Coaching Connects Students With The Hidden Job Market

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By Sarah Lyman Kravits, LifeBound Director of Training and Certification | Dec 9, 2025

Building Networking Skills through Coaching

Gone are the days when having to mail printed resumes and cover letters to prospective employers resulted in a manageable pool of applicants for a job. As easy as it may be to submit a job application through Indeed, for example, or LinkedIn, one result of this ease and speed is that many jobs receive far more applications than could be thoughtfully processed. Subsequently, keywords have become far more important for such submissions, as having relevant keywords could move your materials from the sea of applicants to a much smaller percentage under consideration. As stated by Timothy M. Jones in an article on LinkedIn, "Employers often filter out the majority of resumes using Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), software that scans resumes for keywords. If your application doesn’t match the ATS criteria, it might never be seen by a human recruiter."

Enter what is referred to as the "hidden job market," or jobs that are not publicly advertised. Estimates vary as to how many jobs are filled this way, but the hidden job market is robust and cuts across many industries. For many employers, recruiting within a smaller, known pool of candidates allows for a more targeted, manageable search process. Additionally, as reported by The Business Insider, one niche in the hidden job market is hiring previously-interviewed but unhired candidates. Someone who interviews well for a job they are not offered, but stays in touch with their interviewer, may find that they pop onto the radar for another position in the company or organization.

So, you may ask, what does this have to do with coaching, especially when career coaching is usually not in the academic coaching lane? Well, the coaching environment can be a training and strength-building ground for effective communication, self-advocacy, and network building — three foundational skills for navigating the hidden job market.

Coaches can and do:

Ask questions that drive the development of self-advocacy, rather than spoon-feeding strategies.
Champion students' reaching out proactively to instructors and staff when those connections and conversations could level up their learning or solve a problem.
Build relationships with students that increase their network, and encourage further network expansion through faculty and resource relationships.

Coaches, encourage students to take the skills they are building in your sessions and put them in their virtual briefcases for the job hunt. They won't be sorry.

Continue to build your skills with LifeBound coaching courses:

3-Day Virtual Coaching: Next Class - Dec 11, 12, 15
Self-Paced Coaching: Choose your own dates!
Coaching Certification: Spring, Summer, and Fall Cohorts

Explore which course is right for you at www.lifebound.com.

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Make 2026 the Year Coaching Solves Higher Ed’s Toughest Challenges

Higher education is grappling with unprecedented challenges—rising mental health crises, the need for greater career readiness, and the unfortunate reality that many students struggle to secure meaningful employment or are let go shortly after starting. These issues affect not only individual students but also university outcomes like enrollment, retention, and long-term institutional success.

By equipping your staff with coaching training, you can help students build resilience, achieve meaningful employment, and address many challenges that universities face today. Allocate your budget toward LifeBound’s training options this year and plan ahead to ensure your institution is prepared to address these critical needs effectively. Let’s create a campus-wide culture of coaching and make an impact!

LifeBound offers multiple ways to train academic coaches, faculty, or staff:

3-Day Virtual Coaching Course

A dynamic, interactive course focused on practical coaching techniques.

December 11, 12, 15

January 5, 7, 9

February 23, 25, 27

March 6, 13, 20

more dates online >

Time: 3 days, 6 hours each

Format: Online

Cost: $1,500 per person. Contact us about group rates.

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Self-Paced Coaching Course for Academic, Personal, and Professional Success

A flexible, 15-hour program designed for those who want to deepen their skills at their own pace. The course dives deep into foundational and advanced coaching techniques as well as motivation, resilience, career readiness, cultural competence and coaching diverse student populations, and includes private sessions with a LifeBound Coach. Institutional packages are available for group training.

Choose Your Own Dates!

Time: 15 hours (self-paced), plus 3 hours with LifeBound Coach

Format: Online

Cost: $1,500 per person. If you’ve already completed the 1-Day or 3-Day program, email contact@lifebound.com to receive a discount code for $500 off the new Self-Paced Course. Contact us about group rates.

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LifeBound Certification Program

For coaches ready to take their skills to the next level, the LifeBound Certification Program offers an in-depth dive into advanced coaching practices and strategies, culminating in certification as a LifeBound Coach.

Spring, Summer, and Fall Cohorts

Format: Online or in-person as available

Cost: $5,000 per person

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Let’s make 2026 a year of transformation for your institution and the students you serve!

Learn More at lifebound.com