“ I went from D's in statistics to 2 offers in 4 weeks. The mock interviews and personalized feedback made all the difference. I felt like I had an unfair advantage.
From Campus to Career — 1st Big Hire
Free Career Coaching
From Campus to Career
Whether you're a recent college graduate or an underclassman planning ahead, we help you navigate professional employment with a clear strategy.
Real students. Real offers.
500+
grads coached into their first big role
You're smart, motivated, and qualified — so why isn't it working?
The job search game has changed. You need to stand out on-line AND in person. AI-generated resumes and a visit to the campus career center can't give you the personalized strategy, accountability, and insider knowledge you actually need.
Sending dozens of resumes and cover letters
Generic resumes and cover letters get lost in the ATS black hole.
Stumbling through interviews or not knowing how to prepare
You freeze up, ramble, or give answers that don’t land with recruiters.
No idea what jobs to target or how to stand out
Every job posting looks the same, and you don’t know what makes you valuable.
Feeling overwhelmed while everyone else seems to have it figured out
Your peers are getting offers while you’re stuck in analysis paralysis.
Here's the truth: Launching your professional career isn't about luck — it's about having a proven system, expert guidance, and someone in your corner who knows what actually works.
Social Proof
Confidence. Lifetime Skills. Expert Advice. Offers.
Don't just take our word for it — see what our clients have to say.
“ The big-tech resume rewrite was eye-opening for me. Once we dialed in my positioning and mentioned the keywords, recruiters started reaching out to me.
“ My career advisor gave me generic advice. 1st Big Hire gave me a step-by-step game plan. The accountability check-ins kept me moving forward when I wanted to give up.
“ Worth every penny. I negotiated $7K more than the initial offer because of the coaching I received. The ROI was immediate.
“
As a parent, watching my daughter struggle with her job search was heartbreaking. 1st Big Hire gave her the structure, confidence, and expertise she needed. She landed her dream role 3 months before graduation. Best investment we made in her future.
— Sydney Williams, Recent Graduate, Northwestern
500+
Students Coached
92%
Placement Rate
6 weeks
Avg Time to Offer
$65K
Avg Starting Salary
Our Process
A proven process — from discouraged, anxious, and overwhelmed to confident
We'll help you turn your experiences and skills into a compelling story, align it to real roles, and land offers — while building repeatable career skills for life.
1
Step 01 Discover Your Direction
We start by uncovering your strengths, values, and career goals — no more throwing darts in the dark.
- Career clarity assessment
- Market positioning analysis
- Personal brand foundation
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2
Step 02 Build Your Arsenal
Create a resume, LinkedIn profile, and pitch that actually gets you noticed by recruiters.
- ATS-optimized resume
- LinkedIn profile optimization
- Compelling narrative development
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3
Step 03 Execute Your Strategy
Learn the insider tactics for finding opportunities, networking effectively, and applying strategically.
- Target company mapping
- Strategic networking scripts
- Application tracking system
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4
Step 04 Ace Your Interviews
Master the interview process with proven frameworks, mock interviews, and real-time feedback.
- STAR method mastery
- Mock interview sessions
- Negotiation preparation
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The Bottom Line
We only succeed when you succeed. Our entire business model is built on getting you hired faster, with better offers, and more confidence than you thought possible.
Ready to land your 1st Big Hire?
Book a free 30-minute discovery call. No sales pitch — just honest advice about your next steps.
Book Your Free Discovery Call
Still have questions? Email us at hello@1stbighire.com or text us at (555) 123-4567.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before booking your call
How is this different from my university career center?
University career centers are wonderful, but they're stretched thin (often 1 advisor for 1,000+ students), and most haven't worked in industry recently. We're former recruiters and hiring managers giving you 1:1 personalized strategy, accountability, and the insider playbook for what's actually getting people hired right now.
What if I don't know what career I want yet?
That's exactly where Step 01 — Discover Your Direction — comes in. Most students we work with start out unsure. We help you map your strengths, values, and goals to real-world roles, so by the end of the first phase you have a clear, honest target.
How long does the coaching program take?
Most students complete the four-step program in 6–10 weeks, depending on their pace and how much time they can commit each week. We'll set a realistic timeline together on your discovery call.
Is this only for certain majors or industries?
Not at all. We've coached students into roles in tech, finance, marketing, consulting, healthcare, design, nonprofits, and beyond. The frameworks for storytelling, networking, and interviewing translate across every industry.
What's the investment?
We have a few program tiers depending on how much support you need (group cohort, small-group, or fully 1:1). The discovery call is free and we'll walk you through pricing then so you can pick what fits. No surprises.
Do you guarantee I'll get a job?
No ethical coach can guarantee a specific job offer — too many factors are outside our control. What we do guarantee is a proven process, expert feedback, and accountability. Students who fully engage with the program land offers — usually faster and at higher salaries than they expected.
Can parents attend the discovery call?
Absolutely. Many parents are the ones reaching out on behalf of their student, and we welcome them on the discovery call. The coaching itself is most effective when the student leads the work, but family involvement at the start is great.
What if I'm already applying to jobs?
Even better — you have real data we can look at. We'll diagnose what's working, what's not, and rewrite your approach so applications start converting to interviews and interviews start converting to offers.
Still have questions? We're here to help. Send us an email
Meet the team behind 1st Big Hire
We're not just coaches — we're former recruiters and hiring managers who know exactly what it takes to get hired.
Elaine Kennedy
Co-Founder & Career Strategist
Elaine built her career mentoring and assessing talent by leading strategy and marketing teams for large corporations and running a strategy and marketing services firm for 16 years. Storytelling, conveying the data and structuring the message are her specialties. As an MBA alumnus of The Anderson School at UCLA, she taught mentees how to find an environment where they would not just survive, but thrive. With both undergrads and graduates exploring careers, Elaine mentors students to understand and create their personal brand, find roles aligned with their strengths and goals, build successful business, and grow their network.
Why I do this — When launching my company in my 30s, I had a friend tell me I have a Roget's Thesaurus brain. Of course she was right. I went on to lead massively complex teams of "Big Brains," and the world really lacks the words to make these gals (and guys) feel seen.
Connect on LinkedIn
Dawn Dangel
Co-Founder & Interview Coach
With 20+ years and thousands of successful placements, Dawn Dangel has trained Fortune 500 hiring managers on what to look for and how to interview. She translates that hard-won knowledge throughout her career to give people the tools they need to differentiate themselves, advocate for their value, and land the job. With more than two decades of mentorship in interviewing, branding and skills development, Dawn pairs that practical know-how with empathy that's rare in the recruiting world.
Why I do this — So many talented students are passed over by experienced coaches' real-world stale advice; their best work is undiscovered or misunderstood. I want to fix that. Watching a confident, well-prepared student walk into a room and own it never gets old for me.
Connect on LinkedIn Ready to start
Stop guessing. Start landing offers.
Your 1st Big Hire doesn't have to be overwhelming. Let's build your roadmap together.
Book Your Free Discovery Call
No credit card required. You'll receive a calendar invite within 24 hours.
500+
Students Coached
92%
Placement Rate
6 weeks
Avg Time to Offer