Get support from our best-in-class coaches

Yes.

Merit America coaches bring experience from higher education institutions and leading workforce development organizations, including Kansas State University, Michigan State University, the University of Kentucky, 2U, Year Up, Flatiron School, and CareerFoundry.

Together, they bring decades of experience supporting career changers through goal-setting, problem-solving, professional growth, and job search preparation. They understand what it’s like to balance work, finances, and life while making a career change, and they’re trained to provide guidance, accountability, and perspective at every stage of the journey.

Our coaches focus on career development and job readiness while partnering closely with Merit America’s technical program advisors and learning resources to support your technical growth. They’re not here to do the work for you. They’re here to help you build confidence, sharpen your strategy, and move forward with clarity.

At Merit America, every learner is paired with a Program Career Coach who supports you throughout the program—from your first week through active job searching.

Your coach’s role is to provide consistent, personalized guidance as you build confidence, develop professional and job search skills, and navigate the challenges that come with career change. They’re there to help you stay grounded, focused, and moving forward—especially when things feel uncertain or overwhelming.

Coaches support you with areas like:

• Clarifying your career direction and next steps
• Building and refining resumes, LinkedIn profiles, and application materials
• Preparing for interviews and conversations with employers
• Developing strategies to manage imposter syndrome, motivation, and self-doubt
• Thoughtfully using AI tools to support your job search
• Navigating real-world considerations related to age, neurodiversity, gender, and finances

After you complete the program, Alumni Career Coaches remain available to support you as you pursue opportunities, negotiate offers, or navigate future career transitions.

Your coach isn’t there to do the work for you—they’re a dedicated partner who helps you build the clarity, skills, and confidence to move forward on your own terms.

At Merit America, the entire program is designed to prepare you for a career change—and the Job Success phase is a focused part of that journey.

This phase begins after you complete your technical training and typically lasts six weeks. During this time, you continue working closely with your Program Career Coach, who provides personalized guidance to help you navigate the job search with clarity and confidence.

During the Job Success phase, you’ll focus on:

• Creating a strategic job search plan and optimizing your resume, LinkedIn profile, and online presence
• Using tools and resources to research companies, connect with recruiters, tailor applications, and prepare for interviews and negotiations
• Learning how to responsibly use AI tools to support your job search and preparation
• Working through real-world challenges such as imposter syndrome, motivation, financial or legal barriers, and workplace considerations related to age, gender, sexuality, or neurodiversity

Your Program Career Coach is there to help you build the skills, confidence, and strategy needed to move forward. If you’re still seeking employment after the initial Job Success phase, continued support is available through Alumni Career Coaches, so you’re not navigating next steps alone.

You’ll meet with your coach multiple times a month for 1-on-1 sessions, selecting time slots that fit your schedule to support your individual job search progress and strategy. You’ll also participate in weekly group sessions with your coach and peers, tackling key topics like writing tailored cover letters, crafting powerful resume bullet points, and effectively building your network. Between sessions, your coach is readily available via email and Slack to answer questions and provide ongoing guidance

Yes! All coaching services are included at no extra cost. When you start your program, you’ll have full access to all of our coaching and support services.

While we cannot guarantee job placement or specific salary outcomes, we are committed to equipping you with a comprehensive training curriculum, professional career development resources, and dedicated job placement support.

Once you begin your program, you’ll have 5 weeks to cancel with no penalty. Plus, our Merit America Guarantee ensures that if you don’t earn at least $40,000 within two years of completing the Immersion phase, you won’t be required to pay—making the program risk-free.

We understand that investing in your career is a big commitment, and you want to feel confident in the support you’ll receive. At Merit America, our goal is to provide clarity and confidence by helping every learner understand exactly how we’ll guide them toward success.

For detailed answers about coaching, job placement, and other program support services, visit our Help Center or contact our admissions team directly at admissions@meritamerica.org.