Wyckoff Mom Starts Career Services Firm for College Grads

College kids coming home for the Thanksgiving break might not have post-graduation plans on their minds. But, a Wyckoff mom turned small business owner who advises recent grads says that’s exactly what they should be thinking about over the long weekend.

Michele Meussner recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of her company, Red Cup Career Services, LLC.

For most of her corporate career, Meussner worked in hiring and college recruiting for various companies in NYC. After she was laid off in 2009, she started doing some private consulting work with college students and recent graduates. When her own children began going through the post-college job search, she decided she could turn her experience into her own small business.

“These are brilliant kids, but the are clueless about how to pragmatically go about getting a job,” Meussner said.

“I have a 22-year-old who just graduated from the University of Delaware this past May and currently is attending grad school at NYU with a concentration in publishing, and a 21-year-old who is a senior at Marist, so I know first-hand what these kids are going through now when they’re looking for jobs.”

Meussner said she typically meets with clients two to three times to help guide them through resumes, cover letters, applications, interviews, and leveraging their connections and skills to land jobs.

“I don’t find you a job or give out long-term counseling, this isn’t a search firm or a psychologist,” she said.

“I’m a business consultant that can help you learn how to find a job.”

Meussner said she also gives out tips on her website, and gives “after college” talks around the community.

“So far, it’s working out really well,” Meussner said of her business venture.

“I work with juniors and seniors in college through firt and second year graduates. I get to help them start their careers. It’s great.”