Graduate to Employment is a personalized "counselor" that supports students and recent graduates in launching their careers.
This Sponsor Spotlight is a special moment: we're featuring one of our sponsors who also happens to be a resident of our community. Michael Sherman is a friendly and outgoing Ibis resident, an experienced professional, and a talented coach. His company, Graduate to Employment, helps college students and recent grads make the transition from their academic lives to finding jobs that reflect their skill set and passion. Michael's story is best told in his own words, so we're sharing that with you here.
Prior to launching my company, I spent 35 years running staffing teams across multiple industries throughout Corporate America. I saw firsthand what managers look for as they hire students directly out of school. Most recently, I ran Global Staffing for Bank of America/Merrill Lynch. Over the years friends and colleagues would ask if I would be willing to speak with their college-age child (or grandchild) regarding their job or internship search. In doing so, I realized very quickly that despite charging hundreds of thousands of dollars, colleges today do not equip students with the skills necessary to conduct a successful, strategic job search. In most cases, these kids had lost confidence and gained anxiety around the process. I have always been a believer in coaches and mentors as models for future success. For example, many young people rely on the support of a “College Coach” as they make the transition out of High school. When I stepped back, I realized these kids had no structured support for their transition out of college. With 1.9MM grads looking to enter the workforce each year, the market has never been more competitive, requiring a well-thought-out, strategic approach.
Helping young people was very rewarding to me so in 2016 I launched my company. Graduate to Employment is a personalized coaching service supporting the career search strategy of students and recent grads to help them find the right job after college. It’s been great! My support includes resume and cover letter building, career exploration, LinkedIn profiles, networking, mock interviewing, salary negotiation, and much more. I help clients craft “their story”, identify hiring decision-makers, and stand out from the competition. I work with kids from Harvard to Hawaii. Some pursue traditional majors (Economics) while others are more unique (American Sign Language). Clients not only find the right job but also gain confidence and build “life skills” in the process. Rather than a “one size fits all” approach, I customized my coaching to each client based on his/her needs. I work with introverts, extroverts, strong and weak communicators, etc
On a personal note, this year my wife and I will celebrate our 30th anniversary and anyone who knows me will tell you I overachieved in marriage! We have two wonderful children, a 27-year-old daughter in NYC and a 22-year-old son in Chicago. They love visiting Ibis while enjoying the perks of our member number at the Bistro and Pub! I’m passionate about Boston Sports and saw my first Grateful Dead concert in 1979. In my spare time, I love taking our dog Triscuit to the beach with my wife, working out at the gym, cooking with my family, and listening to music!
Prior to launching my company, I spent 35 years running staffing teams across multiple industries throughout Corporate America. I saw firsthand what managers look for as they hire students directly out of school. Most recently, I ran Global Staffing for Bank of America/Merrill Lynch. Over the years friends and colleagues would ask if I would be willing to speak with their college-age child (or grandchild) regarding their job or internship search. In doing so, I realized very quickly that despite charging hundreds of thousands of dollars, colleges today do not equip students with the skills necessary to conduct a successful, strategic job search. In most cases, these kids had lost confidence and gained anxiety around the process. I have always been a believer in coaches and mentors as models for future success. For example, many young people rely on the support of a “College Coach” as they make the transition out of High school. When I stepped back, I realized these kids had no structured support for their transition out of college. With 1.9MM grads looking to enter the workforce each year, the market has never been more competitive, requiring a well-thought-out, strategic approach.
Helping young people was very rewarding to me so in 2016 I launched my company. Graduate to Employment is a personalized coaching service supporting the career search strategy of students and recent grads to help them find the right job after college. It’s been great! My support includes resume and cover letter building, career exploration, LinkedIn profiles, networking, mock interviewing, salary negotiation, and much more. I help clients craft “their story”, identify hiring decision-makers, and stand out from the competition. I work with kids from Harvard to Hawaii. Some pursue traditional majors (Economics) while others are more unique (American Sign Language). Clients not only find the right job but also gain confidence and build “life skills” in the process. Rather than a “one size fits all” approach, I customized my coaching to each client based on his/her needs. I work with introverts, extroverts, strong and weak communicators, etc
On a personal note, this year my wife and I will celebrate our 30th anniversary and anyone who knows me will tell you I overachieved in marriage! We have two wonderful children, a 27-year-old daughter in NYC and a 22-year-old son in Chicago. They love visiting Ibis while enjoying the perks of our member number at the Bistro and Pub! I’m passionate about Boston Sports and saw my first Grateful Dead concert in 1979. In my spare time, I love taking our dog Triscuit to the beach with my wife, working out at the gym, cooking with my family, and listening to music!