Empowering Career Success with 1:1 Coaching for Wake Forest SPS Students and Alumni

Whether you’re trying to land your first professional job or pivoting to a new role mid-career, navigating the job market can be daunting.

“Our professional journey will include many challenges and choices, but lots of opportunities along the way, too,” explained Tiffany Tate, CEO and founder of Career Maven Consulting. 

To help both students and alumni better prepare for a job market where applications go unanswered, networking feels intimidating, and interviews often lack structure, Career Maven Consulting is partnering with the School of Professional Studies (SPS) at Wake Forest University to offer 1:1 career coaching. 

During these sessions, the Career Maven Consulting team provides personalized guidance and tangible strategies to help Wake Forest SPS students achieve long-term career success—no matter where they are in their journey.

A Personalized and Action-Oriented Approach

Career Maven Consulting has a team of career & leadership coaches from a variety of backgrounds and industries. Despite their unique experiences, each one approaches coaching using the G.O.O.D Work model developed by Tiffany Tate. 

“Without a clear framework, the process can feel chaotic or frustrating,” she explains. “Our approach helps professionals take control of their career with the structure and tools needed to move from uncertainty to long-term career success.”

Tailoring coaching to each individual student is key to the program’s success. Sarah Williams, who has 10+ years of experience preparing young adults for professional careers, begins each session by asking a lot of questions. 

“This way I can tailor all of our following conversations and coaching sessions to the student’s personal needs and goals,” Sarah says. “I want students to walk away feeling understood and empowered.”

From there, Sarah guides students toward specific, tangible next steps. 

5 Reasons to Take Advantage of 1:1 Career Coaching

Job competition in the U.S. continues to intensify with applications surging four times faster than job openings. Important lessons SPS students and alumni have learned from this coaching partnership have helped them compete successfully in this challenging time. 

1. Clarify Your Message and Story to Potential Employers 

Michael Vines, a student in the Master of Financial Technology and Analytics program at Wake Forest, experienced difficulty landing interviews during his job search—even with 20 years of professional experience. He signed up for 1:1 career coaching and met with Tiffany Tate twice via Zoom. After his coaching sessions, it became clear that Michael’s previous successes were working against him, instead of for him. 

“My 20 years of work experience prior to attempting this career pivot led to a convoluted message at times,” said Michael. “Tiffany helped me see that and provided helpful suggestions for tweaking my resume. I was able to trim the fat and create a more direct resume.”

2. Develop Networking Strategies

Michael and Tiffany also dove into what networking really means, what it looks like, and how he could make it work for him.

“She helped me realize that every professional interaction is a networking opportunity, and it’s a process that continues even after you land a job,” reflected Michael. “Together, we looked at ways to leverage tools like LinkedIn to network virtually.”

With an optimized resume and cover letter plus a fresh strategy for networking, Michael secured a position at PNC Bank as a Senior Banker. He is set to graduate from Wake Forest SPS in May 2025. 

3. Be Held Accountable 

Like Michael, Ava Lambert saw how competitive the current job market was. Through Wake Forest SPS, she sought help navigating the job search process with confidence. Ava graduated with a Master of Digital Marketing degree in December 2024. 

“I quickly realized how overwhelming looking for a job could be, especially in a competitive field like digital marketing, and I didn’t want to waste time applying to roles without a clear strategy,” Ava explained. 

Ava worked with Career Coach Ana Clara Blesso on a weekly basis for several months. This did more than provide Ava with guidance; it also held her accountable and kept her motivated. 

“I needed someone to help me stay focused,” said Ava. “Job searching can feel draining, especially when results aren’t immediate, but Ana consistently reminded me to keep going. Her advice on balancing productivity with self-compassion has helped me maintain momentum without feeling burnt out.”

4. Prepare for Upcoming Interviews  

On average, candidates will receive one interview for every six applications they send out. This makes it vital to come to the interview prepared to showcase their capabilities. This was something Ava and her career coach practiced several times.

“When I had an upcoming interview, we focused on preparation by practicing common questions and refining my answers,” she said. “Ana has been instrumental in helping me recognize and highlight my strengths, showing me how to connect them to the roles I’m pursuing.”

The sessions have helped Ava build her up her confidence during interviews and grow more capable at highlighting what she has to offer. 

5. Find a Career Mentor

While career coaching can sometimes be focused on tactical things such as resumes and cover letters, it can also be holistically beneficial by helping students shift their mindset. 

“I’m beyond grateful for the mentorship and guidance Ana has given me,” Ava reflected. “She’s been a constant source of support, offering the best advice at every step, and I honestly don’t know how I would have navigated this process without her.”

Ava felt as if she walked away from the experience with more than job offers—she also took away a stronger sense of self-worth.

“It felt like having someone in my corner who genuinely believed in me and who gave me practical tools and strategies that I’ll carry with me throughout my career,” Ana said. 

Schedule Your Own 1:1 Career Coaching Session 

The experts at Career Maven Consulting are available to provide guidance that elevates your job search game–using proven strategies tailored to your own career goals. If you are a Wake Forest SPS student who would benefit from a 1:1 career coaching session, visit the Pearl Cafe’s Career Resource Hub to set up an appointment or to access other career-related resources. 

Wake Forest SPS alumni also have access to career coaching sessions! Reach out to Loréal L. Maguire, Executive Director of Student Services (maguirl@wfu.edu) to get started.