills and experiences of our Coaches. Together, each pair will work to prepare the students as they make informed decisions about their career development and trajectory.

WHAT IS A CAREER COACH AND WHAT DO CAREER COACHES DO? 

A Career Coach is a volunteer with at least three (3) years of professional experience. Coaches have knowledge of the “soft skills” needed to explore careers and acquire jobs, as well as current job search and application methods. Additionally, coaches possess an outgoing, friendly attitude that will enable them to create a lasting relationship with a Summer Search participant.

Coaches are matched with a post-secondary participant or recent graduate and commit to coaching participants around career readiness, career exploration, personal finance and more from September to June. Coaches support students in navigating everything from on-campus career resources, internship and job searches, résumé and cover letter writing, networking, interviewing, thank you notes, utilizing Linked In, and other areas that can be difficult to navigate and master early in one’s career.

Our goal is for each Career Coach-Student pair to establish a productive and mutually rewarding mentor-mentee relationship, focused on increasing a student’s career readiness as they transition into internship and full-time roles. 

WHAT KIND OF TIME COMMITMENT IS THIS?

Each participant (Summer Searchers and coaches) should plan to participate in an initial 45-minute long info session (via Zoom), attend the Kick Off Event (about 2 hours) and spend about 2 hours a month from September 2021 to June 2022 working together. 

IMPORTANT DATES:

August 19 or August 31 - Info-Session for Students (virtual - attending one session is mandatory.) 

September 7 or September 8 - Info-Session for Coaches (virtual - attending one session is mandatory. Register by clicking on preferred date. A completed application is not required to attend an info session.)

September 1 - Student Application Deadline

September 9 - Coach Application Deadline
(all coaches will be asked to complete a background check before participating in the program, administered through a third party)

September 21 - Career Coach Kick Off Event (virtual)

February 2022 - Mid Year check in with Summer Search staff

June - Career Coach Closing Event, Provide Feedback

Coach Questions? Reach out to Sam Larkan: slarkan@summersearch.org 617.390.1955

Student Questions? Reach out to Stephanie Tafur: stafur@summersearch.org 617.390.1976