Early Career
Launch Your Career with Confidence.
Whether you're exploring career options, looking for your first full-time role, or ready to grow beyond your first job...
Build the foundation for a career you'll love.
Students • Recent Graduates • Early Career Professionals
How We Help
Discover career paths that fit your strengths and interests
Gain clarity through the MAP Framework
Build a standout resume, LinkedIn profile, and personal brand
Learn how to network with confidence
Prepare for interviews and salary conversations
Access curated job opportunities
Connect with industry professionals and a supportive community
Your Compass Toolkit
MAP Framework
Curated Job Board
Live Workshops
Industry Professional Office Hours
Community & Networking
AI Career Tools
Resource & Recording Library
Ready to build your career?
Join Compass | Book a Discovery Call Explore 1:1
Bridging the Gap Between College and Career
The Compass Membership and 1:1 coaching integrates deep coaching work with insider recruiting perspective. Students gain clarity on who they are, strategy for how to position themselves, and the structure and accountability to follow through.
Meet Your Coach
Hi, I'm Sam — an ICF Certified Coach (ACC), trained through Brown University's ACT program, and a former recruiter in advertising, marketing, branding, and design.
I've supported students from Syracuse, Brown, Wesleyan, UT Austin, Northeastern, Delaware, Hamilton, Emerson, Ithaca, and Binghamton through the transition from college to career.
Before coaching, I placed early-career talent at agencies like Wieden+Kennedy, Mother, BBDO, Droga5, Ogilvy, and Landor, and at companies including Apple, Google, Lyft, CAA, and Brooks Running.
I’ve reviewed thousands of resumes and portfolios and worked directly with hiring managers which means I know exactly what gets someone filtered out in 10 seconds, and exactly what makes a recruiter stop and pay attention.
Chose either The Compass Community or personalized 1:1 Coaching. Both are built from everything I've learned — on both sides of the hiring table.
“If you work in advertising and aren't talking to Sam, you're missing out. She's more like an ad world Yoda. She just gets it — the industry, the people, the nuance. Whether you're job hunting, navigating a tricky professional moment, or just need a smart take on something, Sam is your career's secret weapon."
— Steve Fogel · Group ECD, HighDive
Was really struggling to find a full-time job out of college in a field I had no drive to pursue. Sam helped me figure out what I actually wanted to do, and now I’m on a path toward something completely different than what I came in thinking I wanted, and for the first time, I actually have the drive to go get good at it.
— Kyle Andrews · SUNY Binghamton
Your Questions, Answered
What if I'm not sure what career I want? You're in the right place — and you're in good company. Not knowing exactly what you want is one of the most common starting places. We do the inner work before the tactical stuff, because clarity about direction is what makes everything else work.
Do I need a portfolio? No. Not every creative role requires one. But if yours does, this is actually the best time to join — not after your portfolio is "finished." Most students wait until everything is perfect and then realize their narrative is missing. We audit your work as it is and tell you exactly what's needed, so you're not building pieces that won't help you get hired.
Is this only for advertising and design? No. The framework applies to anyone looking to navigate into a creative field. The recruiter lens is universal. What changes is the vocabulary, and we work through that together.
What's the difference between Compass and 1:1? Compass is community-based: live workshops, group office hours, Q&A with me, resource library.
1:1 is private: just you and me, working through your specific situation, your specific goals, your specific moves. Both use the MAP framework. The difference is format and depth, not quality of insight.
What happens after my 1:1 sessions end? You have the option to stay as a compass member at $29/month — ongoing workshops, office hours, Q&A, and the full resource library. The search doesn't end when the program does.
The calendar is the one thing we can't negotiate.
Graduation happens once. Internship recruiting windows open and close on someone else's timeline.
If you're a senior, a recent grad, or a junior who's tired of applying and hoping or someone who supports early career entry, this is your start.