Mentoring for Recent College Graduates

Graduating without a job lined up is common, and the months right after college can either become a focused search or a long stretch of waiting. Blackburn Mentoring pairs a recent graduate with one dedicated mentor who meets with them regularly by video, with text and phone check-ins in between, to turn a degree into a plan: a direction, a weekly job search routine, stronger applications and interviews, and a life that keeps moving while the search does. Mentoring works anywhere in the US, and in person in Los Angeles.

When graduates and parents reach out

• Graduated and still looking for work months later
• Back home after college; see moving back home after college
• Not sure what the degree leads to; the college majors guide is a good place to start
• Sending applications with no replies, or stuck in job search burnout
• Deciding between a job and graduate school
• Parents wondering how to help an adult child find a job without taking it over

What a mentor works on

1. A direction. Turning a broad degree into two or three realistic targets, tested through informational interviews and real conversations.
2. A weekly search routine. Set hours, a target number of applications and outreach, and a review each week of what is working.
3. Materials and interviews. Resumes, cover letters and interview practice, built around the specific roles being targeted.
4. Life while searching. A daily routine, money and, where it fits, part-time work, so the months between graduation and a first job do not drift.
5. The first 90 days. Once an offer comes in, a mentor helps with the start of the job; see early career mentoring.

For parents

Watching a graduate struggle to launch is hard, and most parents find the job search turns into the main topic at home. A mentor gives the graduate someone outside the family to be accountable to, and with the graduate’s permission, mentors share progress updates with parents.

What it is, and what it is not

• It is one-on-one mentoring and coaching for direction, structure and follow-through, by video anywhere in the US or in person in Los Angeles.
• It is not a recruiting or placement service, and it does not replace a campus career center, which recent graduates can often still use.
• If a graduate is dealing with depression, anxiety or substance use, a licensed professional is the right step, and a mentor can work alongside them. In a crisis, call or text 988.

How to start

1. Book a free intro call. A short video call with a member of our team. Calls are weekdays, 9 to 5 Pacific. Choose a time.
2. Get matched. New clients are matched with a mentor within 2 business days.
3. Start the plan. Sessions by video, scheduled in your local time, with early morning, evening and weekend times available.

Questions about mentoring for recent graduates

Do you find jobs for graduates?

No. Mentors are not recruiters or placement agents, and no one can promise a job. A mentor helps the graduate run a focused search every week: targets, applications, networking, interviews and follow-up.

My graduate has no idea what they want to do. Is it too early for mentoring?

No. That is one of the most common starting points. Early sessions focus on narrowing options through small, real tests, such as informational interviews and short projects, so the search has a direction.

Will parents get updates?

With the graduate’s permission, mentors share progress updates with parents, which helps keep conversations at home from turning into daily check-ins on the job search.

Does the graduate need to live in Los Angeles?

No. Mentoring happens by video anywhere in the United States, and in person in Los Angeles.

How much does it cost?

We do not publish prices. See how much a mentor costs, or ask on the free intro call.

Graduates living at home in Los Angeles County can also read about mentoring for young adults living at home in Los Angeles.

Related

• A plan for after college graduation
• College senior job search
• First job after college
• Resume with no experience
• Career and education mentoring
• Mentoring for young adults

Get started

Recently graduated, or worried about a graduate at home? Call (888) 305-5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or book a free intro call. You can also start with a short assessment.