Alumni Career Design + Launch Program
Knowing where your career can take you next isn’t just reassuring right now. It’s the edge.
A structured 30-day process to find your direction. A cohort of fellow alumni to expand your sense of what's possible. Then the strategy to build on it.
Trusted by 15,000+ professionals navigating career change
Why more professionals are asking “What’s next?”
The path forward isn’t as clear as it used to be. What made sense at one stage of a career doesn’t always point to what comes next.
Alumni reach this point from many different directions:
- A layoff or unexpected industry shift
- A career that has gone well but no longer feels right
- A return to work after time away
- Early career uncertainty about which direction to move
- A growing sense that something needs to change, even if it’s hard to name
Whatever brought you here, you’re not the only one asking the question. And you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Career clarity rarely happens alone
The moments that actually change how people think about their careers almost always come from other people.
Not career coach.
Not a TED Talk.
Not a resume template.
This is a cohort of alumni from different industries and fields who help you see opportunities you wouldn’t have discovered on your own.
The Career Design process gives you the framework. The cohort gives you the vantage point.
Most participants say the cohort was the part they didn’t expect to matter most. What lasts beyond the 30 days is a process they return to every time their career shifts.
How the program works
The program combines two complementary phases: discover where you want to go, then move in that direction with confidence.
Phase 1: Career Design
A 30-day, research-backed experience where you work alongside fellow alumni through guided reflection, practical exercises, and peer collaboration to uncover what drives you, explore meaningful career directions, and test possibilities before making decisions.
Reflection
Understand what truly drives you. Identify your strengths, values, and the kind of work that energizes you.
Definition
Set criteria that fit your life. Clarify what success looks like for you now and outline directions that align with where you are today.
Research
Learn to test paths before you chase them. Explore options through conversations and research to make informed, confident choices.
Testing
Turn insight into a plan. Design practical next steps and move toward the direction that fits who you are now.
Phase 2: Launch
A self-paced phase that helps you build momentum after Career Design by turning your insights into action. When you’re ready to move, Launch gives you the tools to build the strategy to get there, whether you're exploring opportunities, building connections, or preparing for your next professional move. At your own pace, when you need them.
Career Design gives you the direction. Launch gives you the means to act on it.
What the experience actually looks like
A structured, supported path from uncertainty → clarity → action.
7–9 hours per week total. Most of the program is self-paced, so you can complete the materials on your own schedule. The structure is clear, the commitment is real, and the flexibility is built in
Each week you meet 1:1 for one hour with an assigned Accountability Partner. These calls are where ideas get sharper and next steps become clear. Participants consistently say these conversations were more valuable than they expected.
Once a week, your small team meets for a 1–1.5 hour working session. Choose from:
Wednesdays at 12 PM PT, Wednesdays at 6 PM PT, or Thursdays at 8 PM PT
This is where the peer experience happens.
After enrolling, you join the Mission Collaborative community alongside 15,000+ professionals who have completed this program. The conversations and connections continue well beyond the 30 days.
Proven Results. Real Career Moves.
SJSU Alumni Participant
SJSU Alumni Participant
SJSU Alumni Participant
97% of participants say they’re glad they participated.
15,000+ alumni.
80+ universities.
Nine years running.
See If It's a Fit
Not sure if this is the right program for where you are right now?
A short quiz can help.
Explore More
Join the next
Mountain West
Career Design Cohort
A guided, community-powered experience to help you figure out what’s next and start moving toward it.
Over 30 days, you’ll move step-by-step through the Career Design Process alongside peers from your alumni community, with expert support and a clear weekly structure to keep you moving forward.
After the program, you’ll move into the Launch Phase to help you turn clarity into real opportunities at your own pace.
Most participants spend 7–9 hours per week and leave with:• clearer direction
• multiple paths to pursue
• real momentum toward their next move
Waitlist members get early access and the lowest price.
To ensure the program runs, cohorts may include alumni from multiple universities — creating a diverse, supportive learning experience.
Frequently asked questions
Who leads the program?
What do you mean by "career design"?
How much time will this take?
What if I have to miss a team session?
What technology do I need?
What is the refund policy?
Will my information be shared?
The Career Design Program is offered through a partnership between
San Jose State University
and Mission Collaborative.
Have questions? We're here to help. Contact us at info@missioncollaborative.com.