You know how this works. They don't yet.
A practical guide to running sessions that actually move the needle — including how to start.
What you’ve signed up for
You’ve committed to 30–45 minutes per student per week, for 12 weeks. That’s it. No formal deliverables, no reports, no performance reviews. What you’re giving is your time, your honesty, and your perspective — which is exactly what these students can’t get from a career services office or a YouTube video.
Your student is in the middle of a real search. The spring internship window is already open. Some of your students need to move fast. Your job is to help them move smarter.
Two types of students (recognize them early)
Not sure what they want, haven’t applied much. Needs help narrowing to 2–3 directions quickly. Don’t let exploration become a reason to delay action.
Has applications out, may have interviews, might be getting rejections. Needs tactical, real-time support. Move into execution mode immediately.
Ask in Session 1: “Do you have anything submitted or in progress right now?” The answer tells you what gear to start in.
Session 1 — Your most important session
This is the session that sets the tone for everything that follows. Here’s the full guide.
Before the session
- •Look up their LinkedIn/resume. Know their school, major, any experience.
- •Note what they said in their application about where they are in the search.
- •Have a doc open to capture what they share.
Opening (5 min)
“I want to make sure our time is actually useful for you, so I’m going to ask a lot of questions today. By the end I’d love for us to have a rough plan. Does that sound good?”
Then share 2 minutes of your own story — the honest version, not a LinkedIn recap.
Intake questions (25–30 min)
Six areas to cover:
1. Where are you in your search?
What have you applied to? Any conversations in progress? What's your timeline?
2. What do you actually want?
If you landed the right thing this summer, what would it look like? What would feel like a win by May?
3. What's been the hardest part?
Where are you stuck? What's not working?
4. What do you bring?
Tell me about a time you solved something hard. What would someone who knows you say you're good at?
5. What support do you have?
Career services, family, existing network? What's missing?
6. What do you want from our sessions?
What kind of help is most useful — accountability, feedback, industry knowledge, connections?
Close (10 min)
- •Sketch a shared plan based on what you heard.
- •Confirm next session time before you hang up.
- •Give the student 2–3 specific action items — not vague (“update your resume”) but concrete (“send me your updated resume by Thursday”).
After the session
Send a brief recap email within 24 hours. 3–4 sentences: what you discussed, what they’re working on, what you’ll focus on next time.
The week-by-week arc
This is a framework, not a script. Every student arrives in a different place — adapt the pace, order, and emphasis based on where they are, what they’ve already done, and what they need most right now.
| Weeks | Theme | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Intake & Planning | Session 1 guide above — diagnostic and shared plan. |
| 2 | Resume & Story | Narrative clarity, not cosmetic edits. The 'so what' test. |
| 3–4 | Network & Outreach | 10 target contacts, 3–5 messages sent this week. |
| 5–6 | Applications in Flight | Quality over volume. Real-time cover letter review. |
| 7–8 | Interviews & Audit | Mock interview if scheduled. Honest audit if stuck. |
| 9–10 | Offers & Decisions | Evaluate, negotiate, redirect if needed. |
| 11–12 | Landing & Looking Ahead | Wrap up, consolidate learning, sustain momentum. |
Tips for great sessions
Be specific
Generic advice is forgettable. Specific advice (“send three LinkedIn messages this week, here’s a template”) creates movement.
Be direct
Kind, but direct. Students don’t benefit from vague encouragement.
You don't have to have all the answers
“I don’t know — let me think about that” is a perfectly good response.
Watch for the real blocker
“I just haven’t had time” usually means something else. Go one level deeper.
Flag issues early
If a student goes quiet or sessions aren’t happening, tell the program team. Don’t let it drift.
Referrals are on your terms only
You’re never obligated to introduce a student to anyone. If you do, make sure you’d genuinely vouch for them.
Ground rules
- •Keep sessions professional and focused on career development.
- •All conversations are confidential unless otherwise agreed.
- •No financial exchanges — this is a volunteer program.
- •If something isn’t working, flag it early at info@gradguide.work.
Need support?
The program team checks in regularly and is available for guidance, mediation, or a quick consult anytime.
info@gradguide.work