University Career Launchpad: A 6-Month Program Guide

1. Program Introduction & Benefits

The University Career Launchpad is a structured, 6-month career program designed to guide university students from introspection to action. By integrating proven frameworks like the GROW Model, Design Thinking, and the 70-20-10 rule, the program provides a scaffolded journey. Participants will develop a comprehensive, personalized career plan and conclusively identify their top three target companies through a blend of self-assessment, market research, and experiential learning.

Strategic Benefits for University Students:

1. Clarity and Direction: Moves students from uncertainty to a clear, actionable career pathway aligned with their personal strengths, values, and interests.
2. Competitive Advantage: Equips students with a professional portfolio, targeted application materials, and a proactive networking strategy, making them stand out to recruiters.
3. Confidence in Transition: Reduces post-graduation anxiety by building practical skills, professional experience, and a validated plan for entering the workforce.
4. Informed Decision-Making: Shifts company targeting from guesswork to a data-driven process based on labor market research and direct industry engagement.
5. Holistic Professional Development: Fosters not only job-search skills but also critical self-awareness, goal-setting discipline, and resilience for long-term career management.

2. Program Expansion Strategy

Evaluation: The primary program goal is to "Create a career plan and identify the top 3 target companies." While the core curriculum is robust, a supplemental Mentorship layer would significantly enhance outcomes by addressing the key audience challenge of "Limited Professional Networks & Experience."

Value Addition: Mentorship provides the real-world context and personalized guidance that self-paced modules cannot. Mentors can validate research, expand professional networks through introductions, offer insider perspectives on target companies, and provide accountability. This directly supports the 70-20-10 model's 20% (social learning) component, accelerating experiential learning and increasing the realism and quality of the final career plan.

Implementation Note: Integrate a voluntary, low-commitment mentorship component in Months 3-6. Alumni or young professionals can be recruited as mentors. Use program software to match mentors and mentees based on industry/role interests. Provide a structured framework for 3-4 meetings focusing on company research review, networking strategy, and plan feedback.

3. Implementation Roadmap

Launch Phase (Pre-Month 1)

• $render`✓` Define & Align: Finalize program curriculum, success metrics, and secure stakeholder buy-in from Career Services.
• $render`✓` Promote & Recruit: Launch marketing campaign (email, social media, class announcements) targeting students in penultimate year.
• $render`✓` Select Participants: Implement a simple application to gauge commitment; cap cohort size for manageability (e.g., 30-50 students).
• $render`✓` Onboard: Set up all digital platforms (LMS, portfolios). Host a kick-off webinar to set expectations, introduce tools, and build community.
• $render`✓` Assign Resources: Enroll participants in the LMS and provide access to Week 1 materials and assessments.

Tracking & Operations (Months 1-6)

• Weekly Cadence: Release new module content every Monday via the LMS. Include video lessons, worksheets, and reflective assignments.
• Bi-Weekly Check-Ins: Host optional virtual office hours or discussion forums for Q&A and peer support.
• Milestone Reviews: Program manager reviews submitted portfolios at key milestones (Month 1.5, Month 3, Month 4) to track progress and offer brief feedback.
• Mentorship Coordination: If implemented, facilitate mentor matching and provide meeting guides at the start of Months 3, 4, and 5.
• Engagement Monitoring: Use LMS analytics to identify participants who are falling behind and trigger personalized check-in emails.

Success Measurement

• Quantitative KPIs:
  • Completion Rate: 100% of participants submit a completed self-assessment and final career portfolio.
  • Artifact Output: 100% of participants identify top 3 target companies with at least 3 tailored artifacts (e.g., resume, cover letter, LinkedIn profile summary) per company.
  • Network Growth: 80% of participants report completing 5+ meaningful professional interactions (informational interviews, LinkedIn connections with personalized notes).
  • Experiential Action: 70% of participants secure at least one experiential touchpoint (submitted application, internship interview, job shadow).
• Qualitative Feedback:
  • Pre/Post-Survey: Administer a confidence survey (1-5 Likert scale) on career planning competency at start and finish; target average increase >1 point.
  • Portfolio Review: Assess final portfolios for depth of reflection, alignment of SMART goals with personal assessment, and quality of company targeting rationale.
  • Exit Interviews: Conduct brief interviews with a sample of participants to gather stories and nuanced feedback on program impact.

4. Approved Tools List

1. LMS (Learning Management System): Primary Platform. This is non-negotiable for delivering the structured, sequential curriculum (the four Actionable Content Pillars), hosting materials, tracking completion, and administering surveys. It provides the central scaffold for the 6-month journey.
2. Personality & Career Assessment Tool: Core Content Tool. Integrated into the LMS for Module 1. Tools like Focus2 or similar are essential for facilitating the required self-awareness and career interest discovery, providing students with data-driven starting points.
3. Internal Social Network or Group Platform: Community & Networking Tool. Used to create a cohort community, facilitate peer support for overcoming "Overwhelm," and host virtual events with guest speakers. It supports the networking KPIs by providing a safe, internal practice space.
4. Onboarding Platform (Features): Operational Efficiency Tool. While not the primary delivery method, utilizing onboarding platform features (automated email sequences, milestone tracking, resource libraries) can streamline participant communication, reminder scheduling, and portfolio submission tracking.

Justification: Mentorship/Coaching software is not selected as the primary driver, as the core program is content and curriculum-based. If a mentorship layer is added, this software would then become a recommended addition.

5. Resource & Content Library

General Program Content

• Module 1: Self-Assessment & Awareness
  • Video: "Connecting Your Degree to Your Career"
  • Guide: "Interpreting Your Strengths & Values Assessments"
  • Worksheet: "Career Interest Mapping"
  • Article: "The Role of Wellness in Sustainable Career Planning"
• Module 2: Career Exploration & Research
  • Video Tutorial: "How to Conduct Company and Industry Deep Dives"
  • Template: "Company Profile Research Canvas"
  • Guide: "Effective Informational Interviewing: A Script"
  • Resource List: "Top Labor Market Data Sources for Students"
• Module 3: Professional Development & Job Search
  • Video Series: "Crafting Your Story: Resume, Cover Letter, LinkedIn"
  • Interactive Tool: "Achievement Statement Builder"
  • Workshop Recording: "Networking Without Anxiety"
  • Guide: "Behavioral Interview Preparation Framework"
• Module 4: Planning, Goal-Setting & Experiential Action
  • Template: "SMART Career Action Plan"
  • Worksheet: "Networking Outreach Tracker"
  • Guide: "Securing and Making the Most of a Job Shadow"
  • Workbook: "Final Career Portfolio Compilation Guide"

Supplemental Mentoring Content Table

To support the optional mentorship layer, provide the following guides to mentors and mentees.

Topic	Purpose	Format
Active Listening for Career Conversations	Helps mentors understand the student's true interests and challenges; helps mentees articulate their thoughts clearly.	Short Guide / Checklist
Giving & Receiving Constructive Feedback	Enables mentors to provide actionable advice on resumes and plans; prepares mentees to professionally incorporate feedback.	Article with Examples
Structuring a Productive Mentorship Session	Provides a simple agenda (e.g., Check-in, Review Goal, Discuss Challenge, Set Action) to maximize 30-60 minute meetings.	One-Page Template
Goal-Setting for the Mentorship Relationship	Aligns mentor and mentee on 2-3 specific outcomes for their time together (e.g., "Review top 3 company list").	Worksheet
Expanding Professional Networks	Guides mentors on how to make warm introductions and advises mentees on how to follow up respectfully.	Email Script Templates