The story behind the practice
About Professional Compass
Professional Compass was founded to help students bridge the gap between education and the realities of today’s hiring market.
The story behind the practice
Professional Compass was founded to help students bridge the gap between education and the realities of today’s hiring market.
For more than two decades, Deanne Koehn built her career inside some of the country’s most respected and competitive organizations, including Amazon Web Services, Netflix, Walt Disney Imagineering, and DreamWorks Animation.
Her work spanned recruiting, talent strategy, workforce planning, university partnerships, and leadership hiring across creative, technical, and executive roles. Over the course of her career, she reviewed thousands of resumes, conducted interviews at every level, advised hiring leaders, and helped organizations identify and develop talent pipelines.
That experience gave her a front-row seat to how hiring decisions are really made and to the growing disconnect between traditional education and the skills students need to navigate the modern job market successfully.
The why
Students are expected to navigate internships, networking, resumes, and interviews without ever being taught how those systems actually work.
Families invest enormous time, energy, and financial resources into higher education, but many students graduate without understanding how to position themselves professionally or communicate the value of their experiences to employers.
At the same time, the hiring landscape has changed dramatically. Competition for internships and entry-level jobs has intensified, hiring processes have become more complex, and students are increasingly overwhelmed by conflicting advice online.
Deanne created Professional Compass to provide honest, practical guidance grounded in real hiring experience rather than generic career advice.
The approach
Learn how recruiters and hiring managers evaluate candidates.
Every student starts from a different place. Coaching is tailored accordingly.
The goal is not one interview or one internship, but building skills students will use throughout their careers.
Professional Compass is designed to help students approach the transition from school to career with greater intention and direction.
Rather than focusing only on submitting applications, the process centers on helping students better understand themselves, identify meaningful experiences, and recognize the value they already bring to the table.
Some students arrive with a clear career goal. Others are still figuring out what interests them or how their experiences connect to a future path. Some are preparing for their first internship search, while others are recent graduates feeling discouraged by a competitive job market.
Wherever they begin, the goal is to help students feel more prepared, more confident, and better equipped to navigate professional opportunities as they arise.
At its core, Professional Compass helps students recognize their strengths and learn how to communicate them with confidence.
Many students underestimate the value of the experiences they already have. What often feels ordinary to them can become highly relevant to employers when presented clearly and with intention.
Professional Compass helps students connect those experiences and build a stronger foundation for what comes next.
Experiences That Matter
Words from recent clients
"Deanne was a godsend. She helped my triplet sons, each of whom have unique skills and varied interests, find their path enabling them to each land great roles before their May 2026 college graduation."
"Her unique process helped each of them confidently pursue their first post-college job by holding them accountable to doing the hard work."
"Any time I suggested something, each of the boys immediately said 'let me run that by Deanne and see what she thinks.'"
"It worked and so will they! Thank you for helping us navigate this journey in a complex ever changing job market and economy."
"I would highly recommend Deanne Koehn to any parent who wants to give their child a real advantage in the job market. She worked with my twin sons to strengthen their resumes, sharpen their interview skills, and guide them through landing internships and full-time roles after college."
"Her experience, dedication, and ability to hold them accountable led to outstanding results. Both sons secured strong junior-year internships and accepted job offers in December of their senior year. Deanne was truly instrumental in their success."
"Deanne could not have been more helpful during such a turbulent and quite scary time period. It was extremely reassuring to have a professional like Deanne to look over my resume and help guide me through the job application process rather than applying to every job under the sun and hoping something would stick. Having someone in your corner encouraging you and critiquing you when needed is always important, and it worked out pleasantly in the end for me!"
"Deanne is an incredibly welcoming and genuine person who truly cares about the people she works with. From the start, she created a space where I felt comfortable, supported, and understood. She was always available and consistently helped me feel more confident throughout my career exploration journey. Her kindness and authenticity make a real difference, and I would recommend her to anyone at any stage of their career."
Begin the journey
