Career advancement strategies that fit your needs and budget

By Annemarie Allain, ’00

Assessing your professional and personal needs — whether you’re just defining them or admitting they’ve changed — isn’t always easy. In a tight job market, considering how investing in yourself today will pay off tomorrow is never a bad idea. But how you do this depends on what you can spend: money, time or a combination of both.

The good news is that some options will put you on your way to success in no time!

Chart your course with a career coach

Perhaps you’re just launching your career and don’t know where to start, or maybe you’re ready to make a career move. Either way, working with a career coach might be your best bet.

“When you’re in the thick of trying to figure out your next steps, it can be hard to see how investing in career coaching pays off in the long run, but it will,” says Lisa Virtue, ’03, founder of Her Career Studio and Lisa Virtue Coaching. “The biggest advantage is gaining unbiased, one-on-one support; someone who can ask questions targeted at your unique situation and encourage you along the way. That guidance will land you at your destination faster.”

In recent years, leading publications like Forbes, Harvard Business Review and others have explored the surge in career coaching. They all agree that working with a coach provides excellent guidance to new graduates or mid-career employees, including:

• Exploring interests: Figure out the industry and type of role that suits your strengths and weaknesses.
• Setting goals: Decide what you want to achieve and create actionable steps.
• Navigating career changes: Understanding how to seek a new professional path and market your skills.
• Preparing advancement strategies: Determine what keeps you from moving up in your current company and how to clear that hurdle.
• Planning for interviews: Practice techniques, answer common questions or discover why you’re interviewing but haven’t landed a job.
  

"The idea that career success is achieved only through our own hard work is dated. Today's evolving job market requires collaboration, not just through mentorship, but through sponsorship that helps us access closed doors,” shares Alondra Canizal Hsu, ’17, founder and CEO of Soluna Career Consulting. “If this seems overwhelming, a career coach can help by identifying your network and how to reach out in an authentic way, pinpoint areas where you need to upskill to meet market demand and strategically map out a custom plan for your career goals that aligns with your whole self."

If you’re interested in working with a coach, contact Director of Alumni Career Engagement Karla Rockhold to be introduced to OSU alumni career coaches. You can also search the International Coaching Federation directory to find credentialed coaches in your area.

Pro tip: When weighing coaching options, determine if you need a life coach versus a career coach and ask the right questions beforehand. Life coaches address a broad range of personal goals and challenges to improve overall well-being, while career coaches specialize in achieving professional goals.

Budget-friendly career tools

If hiring a career coach isn’t financially viable right now, plenty of other affordable resources exist to help upskill, reskill or dive into the areas mentioned above.

“AI and online courses are a fantastic way to get you up to speed on the basics of the career and job landscape,” shares Virtue. “If you have unique circumstances, you can also investigate group or ad-hoc coaching services which give you the key benefits of coaching at a lower price point.”

When trying to decide on your next employment move, Indeed’s Career Guide shares practical advice on countless topics like job hunting, résumés and finding a position that suits your interests. Additionally, you may want to consider these resources.

Professional development

After identifying necessary skills or areas for improvement, sites like LinkedIn Learning and OSU Ecampus offer free or low-cost courses online. Just remember, racking up certifications won’t help you land more interviews unless you see something specific requested in a job posting.

Ask AI

With the proper prompts, AI can act like a coach (though it doesn’t have the unique, one-on-one support a live coach can offer.) You can ask, “What industries or roles are a good fit for my skills and interests?” or “What transferable skills should I focus on for a career change?” Check out the website Prompt Advance for suggestions on getting started — just remember to let it know if you’re looking for a career or life coach.

Résumé tools

“I’ve talked to recruiters who received the same résumé from multiple people in one week,” adds Virtue. “Don’t have AI write your entire résumé; use it just as a resource.” Tools like OSU alumnus-founded Wisedoc (a free benefit for OSUAA members) offer AI-powered résumé reviews and ATS-friendly résumé writing with easy-to-use templates. Need a second look? Oregon State alumni receive free professional résumé reviews conducted by our alumni career team — send yours in. See additional résumé tools and samples from the OSU Career Development Center.

Connect with Beaver Nation

Make good use of OSU’s free tools geared toward career success with resources like:

• OSU Connections: Strengthen your community or read features on trending topics.
• Beaver Careers Group: Learn about open roles and resources from fellow Beavers on LinkedIn.
• Ask Alumni: Tap into the knowledge of Beavers across industries and career levels.  
• Career consultations: Book a 30-minute meeting with alumni career director Karla Rockhold.
• Alumni Career Advice: Watch motivating videos from accomplished Oregon Staters.
• Career Development Center: Access personal support, job search tools and video interview practice.
• Find a mentor: Gain confidence and receive encouragement from someone in your desired industry.

Is this the year to invest in yourself?

There’s no better time than a new year to kick off your career assessment. Whether you’re applying for a promotion, sharpening your skills or seeking a new job, leaning on valuable resources like career coaching and free or low-cost online tools is the perfect way to step things up in 2025.