Articulate 12 projects in professional language
Create a website showcasing their work
Impostor syndrome, perfectionism, anxiety
Self-promotion feels like bragging to many
The badge is confirmation.
The portfolio is PROOF.
Your job is to help students see their work as professional-grade proof of capability.
Point to specific artifact: "You built a customer segmentation model that analyzed 10,000 customer records and identified 3 distinct segments. That's professional-level work."
Then Script This:
"I know you feel like a beginner. But look at what you actually did:
• You learned prompt engineering. You wrote 15 business prompts.
• You built ML models. You analyzed datasets. You found patterns.
• You applied computer vision to real business scenarios.
• You completed a full capstone project independently.
That's not beginner work. That's professional work. Employers would hire someone with that portfolio."
Question 1: PROBLEM
"What was the business problem or question in this project?"
Question 2: APPROACH
"How did you solve it? What tool did you use?"
Question 3: OUTCOME
"What did you find? What does it mean for the business?"
Then Write the Resume Bullet:
"Built customer segmentation model using AWS SageMaker Canvas k-means clustering on 10,000 customer records, identified 3 distinct segments with different buying patterns, enabling targeted marketing strategy."
"First draft doesn't have to be perfect. Just get words down. We'll polish later."
"Done is better than perfect. Let's move forward."
"Just write whatever"
Perfectionism kills productivity. Your job is permission to be imperfect.
"This isn't bragging. This is informing."
Employers need to know what you can do. If you don't tell them, someone else will.
"Your resume is not about being humble. It's about being CLEAR."
Quiet confidence gets overlooked. Clear communication gets hired.
Why you qualify: Artifacts 1-8 show you've learned multiple platforms and solved diverse problems
Why you qualify: Artifacts 3, 4, 9 demonstrate data analysis and insight extraction skills
Why you qualify: Artifacts 1, 7, 8 show advanced prompt engineering and content creation
Why you qualify: Capstone project shows project planning, execution, and delivery
These are real entry-level positions. Students ARE qualified for these.
1. "What was hard about this project?"
2. "What did you learn?"
3. "If someone asked you to do this again, what would you do differently?"
4. "What was the outcome? What did you accomplish?"
5. "How would your work benefit a company?"
Then Reframe Their Answers:
• "That's domain expertise. You learned how to identify relevant data."
• "That's a key insight. Employers want people who understand data limitations."
• "That's iterative thinking. Professional approach."
Write: "[Microsoft AI-900 Fundamentals Certification] (Achieved [date])"
Write: "[Microsoft AI-900 Fundamentals Certification] (Exam scheduled [date])"
Write: "[Microsoft AI-900 Fundamentals] (Certification in progress)"
"Certifications are important, but your portfolio is more important."
The badge is confirmation. The portfolio is PROOF.
Circulate & assess: Who's on track? Who's behind?
"Time check. Everyone should have resume DONE."
"You should have at least 2 projects started."
"Last push on portfolio. Finish your 3rd project."
1. Resume (MUST be complete)
2. Portfolio intro + foundation skills (MUST be done)
3. 2 portfolio projects (aim for 3, but 2 is minimum)
4. Formatting polish (can finish during self-paced)
Move: "Tell me about one artifact you're proud of. What problem did it solve?"
Move: [Point to artifact] "You built X. That required Y skill. That IS qualification."
Move: "First draft is fine. Get it down. We polish in 15 minutes. Move forward."
Move: "Your story is different. What did YOU learn from this project? Tell me."
Move: "What was hard about this project? What did you accomplish? That's what's interesting."
Move: "How's it going? What section are you on? What's the blocker?"
Move: "Is it true? Is it professional-quality? Is it relevant to AI? Include it."
Move: "LinkedIn is optional today. Create it during self-paced. For now, finish resume."
These micro-corrections keep momentum. Most blockers clear in 30 seconds of specific feedback.
Script: "That's right. You came here not knowing anything about AI. Now you're a professional with 12 artifacts and certifications. That's real growth. Own it."
Script: "Stop. Your work is different from theirs. Both are good. Focus on YOUR accomplishment, not on them."
Script: "Yes. You have certifications. You have 12 portfolio artifacts. You solved real business problems. $50K is entry-level for AI skills. You're not overselling. You're accurately positioning. Apply."
Script: "Fair question. First: you're not 'no experience' anymore. You have 12 documented projects and certifications. Second: companies are desperate for people with AI skills. Your age is actually an asset. Apply. You'll get interviews."
You're coaching people through vulnerability. This is real work.
Take Care of Yourself:
• Don't try to "fix" every student's confidence issue in one session
• Celebrate the wins (students WILL leave with completed resumes)
• Remember your job is to support, not to solve all their doubts
• Take a break between sessions if possible
Your emotional availability is finite. Guard it.
With all 12 artifacts articulated clearly
Foundation + 2-3 featured projects
From "I'm not qualified" to "I have proof"
Understand what employers are looking for
AFTER: "I'm an AI professional with 12 documented projects and certifications"
AFTER: "I can articulate my work in business terms"
AFTER: "I solved real problems people haven't solved before"
AFTER: "Clarity is professionalism"
"You built [X artifact]. That's proof. Write it down."
Problem → Approach → Outcome. Then they'll know what to write.
"First draft is fine. Done is better than perfect. Move forward."
"That's not a weakness. That's [domain expertise / key insight / professional thinking]."
"Your work is fine." → Vague. Students interpret as "not good enough."
Instead: "You built a customer segmentation model. That's professional work."
Letting students spend 20 minutes perfecting one bullet point.
Instead: "Done is better than perfect. We're moving forward."
Writing for them instead of asking questions.
Instead: "Tell me about this project in three parts: Problem, Approach, Outcome."
"My work isn't as good as [peer's]." → Let it fester.
Instead: "Stop. Your work is different AND good. Focus on yours."
Resume + portfolio foundation they'll build on
They see themselves as AI professionals now
They can articulate their work in business terms
They understand they ARE qualified
Students polish portfolio websites. Complete LinkedIn profiles. Iterate on resumes based on feedback.
Final portfolio review. Interview prep. Career launch preparation.
Your job in Session 8A is to get them to "finished and ready to iterate," not "perfect and done."
This isn't just resume writing.
You're helping students transition from "student" to "professional."
You're telling them:
✓ "Your work is legitimate."
✓ "You belong in this field."
✓ "Companies will want to hire you."
✓ "You're not an impostor. You're a professional."
That's the coaching. That's the real work.