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.

/Program Breeakdown/

What You'll Experience

Assignments that fit your schedule

Spend about 5 hrs/wk learning career design principles, exploring career resources, and completing insightful exercises.

Weekly team working sessions

Wednesdays at 12 PM ET, Wednesdays at 7 PM ET, or Thursdays at 9 PM ET

Weekly calls with your assigned partner

Go deeper and have more breakthroughs with your Accountability Partner. Schedule calls at times that work for both of you.

Activate and grow your network

Crowdsource ideas, resources, and connections from your supporters, fellow alumni, and the broader Program network.

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.

Designed for Real Life

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

Your Accountability Partner

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.  

Your Peer Cohort

Once a week, your small team meets for a 1–1.5 hour working session. Choose from:

Wednesdays at 12 PM ET, Wednesdays at 7 PM ET, or Thursdays at 9 PM ET

This is where the peer experience happens.

A Broader Professional Network

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.

/Hear From Past Participants/
This workshop gave me a thoughtful, actionable framework to generate, research, and evaluate many different directions my career could go. The peer support format was the right amount of encouragement, input, and accountability to motivate me to make some real progress in our time together.

HGSE Alumni Participant

What participants say
The Career Design Workshop exceeded my expectations! I have found a renewed sense of confidence and motivation in my career journey.

HGSE Alumni Participant

/Hear From Past Participants/
I am so glad that I carved out the time and space to do this workshop. It not only offered tangible, realistic strategies to explore career options, but also pushed me to think deeply about what type of work would leave me fulfilled. I would highly recommend this workshop to anyone who is feeling stuck work-wise and doesn't really know where to start -- it will be worth it!

HGSE Alumni Participant

97% of participants say they’re glad they participated.
Verified across all partner programs, updated each season.

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.

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Show Me The Curriculum

Join the next

HGSE

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

Early Enrollment
$
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Early Enrollment available til
January 31
Regular Enrollment
$
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Regular Enrollment available til
February 16
Enrollment Currently Closed.
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Program Starts
February 21
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WHAT HAPPENS AFTER YOU SUBMIT?

You'll be the first to know, get the lowest price, and onboard fastest.

To ensure the program runs, cohorts may include alumni from multiple universities — creating a diverse, supportive learning experience.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Career Design Program right for me?
Who is leading the program? What kind of support can I expect?
What do you mean by "career design"?
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Refund Policy

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