Geordie Brackin happily counsels Walden students and alumni all day. He has been a career coach for the past 7 years and is excited to work with Walden students on their job search. Before running 1Up Career Coaching, he was the co-designer of Health Sciences Leadership in Philadelphia, a high school aimed at preparing students for careers in health care. He also served as Director of Innovation at Bridge International Academies, an organization that launched over 500 elementary schools in Kenya, Uganda, Liberia, India, and Nigeria. Geordie was a public high school teacher in Nashville, TN, and Cape Town, South Africa, and a Fulbright recipient.
Geordie shares how he and the undergraduate coaching team help Walden students and alums excel in job searches and advance their careers.
Tell us about what you do as an undergraduate career coach.
First of all, thank you for featuring me on the blog. I have been a career coach for the last six years. I’m now in my seventh year of coaching. I work with Walden University undergraduate students and alums to guide them through the job search process, especially if they’re feeling stuck and not moving forward. We work together on everything from cover letters, to resumes, to identifying jobs that are a good fit. Once students apply for jobs and start getting interviews, we then place a big emphasis on preparing for those interviews and salary negotiation. I work diligently to help students and alums break through and land jobs that really make them happy.
What do you enjoy most about working with Walden University undergraduate students and alums?
There are so many things that I’ve been enjoying about coaching Walden students and alums. The biggest thing that stands out for me is the life and work experiences that Walden students bring. In my previous work, I worked primarily with traditional college students, ages 18-22. It has been enlightening and inspiring to work with students and alums who are juggling many life responsibilities – jobs, families, school, and more – and yet they are still able to make progress and get their degrees. I enjoy helping people move into a job or career where they can find more happiness and satisfaction.
What are the top three things Walden students and alums should consider when searching for jobs?
- Job Search Plan
Well, first and foremost, I think that anyone going through a career transition needs a job search plan. They need to have a strategy. What small, daily, or weekly actions are they going to take to help them win that job? Because remember, in any job you’re applying for, you’re competing against dozens, if not hundreds, of other people. In my work with Walden students and alums, that’s the very first thing we do; we set the goal, we set the intention. We can then work backward and come up with all the different activities that we need to do in the job search to reach that goal. - Application Materials That Make Sense
The second important thing is that all materials that you’re sending to potential employers need to make sense. This step includes updating the resume with recent experiences to tell your story in a clear and coherent way. Same thing with a cover letter. When applying for jobs, the person on the other side of the hiring table needs to clearly understand why you are applying for the job and your unique selling points. Therefore, Walden students need to make sure that their materials and answers in job interviews are all coherent and make sense to a potential hiring manager regarding why the individual is applying for the role. - Honest Feedback
Finally, the third important thing for Walden students and alums to consider as they’re going through a job search is to partner with someone who can give them honest feedback. As undergraduate career coaches, myself and my colleagues on the coaching team are happy to do this. We realize that going through a job search can often be quite a lonely and solitary experience; you may be applying for jobs and not hearing back or maybe getting some rejections. It’s easy to get down on yourself and start feeling dejected by the rejection. And that’s what I want to say to Walden students and alums: we are here to support you, give you feedback, and offer encouragement. So that would be my last tip; reach out to us and schedule an appointment with an undergraduate career coach. We can be your partner in the job search so that you’re not trying to do it all alone.
Additional Resources:
Schedule an Appointment page
Career advising and coaching appointments are available for Walden students and alums at all degree levels. Please remember to select the correct degree level when reserving your career appointment.
Career Planning and Development website
Visit Walden University’s Career Planning and Development website for a wide range of career-related resources and offerings to help you navigate your career.
Interview Contributed by Geordie Brackin, Walden University Undergraduate Career Coach and Owner of 1 Up Career Coaching.
Edited by Dina Bergren, Manager, Department of Career Planning and Development