Why New Grads Are Getting the Job Search Wrong With Michelle Schafer

What do you really want from your career and do you even know? Kevin Cameron sits down with career coach and author Michelle Schafer to unpack what's going wrong in today's job market and why new grads are especially at risk. Michelle draws on 11 years of coaching to challenge the "spray your resume everywhere" mentality and offers an approach rooted in self-reflection, intentional networking, and knowing what energizes you before you ever open a job board. This one is for students, parents, and anyone who has taken a job just because it was there and is now paying the price for it. Key Takeaways The job market has shifted. Hundreds of applicants chase every role, AI is diluting resumes, and the numbers game no longer works. Intentionality is the new strategy. Before updating your resume, hit the pause button. Reflect on what has genuinely energized you, in school, part-time jobs, life. That's your real starting point. Your degree is not a puzzle piece. Following what lights you up matters more than matching your major to a job title. LinkedIn is for everyone - including first-year students. Thoughtful, specific outreach to professionals almost always gets a response. The first job isn't the last job. Prioritize working for someone who will develop you over chasing a title or salary. Episode Highlights Michelle shares how she found coaching after being restructured twice and why someone always plants the seed before we find our calling. Kevin Cameron and Michelle tackle the pressure of "so what are you doing after graduation?" and why parents asking different questions changes everything. Michelle's three-step framework: reflect on what energizes you, research by talking to real people, and build a resume that tells a story of impact. The pair agree that your manager matters more than the role, especially early on. Timestamps 00:00 Who this episode is for 01:36 Michelle's background and how coaching found her 10:12 What's really happening in today's job market 13:30 Where new grads should actually start 18:23 Using AI as a thinking partner for career exploration 23:01 Talking to parents, professors, and your wider network 27:00 The first job is not the last — choose your manager wisely 35:25 LinkedIn for new grads and how to reach out 40:04 Michelle's top three action steps before you start applying Connect With Michelle LInkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelleschafercoaching/ Website: mschafercoaching.ca If you found this advice valuable, please hit subscribe, leave us a review. Visit Talent Connect: Website: www.talent-connect.net LinkedIn: Talent-Connect Kevin's LinkedIn: Kevin Cameron PCC Production Credit: Edited and produced by @the32collective_ / https://www.the32collective.co/