Pathrise Review: How to Mentor Your Way Into Your Next Job

Looking for a job takes a lot of time. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average person spends about 21 weeks unemployed. That’s almost half the year!

Whether you’ve been recently laid off or you’re looking for your next gig, you might not want to turn the job hunt into a full-time job. 

Working with a career advisory service like Pathrise can help streamline the process. Unlike other job coaching platforms, which may charge an upfront fee, Pathrise only gets paid when you get hired.

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What Is Pathrise?

Pathrise advises job seekers on how to find a job. 

This isn’t just about learning how to write a better resume or crafting the perfect cover letter. It’s more focused on teaching you how to build a network, negotiate a salary, and navigate the recruitment process.

The company focuses on careers in tech, offering mentorship with alums from top tech companies like Google and Apple. It offers up to 12 months of mentorship to help you land a job. 

According to Pathrise, 96% of users received a job placement during the program.

Unlike self-guided books or job coaching, Pathrise has deep knowledge of specific aspects of the hiring process. This includes acing technical interviews and helping you find the right cultural fit within an organization.

How Much Does Pathrise Cost?

Pathrise doesn’t charge an upfront fee, but it does take a percentage of your salary after you’re placed as part of an income-sharing agreement. 

Once successfully placed in a job, you have up to 24 months to repay the fee.

The placement fee ranges from 7% to 14% of your salary once you’re hired.

So, for example, if you use Pathrise and accept a job that pays $125,000, expect to pay back anywhere from $8,750 to $17,500. 

Over 24 months, that’s about $365 to $729 per month, depending on the terms of your agreement. 

Pathrise uses income-based repayment to determine the exact cost of working with them. The agreement is valid for 12 months. 

If Pathrise cannot place you during that period, you won’t be on the hook to pay anything.

You can get started with a 14-day trial. After two weeks, you’ll be formally enrolled in a job placement program. 

You can withdraw from Pathrise before you’re placed, but you will be charged a withdrawal fee. Pathrise doesn’t disclose how much the fee is, but other sites say it’s $250 per week for every week you’re enrolled. 

Pathrise Eligibility 

While Pathrise might be a good option if you’re looking to get a job in the tech industry, it isn’t for everyone. 

You have to apply first and, depending on your qualifications, you might not get accepted into a program.

To determine your eligibility, you’ll need to complete Pathrise’s application. This includes:

• 15-minute survey about your background and career goals 
• 30-45 minute industry skills assessment
• 30-minute enrollment call to understand the Pathrise process

The last part of the application is working with a mentor one-on-one during the trial period. This gives you one last chance to verify the program is right for you before enrolling.

The purpose of Pathrise’s application process isn’t to make it harder to find a job. It’s to make sure you have the right skills and background to get a job in one of the industries where placements are most likely to be offered. 

This increases your chances of successfully finding a placement if you decide to fully enroll in the program.

What We Like About Pathrise

Pathrise has a good track record for helping job seekers find their next gig. Approximately 96% of people who work with Pathrise find placements. 

For recent college grads, the average salary is just under $91,000, while more experienced workers in senior roles earn around $152,000 on average. 

Aside from placements, Pathrise also helps you get better responses from employers. Pathrise says you can expect two to four times more responses and an increase in negotiated offers. 

You’ll also get feedback about your candidacy and develop critical skills that will help you throughout your career.

Even though there are no guarantees to finding a job, Pathrise only gets paid when you’re placed, which incentivizes their mentors to provide you with the best experience possible.

What We Dislike About Pathrise

Once you’re placed in a job, the cost can be substantial. 

Committing to remitting a portion of your salary for 24 months might seem like a good idea at first, but if an unexpected life event happens — like a medical emergency — you might find yourself struggling to make payments.

Another drawback is that Pathrise is mainly focused on careers in tech. This can be a good option if you want a tech job, but that’s not going to be the case for every job seeker.

Who Should Use Pathrise?

A service like Pathrise might be good if you are just starting your career or making a career shift. Their mentors can offer personalized guidance that you might not otherwise get reading self-help career advice.

It’s also good if you want to take some of the stress out of the job search process and can afford to do so.

Who Shouldn’t Use Pathrise? 

Pathrise isn’t good for all job seekers, especially those looking for a job outside of tech. 

If your career is creative, like music or writing, or you’re in a more traditional role like a nurse or a teacher, Pathrise probably won’t be able to provide much guidance.

Pathrise is also only for U.S. citizens or individuals who have authorization to work in the United States. Pathrise doesn’t offer visa services.

Pathrise Alternatives 

MentorCruise

MentorCruise charges a monthly fee ranging from $39 to $400 per month, depending on the type of service and mentor you want, and is open to anyone in the world. 

With MentorCruise, you work with a mentor over video or instant messaging to get help with your job search. This can be an ongoing relationship or a one-off coaching call. 

You can pause your membership as needed and tailor the services to meet your specific needs.

BetterUp

BetterUp is a career coaching platform that provides professional as well as personal coaching. Coaches have experience in industries ranging from tech to media to hospitality. 

Note that BetterUp also integrates AI within its platform.

You can pay to access BetterUp’s content library or for one-on-one coaching. Prices aren’t listed on its website (which is a bit concerning), but single add-on sessions to your subscription are $99 each.

BetterUp can also help you advance your career, by teaching you leadership, organization, and management skills. 

Jobsolv

Jobsolv is a resume service that helps you craft “six-figure resumes.” 

The platform offers customized resume-writing, a job board, and one-click applications. 

Pricing ranges from $2,000 to $5,000, and the two top tiers come with a 30-day interview guarantee.

FAQs

Is Pathrise only for tech jobs?

While Pathrise is best for tech, it isn’t just for tech. They offer mentoring in the following career tracks:

• Software Engineering
• Product Design
• Product, Strategy, Ops
• Data Science
• Marketing
• Sales & Customer Success
• Engineering
• Banking, Finance, & Accounting
• IT & Cybersecurity
• Operations Management
• Production Management
• Project & Program Management
• Supply Chain
• Strategy & Consulting

How long do you pay for Pathrise?

You have 24 months to repay Pathrise. The exact terms of payment are outlined in the income-sharing agreement.

Bottom Line: Is Pathrise Worth It?

While Pathrise can be pricey, once you get a placement, there’s no upfront cost. This makes it a good option if you can’t afford a private coach. 

If you're interested in a tech career (or one of Pathrise's other industry focuses), Pathrise may be able to help. Just remember that once you're placed, you'll owe a fee based on a percentage of your salary — but that may be worth it for getting a foot in the door.

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