"I just need to get a job!" This is the main concern that job searching often boils down to, especially in today’s tough labor market. But, in the midst of that urgency, deeper questions are missed. What kind of work matters to you? What gets you out of bed in the morning? What are you really good at? How do you connect your lived experience to a career that feels aligned with who you are? In short, how do you find your purpose?
SkillUp's new partnership with nXu works to align purpose to passion. Earlier this month, we launched a new group coaching workshop series, designed specifically for youth and people who are skilled through alternative routes (STARs) to find meaning in their career decisions. These virtual group sessions, offered in both 60 and 90-minute increments, go beyond resume tips and job boards. Participants dig deep into what intrinsically drives them, learn to reframe their experiences as strengths and envision a path forward that's rooted in purpose, not just proximity to the next paycheck.
Why Purpose Matters
Young people today are deeply purpose-driven. They want work that aligns with their values and sense of mission. But for young STARs — many of whom lack access to traditional career counseling or networks — figuring out how to translate passion into a viable career pathway feels daunting.
"Purpose helps STARs reframe their lived experience," said Jabali Sawicki, Compass Director at nXu, during a recent SkillUp webinar on human-centered coaching in the age of AI. "Instead of seeing themselves through a deficit mindset, through a lens of what they may lack — a degree, a network, social capital — they start viewing their lived experiences as assets connected to a larger mission."
That shift is powerful. It transforms how STARs show up in job searches, training programs, and workplace environments. And this is exactly the kind of human-centered support that can't be automated.
Meeting Users Where They Are
nXu specializes in working with young adults, helping them navigate the messy, non-linear process of figuring out what they want from work and life. The organization's coaching model centers on empathy, dignity and deep listening — all essential tools for people who are often underserved by career resources designed for college-bound students or corporate professionals.
Through monthly workshops hosted by SkillUp, nXu guides participants through exercises that surface their core motivations, interests and values. From there, they can connect those insights to tangible career pathways and SkillUp's catalog of training programs and job opportunities.
"We want to intentionally tie personal drive and motivation to how STARs envision their careers," said Elissa Salas, Senior Vice President of Strategy & Operations at SkillUp. "It's not enough to only point someone toward a job posting. If someone understands their purpose, we can connect that to a relevant pathway that creates meaningful engagement and follow-through."
The workshops also address a recurring theme SkillUp has heard from our users: the need for mentorship. nXu's model responds directly to that need, offering structured group coaching that balances personal exploration with actionable next steps.
Human Connection in the Age of AI
At SkillUp, we are proud to be tech-forward. We offer our users access to AI-powered tools, from chatbots that help users explore career options to algorithms that surface relevant training programs. But we are mindful about where technology fits in our strategy and where human support is irreplaceable.
"The most potent power human coaches have is that ability to reframe experiences," said Sawicki. "Turning 'I don't have a degree' into 'I have resilience, problem-solving, real-world skills.'"
That kind of coaching requires context, empathy, and the ability to see potential that a data model can't replicate. It's why SkillUp has built out multi-layered career supports that include AI tools, text-based coaching through Empower Work, virtual group coaching sessions, and now purpose-driven workshops with nXu. Each layer serves a different need, and together they create a more complete support system for STARs at different stages of their life or career journeys.
"A lot of AI tools are being built for people and not with people," Sawicki noted. The nXu partnership ensures that SkillUp's coaching offerings stay rooted in what users actually need — not only what's technologically possible.
What's Next
Our first workshop with nXu launched in early October, with monthly sessions planned throughout 2025 and beyond. Early feedback from participants reinforced what we already know: young STARs want more than a job, they want meaningful work. By combining nXu's youth-centered coaching expertise with SkillUp's platform, career pathways, and training and jobs catalogs, we create space for a fresh kind of career exploration that honors people’s values and surfaces their strengths.
The starting point of economic mobility tends to be framed around “just get a job.” This partnership pushes back on that and asks the harder question: what kind of work is actually worth building a life around?
