The Five Things

They Don’t Teach You

About Starting a Career

A Introduction To Getting Ahead in the Corporate World

The Truth

Degrees open doors. What they don’t teach you are the unspoken rules of Corporate America.

Managers make judgments fast. Resumes get scanned in seconds. And the first 90 days on the job often decide how far you’ll go.

This guide highlights 5 blind spots that hold back even the most talented students — and how to avoid them.

The Blind Spots

  1. Managers Decide Fast

    Your first 90 days are the test. Long before managers know your full ability, they judge how you show up: Are you confident? Do you communicate clearly? Can you be trusted with responsibility?

  2. Resumes Without Results Get Tossed

    Listing classes, clubs, or responsibilities isn’t enough. Managers scan for outcomes: proof, numbers, results. Without them, your resume blends in with everyone else’s.

  3. Confidence Matters as Much as Competence

    Skill alone doesn’t guarantee success. If you can’t clearly articulate what you know, people assume you don’t know it. Confidence and presence are part of performance.

  4. Standing Out Without Losing Yourself

    Fit in too much and you’re invisible. Push individuality too far and you risk being misunderstood. The edge is learning to contribute authentically while still aligning with the culture.

  5. Networking Is Currency

    Most opportunities aren’t posted online. They’re shared between people who already know each other. If you’re not building relationships early, you’re already behind.

Why This Matters

These aren’t lessons you’ll find in textbooks or classrooms. They’re the unwritten codes of business; the things managers wish new hires knew but rarely say out loud.

Without them, students stumble in interviews, fade into the background, or miss opportunities.

With them, you start your career confident, prepared, and ahead of your peers.

Get ahead by getting ready.

I spent over 20 years leading global brands and hiring talent in New York and San Francisco. Today, I coach senior executives at the top of their careers. I also mentor ambitious students who want to start their own careers with the same insider fluency.

Through one-on-one mentorship, we cover exactly what managers look for, how to present yourself with confidence, and how to navigate your first 90 days with clarity and impact.

Want to avoid these blind spots and enter the workforce with confidence?