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

Alumni and industry contacts are ready and willing to help. Students can be taught the skills and confidence to ask for advice. Trusted instructors should encourage conversation and relationship building practice throughout a learner’s journey.

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How We Do It?

Unlocking Social Capital for Economic Mobility: Climb Together works with career-focused educational institutions and workforce organizations to unlock social capital and jobs for learners who need it most.