Entering a new career is a challenge for anyone, no matter how much training and drive a candidate has. Unemployment among recent graduates is at a ten-year high and well above that of the general labor force, to the tune of 5.3% v. 4.0%. Hiring in general is back to dire early pandemic rates, and new grads are the first to feel employment slowdowns.  

So that’s daunting, but imagine being the first in your family to go to college. Once you find yourself in the slim minority of first-generation students who graduate, you then have to navigate a tough job market without anyone to help you prepare for your first interview or even just to show you by example that your dreams aren’t out of reach.  

Having to forge that trail on your own is a big challenge to add to an already tough job hunt.  

Denver-based GlobalMindED exists to help support students as they kick off their careers, with the ultimate goal of closing the equity gap and encouraging a more inclusive, collaborative workforce and stronger communities.  

When you’re at the beginning of your career and so often outmatched in experience (especially when more seasoned workers are seeking the same jobs in a tight market), soft skills and social capital can go a long way. For new grads, especially those without a strong mentor or network, the programs of GlobalMindED offer a boost that even a stellar GPA on a resume can’t.  

GlobalMindED works to combat the economic realities of layoffs, AI, and an executive branch opposed to diversity initiatives, according to the organization’s founder, Carol Carter. A big part of that, she says, is showing initiative, developing interpersonal and networking skills, and learning to collaborate.  

GlobalMindED helps students reach that skills sweet spot through a range of programs, including the following:  

To combat serious underrepresentation of first-generation students on college campuses, GlobalMindED’s Campus Collaboratives are designed to help students stay—and graduate.  

Fifteen diverse first-generation students are invited each year to join a campus collaborative, which meets bi-monthly to evaluate need and plan ways to meet that need, through offerings like career fairs and mentor programs. These teams also meet with university leadership quarterly to advance inclusive policies. 

GlobalMindED also offers instructional publications to prepare students to succeed on campus and in the professional world. These newsletters and books offer insight on money management, academic success, and how to build professional skills. Combined with the organization’s First Gen Leadership Program, which brings students together with business leaders to share their experiences and practice highlighting their skills, the campus programs increase confidence.  

“Knowing that I am capable of having conversations and learning within an environment with many top executives in their respective fields has instilled in me a new sense of confidence in myself,” 2018 participant Carli Rodriguez says on the GlobalMindED website. “I had the courage to go back to school and ask for what I needed.” 

If you’d like to get involved with GlobalMindED’s mission to connect students to role models, mentors, internships, and jobs, there are several ways you can help.  

Support students and recent graduates by volunteering as a mentor or by making a financial contribution.  

A lot of the learning and networking that GlobalMindED offers happen at its annual conference each summer. The event draws hundreds of leaders dedicated to creating a capable talent pipeline. Opportunities to participate include:  

Reach out to GlobalMindED to learn more about current needs.