“I understand….” So begins my conversation with many parents who have recent college graduates who have not secured jobs.
Many – understandably – did not foresee the difficulties that the job market would hold and many reacted far too late.
There is something about the exhaustion of parenting that I fully understand: I have three adult children. I love them and will do anything for them. Still, sometimes I watch my wonderful wife doing what wonderful moms do: figuring out their travel logistics, navigating their insurance needs, and helping with other practical areas that in days past young adults did themselves. Helping adult children with their career needs has not only the drain of work but also an emotional aspect that creates strain.
Nagging children about something they feel bad about leads to arguments and avoidance.
That’s often where Career Counseling Connecticut comes in.
A Connecticut Case Study: From Uncertain Graduate to Fully Employed
Last spring, a graduate of Fairfield University came to us feeling stuck.
She had majored in Marketing and Communications. Her GPA was strong. She had completed two internships—one unpaid, one part-time. On paper, she looked competitive.
In practice, she had applied to over 60 positions across Fairfield County and New Haven without a single interview.
Her challenges were not unusual:
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Her resume described responsibilities, not results.
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She was applying broadly—finance firms, nonprofits, startups—without a clear narrative.
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In interviews, she sounded capable but not differentiated.
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She felt embarrassed moving back home while friends posted offer letters on LinkedIn.
Step 1: Clarifying Direction
We narrowed her search to two aligned tracks:
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Digital marketing roles in mid-sized Connecticut companies.
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Marketing analyst roles tied to data and campaign performance.
We defined a positioning statement:
“Entry-level digital marketing professional with hands-on campaign experience and strong analytics orientation.”
Clarity immediately improved her applications.
Step 2: Creating Proof of Competence
We rebuilt her resume around outcomes:
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Increased email open rates by 22%
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Built a social media calendar that improved engagement by 35%
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Conducted competitor research used in pricing discussions
We also created a small portfolio:
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Campaign mock-up
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Google Analytics analysis sample
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One-page marketing strategy brief
Now she had evidence.
Step 3: Strategic Networking in Connecticut
Rather than “cold applying,” she conducted 12 informational interviews with professionals in Fairfield County and New Haven.
We provided scripts and follow-up cadence.
Three weeks later, one of those contacts forwarded her resume internally.
The Result
Within two months:
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4 interviews
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2 second-round invitations
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1 offer with growth potential in a Connecticut-based company
More importantly, she reported:
“I feel like I know what I’m doing now. I’m not just hoping.”