Nobody
prepared parents
for this part...
“My kid is applying everywhere
and getting nowhere.”
If your college senior or recent grad is pursuing a career in
business or communications and isn’t getting
interviews or offers…
I CAN HELP
Before working with Debra, I never realized how much opportunity existed beyond simply submitting applications. She taught me how to network with purpose, connect with hiring managers professionally, and create meaningful connections that helped me stand out from other candidates. Because of Debra, I landed a professional role with a completely different level of confidence than when I started. She didn’t just teach me how to job search. She changed the way I think about my career, gave me the confidence to advocate for myself, and became someone I truly looked up to throughout the process. I can’t recommend her highly enough.
couldn't have done it without her!"
"I learned everything about the job hunt from Debra &
Alexis
CSU, San Marcos
Full disclosure: Debra is my mom, so yes, I’m probably a little biased. But I also had something most new grads don’t have: someone who knew exactly how to teach me to navigate the job search. She taught me how to prepare for career fairs, identify the right companies, approach recruiters, ask thoughtful questions and follow up in a way that turned conversations into real opportunities. She didn’t hand me connections or get me interviews. She taught me the strategy, and I had to execute it. A college degree gave me an education. My mom taught me how to turn it into a job.
accepted a full-time role before graduation."
"“I was interviewing with three companies &
Max
university of utah
With her guidance, my daughter was able to completely revamp her resume in a way that made her truly stand out. Learning how to find the right people to reach out to and how to follow up really made things start to happen. She just landed her dream job 3 months before graduating!
My husband and I are thrilled!"
"I cannot say enough about Debra's method...
Alisa
Parent
Before working with Debra, I knew networking was important, but I didn’t understand how to approach it strategically or leverage the network I already had. She taught me how to identify the right people, reach out thoughtfully, prepare for conversations and follow up in a way that builds real relationships.
She also helped me position my internships as real work experience. Instead of simply listing my responsibilities, I learned how to showcase my contributions and skills in a way that would get the attention of commercial real estate hiring managers. Because of her guidance, I’ve made valuable connections in the CRE industry and feel much more confident and intentional about building my career before graduation.
in the world!"
"Having Debra help me, made all the difference,
DAVID
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
My daughter was so frustrated after graduating because she was applying for jobs and not getting any interviews. She had worked hard in college and graduated magna cum laude, but she didn’t know how to communicate her strengths or stand out to employers. Debra helped her completely reposition how she presented herself, improved her résumé and taught her how to approach the job search with a real strategy. Working with Debra gave her the confidence, direction and tools she needed to succeed. She started getting noticed and landed a professional role almost immediately. I am incredibly grateful for the difference Debra made.
It's so different now!"
"I had no idea how to help my daughter job hunt after college.
Marilou
Parent
Before working with Debra, I was applying for opportunities but struggling to get interviews. She helped me improve how I presented my experience and taught me how to approach the job search more strategically. With her guidance, I gained confidence, landed an amazing internship and later secured a full-time job after graduation. Debra genuinely cares about her students and is honest, encouraging and invested in their success. I can’t recommend her enough.
I can't thank her enough for her guidance & expertise!"
"Debra was truly a game changer for me!
Ava
Baylor University
My son had great experience and skills, but he was struggling to communicate them in a way that helped him stand out to employers. Debra took the time to understand his strengths, helped him present himself more effectively and gave him a clear strategy for pursuing the right opportunities. The change in his confidence was almost immediate. Within three weeks of working with her, he landed an internship. As a parent, I saw how genuinely invested she was in helping him succeed, and I’m incredibly grateful for the difference she made.
The process was stress free."
"So happy we found Debra!
tracie
Parent
I had a wonderful experience with Debra and highly recommend her to any student or young adult looking to get noticed by employers. As a student at the University of Tennessee, I was struggling perfecting my resume and cover letter but Debra made such an impact. She took the time to understand my experience and helped me highlight my strengths in the best way possible. I feel so much more confident in my job search now.
& finally landed interviews!"
"Thanks to her expert guidance, I received multiple job responses,
lance
university of tennessee
She takes the time to gather all the information in order to create a resume that is tailored specifically to your needs. Her collaborative approach ensures the final product not only represents you accurately but fits your goals perfectly. With her expertise, my resume has been transformed into a professional polished document that truly reflects my strengths. I highly recommend her service.
She's really invested in helping each student"
"Debra provided exceptional support from the very start.
liberty
chapman university
SO GRATEFUL to find Debra and highly recommend to anyone ready to take the next step in their life! I was never taught how to create a relevant resume and found myself completely lost in the job hunt process! After working with her, I have a resume I am truly proud of and now I know how to update it as needed.
Debra has helped me in so many ways!"
"I have more confidence and success entering the workforce.
LILLIAN
UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA
You'd never make a major business decision without a strategy.
Your grad's job search deserves the same.
You’ve watched your grad spend hours searching job boards, submitting applications and waiting for responses that never come.
So you tell them to keep applying. Apply to more jobs. Widen the search. Something will eventually work.
But more applications are not a strategy.
The job market has changed significantly since we graduated from college. Today, a capable graduate can submit hundreds of applications without ever being seen by a hiring manager.
After more than 25 years of building businesses and hiring employees, I know that getting hired is not only about being qualified. Your grad needs a clear strategy that separates them from everyone else and helps the right people know who they are before they ever apply.
That’s what I build with them one-on-one.
Together, we position their experience, identify the right companies and people, build a network around the career they want, and create opportunities that do not depend on an online application getting noticed.
Then I stay closely involved until they land their first professional role.
You invested heavily in their education.
Private career advisory helps turn that education into an outcome.
MORE APPLICATIONS AREN’T THE ANSWER
Debra Shaw
“Just wanted to say thank you & share some good news - I recently accepted a new role! Your resume feedback, template, tips & tactical advice were incredibly helpful. Once I put them into action it made all the difference!”
-Winnie, UCLA MBA Grad
Frequently Asked Questions
WHO IS GRADSHIRED FOR?
I work with U.S. college seniors and recent graduates pursuing their first professional role in business or communications. This includes careers in areas such as marketing, public relations, finance, sales, operations, client services, human resources and commercial real estate.
GradsHired is for graduates who are motivated, have a general sense of the direction they want to pursue and are willing to follow a strategy that goes beyond submitting online applications.
I currently work only with U.S. citizens pursuing U.S.-based roles.
MY GRAD HAS LITTLE OR NO EXPERIENCE. CAN YOU STILL HELP?
Absolutely. Most college seniors and recent grads have more relevant experience than they realize. Internships, campus involvement, class projects, part-time jobs and volunteer work can all demonstrate valuable skills when positioned correctly.
When additional experience is needed, we may create a strategic project or portfolio piece that gives employers something tangible to evaluate.
WHAT IF MY GRAD DOESN’T KNOW THE EXACT JOB TITLE THEY WANT?
They do not need to have one exact job title chosen, but they should have a general interest in pursuing a career in business or communications.
I help them narrow that direction into realistic roles based on their strengths, experience and interests. From there, we can identify the right companies and build a focused strategy instead of applying to anything and everything.
WHAT MAKES GRADSHIRED DIFFERENT?
GradsHired is not a résumé service, a checklist or a few general career conversations.
I work one-on-one with each graduate to create a strategy specifically for them. We position their résumé and LinkedIn, identify target companies, build the right relationships, plan their outreach, prepare for interviews and adjust quickly when something is not working.
I remain closely involved throughout the process and continue working with them until they get hired.
HOW DOES YOUR GUARANTEE WORK?
I work with your graduate until they land their first professional role. There is no expiration date and no additional fee for continued support.
The guarantee requires mutual commitment. Your graduate must remain actively engaged, complete the agreed-upon work and consistently participate in the job search. If they are willing to follow the strategy and do the work, I am committed to helping them get hired.
HOW QUICKLY CAN WE GET STARTED?
Most families can begin within 48 hours, depending on availability. If your graduate is working around graduation, relocation or the end of an internship, I can often accommodate those timelines.
IS THIS ONLY FOR RECENT GRADS, OR CAN COLLEGE SENIORS BENEFIT TOO?
Both. In fact, beginning during senior year can give students a significant advantage.
Starting before graduation gives us time to strengthen their positioning, build the right network and create interview opportunities before they leave college. The goal is for them to graduate with momentum instead of waiting until they are home and unemployed to begin.
HOW INVOLVED ARE PARENTS IN THE PROCESS?
I ask that the student or graduate and at least one parent or financial decision-maker attend the initial call. This ensures everyone understands the program, the expectations and the commitment involved.
Once we begin, I work directly with your student or graduate so they develop the skills, confidence and independence to manage their own career.