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NextYOU: The Lehigh Business Career Journey for Graduate Students

Lehigh's graduate business career journey, NextYOU, is a structured career development and coaching experience for MBA and business master’s students. Delivered as a three-level professional development co-curriculum, the journey strengthens career readiness, job search strategy, professional storytelling, and leadership decision-making, helping students secure internships and full-time roles and navigate future career transitions with confidence.

 

Program Focus Area

  • Career clarity and self-awareness
  • Professional branding and storytelling
  • Job search strategy and execution
  • Networking and relationship-building
  • Interview preparation and offer decision-making

 

How the Career Journey Works

The NextYOU career journey unfolds across three progressive levels, each building on the previous to deepen professional readiness through guided activities, applied practice, and coaching support.

 

Level 1 – Foundation & Launch

Building Career Readiness

Level 1 establishes the foundation for a successful graduate career journey. Students clarify professional direction and build the core materials needed to engage confidently with employers.

Key experiences include:

  • Career assessment and self-discovery
  • Personal brand and career vision development
  • Resume and application foundations
  • Resume optimization and applicant tracking system (ATS) awareness
  • LinkedIn profile optimization
  • Target employer strategy and networking prioritization
  • Mosaic Slide for authentic professional storytelling

International Student Career Preparation:

  • International students complete additional programming focused on U.S. job search strategy, employer targeting, professional storytelling norms, and work authorization pathways (CPT, OPT, and beyond).

 

Level 2 – Activate & Communicate

Coaching-Driven Career Execution

Level 2 focuses on execution, supported by 1:1 coaching and small-group sessions with the Director of Graduate Talent Development & Coaching.

Key experiences include:

  • Instructor-led career workshops
  • Individual coaching sessions for personalized strategy and feedback
  • Small-group coaching sessions centered on shared career goals
  • Multiple career path exploration
  • Career strategy documentation
  • Professional storytelling (short, long, and STAR formats)
  • Networking and relationship-building practice
  • AI-supported mock interview simulations

International Student Career Strategy:

  • Additional modules support strategic networking, sponsorship conversations, and long-term career and visa planning.

 

Level 3 – Lead & Decide

Advanced Career Leadership & Decision-Making

Level 3 prepares students to transition confidently into the marketplace through advanced execution, leadership behaviors, and continued coaching.

Key experiences include:

  • 1:1 coaching focused on offers, trade-offs, and next-step planning
  • Small-group coaching on negotiation and leadership presence
  • Strengthening professional relationships and follow-through
  • Advanced interview preparation
  • Offer evaluation and values-aligned decision-making

International Student Marketplace Transition:

  • Focused guidance supports OPT timing and long-term transition planning.

 

What makes NextYOU Different

This is not a collection of optional career resources. It is a guided, milestone-based career development and coaching program designed to ensure Lehigh MBA and business master’s students graduate marketplace-ready, prepared to navigate both their first role and future career transitions.