Coaching For New Graduates in Yorkshire: Confidence and Career Direction

By Chris, Founder of Northern Trail

If you’re thinking, “My son or daughter has finished university and still can’t find a job… how can I help without nagging?” you are absolutely not the only one. If you are reading this, searching for a Graduate Career Coach in Harrogate, you likely recognise that the leap from university to a professional career is rarely a straight line. For many young adults across Yorkshire, finishing their studies can feel like hitting a brick wall, despite years of hard work in academia.

I see this trend frequently: talented graduates moving back home to Yorkshire, feeling deflated as they struggle to secure a job. Perhaps you’ve watched them work hard for years, and now it feels like the world isn’t meeting them halfway. You want to support them — practically and emotionally — but you don’t want every conversation to turn into pressure, defensiveness, or silence.

Why Your Young Adult Might Be Stuck (Even If They Care)

If your son or daughter hasn’t got traction yet, it doesn’t automatically mean they’re being lazy or feeling unmotivated. Often it’s a mix of very normal blockers that UK employment research suggests are becoming more common in a competitive market:

• Overwhelmed: Too many options and no clear starting point.
• Fear Of Failure: The worry that trying properly and still being rejected will hurt more.
• Perfectionism: Waiting for the “perfect” CV or role before taking action.
• Low Confidence: Rejection quietly chipping away at their sense of self-worth.
• Discomfort With Self-Promotion: Not wanting to sound “braggy” or fake.

The step from university into work can feel tougher than it used to: more competition and fewer clear entry routes. Also, the increasingly digital world in which we live can bring as many drawbacks as it can positives, particularly to the development of our interpersonal skills; more time interacting with technology and social media and less time interacting with people.

If you’d like to understand my background and approach, you can read About Chris on Northern Trail.

A Military Mindset For Calm, Authentic Coaching

My own professional journey began with a career in the military. It was there that I learned the true value of teamwork, humility, discipline, resilience, and a specific type of leadership that worked for me and which I still carry with me — one that isn’t about shouting the loudest, but about clarity of thought, calm, decisive action and understanding people. When I founded Northern Trail, I wanted to bring that same sense of “mission and purpose” to graduates and young leaders who feel they are drifting and need support and direction.

Based in Harrogate, I offer personal, face-to-face coaching sessions in Yorkshire for new and aspiring leaders. The transition after university is as much a psychological shift as it is a practical one. This is exactly why Northern Trail exists: relaxed, focussed, one-to-one coaching that helps early-career young adults build confidence through developing their soft skills (without trying to become someone they’re not).

What I Mean By “Soft Skills” (And Why They’re The Real Advantage)

Soft skills are the people-skills that make a young professional employable, effective and promotable: communication, emotional intelligence, confidence under pressure, resilience, teamwork, and handling feedback… to name a few.

These skills are often what employers are really assessing in interviews. Degrees matter, but soft skills are the differentiator that can give them a real advantage. Importantly, your young adult doesn’t need to become louder or more extroverted or pretend to be something they’re not — it’s about being authentic.

Is It Too Late For Them To Get On Track?

Short answer: No. It’s not too late — but it is time to be proactive. Your young adult will stand the best possible chance of getting where they want to go if they:

• Have The Desire To Develop: Coaching works, but it does take effort.
• Build Momentum Gradually: Rather than trying to “fix everything” in one big push.
• Focus On Key Soft Skills: Improving the specific areas that impact hiring decisions.
• Get Support: So they aren’t trying to quietly panic through it alone.

For Parents in Harrogate & North Yorkshire and the wider Yorkshire region

Is your son or daughter in their early 20’s and struggling to find their
professional direction or establish themselves in the working world? I am highly experienced in developing the confidence and leadership potential of young adults and offer face-to-face coaching in the Yorkshire region.

Quiet Confidence for the Next Generation

Right now, you may be thinking about who your young adult could be: capable, employed, fulfilled and independent. That future is still available. The next step is simply helping them feel calmer and clearer with a realistic plan they can follow without burning out — this is where coaching comes in.

If you are a graduate ready to start your journey, or a parent looking to help your young adult thrive, I invite you to get in touch. Let’s unlock that potential together and give you an advantage through one-to-one coaching.

Ready to take the next step? You can message me directly here to book a free 20-minute call.