What to Expect from your Career Coach

Finding a job can be hard and at Flatiron School, we’re here to help.

To meet the challenge of going through your course and finding your first job in a new career, you’ll be paired 1-on-1 with an experienced Career Coach who will guide you along the career search journey in order to maximize your chances for success. (We call this being a “no-brainer hire.”)

Students will have the opportunity to build their brand — and credibility — as a technical professional (Résumé and LinkedIn), practice interviewing (mock cultural and technical interviews), explore networking strategies (digitally), leverage unique career transition tools, and receive ongoing 1-on-1 coaching support tailored to their unique goals and experience.

But, what is Flatiron School’s perspective on coaching? What will your experience look like?

You’re in the driver’s seat of your job search, and your Career Coach is here as your passenger to support each step of the way by first getting to know you. What is important to you in your career? Where might you feel nervous? What has the job searching experience been like for you in the past?  Your coach will be there to listen, offer best practices, guidance, advice, and also challenge you to put your best foot forward on the job search.

Flatiron School takes great pride in our expert coaching team. We consider ourselves unique among coding bootcamps in that every one of our students has the option to receive individualized 1-on-1 coaching sessions for the duration of their job search, up to 6 months. Through these supportive and personalized 1-on-1 coaching sessions, we celebrate each victory alongside you on the way to a job offer you’re excited about. 

We interviewed a team of full-time Flatiron Career Coaches and asked them, “What can students expect from you as a career coach,” and here is what they said:

Cesar Ramirez 

I’m a big believer that input equals output and consistency yields results in any part of life whether it is learning to ride a bike, exercising, or finding a job. 

Over a series of 30 minute one to one Zoom video meetings, generally with my students I get to know them personally, share a bit about my background, explore their career interests, industry preferences, and then we create a game plan to get there. All throughout they will have access to me via Slack for urgent requests like questions on interviews, negotiating offers, or reviewing a thank you note.     

More specifically, in our Zoom meetings, we will build a strong foundation (personal branding, interview practice, career search strategy and other best practices) and then when they start their search, I encourage them to consistently use all the tools to capitalize on their results. A job search is like a roller coaster, lots of ups and downs but the students that are truly dedicated to their career search, will start seeing results and I support them until they land a job! At that point I feel like I have done my job successfully.

Monica Bencze

Launching yourself into a brand new career can be both exciting and daunting, along with it may come feelings of self-doubt, imposter syndrome and limiting beliefs. 

I support my students in bolstering their career confidence wherever it may fall on the spectrum. It begins by establishing a rapport with each of my students, meeting them where they are,  identifying where they want to go and what it’s going to take to get there to land that job. It’s about creating a compelling new narrative (tell me about yourself) in that interview, highlighting their strengths, skills and previous experiences which equals the value add that they bring to a role. This is the foundation that builds that career confidence. 

Of course there are all of the other elements that go along with it, like reviewing résumés, cover letters, personal branding, interviewing, networking techniques, as well providing additional resources to add to their job search toolbox.

As a career coach here at the Flatiron School it’s a unique opportunity to support a student’s journey in navigating their job search-ultimately to land that first role in their brand new career!

Ellen Chang

• You don’t have to figure out how to job search on your own

It’s daunting enough to switch career paths. It’s even more daunting to convince yourself that you did the right thing in pursuing a bootcamp. Now you have to convince employers, other professionals that you’re worth hiring.

That’s what your career coach supports you in: How can you talk about your experience beyond the bootcamp? What do you have to offer companies already that other professionals don’t have? How can you go above and beyond to show employers that you’re a No Brainer Hire? And most importantly, how to believe in yourself: You already have the skills to make you a successful candidate.

At the same time, your coach has experience in coaching successful hires. They are aware of the blind spots. When you feel you’re treading water, and doing everything possible to network, show yourself, and your skills, you don’t have to solve it on your own. There is always another angle. And your coach is there to help you figure it out!

Jolie Brown

Everyone could use an advocate and mentor in life, and probably the most critical time for this type of support is when one is job seeking.  There’s so much to navigate and having someone to help propel momentum and to be a sounding board, is simply priceless.  Every student at Flatiron receives the support and guidance of a personal career coach.

Just when the student is on the last leg of their curriculum journey, that’s when they are paired with a career coach.  Together, we work on all the necessary deliverables then strategize on a personal job search plan.  You can think of us as your co-partner in success…we only win if we win together.

Job seeking could be a very alienating process.  However, at Flatiron..it’s a “we” process and fostered by coaching teamwork.  Through regular meetings, countless resources and continuous emotional support, we work together to cross the finish line and arrive at the job that’s right for our students.

Rick Dobbis

The transition Flatiron students/graduates make from whatever they were doing before Flatiron, they have to embrace a new professional identity. Stepping up to presenting oneself as a SE, DS, UIX Designer or Cyber Security professional is a challenge, and career coaches help that process along by positive reinforcement and also challenging limiting beliefs that these new professionals may have. Strong and honest relationships between coach and coachee, lots of information transfer and accountability are hallmarks of the productive Flatiron Career Coaching service.

Sara Aharon

Coaches are here to support you in your exciting new chapter! It can be daunting and intimidating to move into a new job, let alone a new career. Flatiron coaches and students work together in a supportive team partnership to help clarify your goals and next action steps. 

What can you expect from working with a Flatiron Career Coach? Support, encouragement, learning job-seeking best practices, networking strategies, and, I hope, fun along the way: These are all ingredients in the recipe of an excellent coaching relationship. Yet the most important ingredient is the effort a student puts in themself in their own job search. Time and time again, we see that the students who take ownership of their own job search are the ones who will experience the greatest success. Companies like to see enthusiastic, eager-to-learn, and proactive candidates. Coaches are here to help put your best foot forward as you start this journey to a new career.

If you have any questions or are interested in learning more about Flatiron School, the program, or coaching, please visit flatironschool.com/career-services or contact the Flatiron School at admissions@flatironschool.com . 

Disclaimer: The information in this blog is current as of October 13, 2020. Current policies, offerings, procedures, and programs may differ.