The Hidden Barriers to Student Success

In today’s AI-driven job market, we face a paradox:

80%

of jobs are never advertised — and even when posted, applicants with referrals are up to 20x more likely to get hired 2

52%

of college graduates are under-employed: they do all we tell them to do, get the degree and still can’t build family sustaining, fulfilling careers

1. The Rochester Study (1966), B. Haldane (How to Make a Habit of Success, 1966), R. Bolles (What Color is Your Parachute, 1970)

2. Based on 80 mn ATS record analyzed by Jeremy Schifeling in 2025 and shared on LinkedIn

The Reframe

The opportunity is already there. Alumni and professionals want to help — students just need the skills and confidence to reach out. When instructors make relationship-building part of the journey, doors open.

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How We Do It?

Unlocking Social Capital for Economic Mobility: Climb Together works with education-to-career focused high schools, colleges, universities, and workforce organizations to unlock job referrals, relationships, social capital and jobs for learners who need it most.