A PROGRAM OF IRONSPRINGS Forge
PATHFINDER
Career & Life Direction
Navigate with Certainty. Forge Your Path.
A five-phase coaching program that helps students choose the right version of a career, based on real data about who they are, not just advice. Students leave with a tested plan and the Pathfinder Framework for navigating with clarity when plans change.
College • Trades • Workforce • Entrepreneur • Military • First Responder
6+ Hours of 1:1 Coaching
COMING SOON
KNOW YOURSELF • TEST THE TERRAIN • BUILD YOUR ROUTE
Why Pathfinder?
Most career programs ask what you like and what you’re good at; Pathfinder uncovers how you operate, what drives you, and where you’ll thrive.
Each student leaves with a direction they chose, a plan to pursue it, and the skills to navigate the next big decision.
6+ Hours
one-on-one guidance
Discover what drives you, explore what’s possible, and take your next steps with confidence.
PERSONAL DISCOVERY. PRACTICAL NEXT STEPS
Explore who you are. Discover what comes next.
School counselors play a vital role in helping students navigate their futures. Pathfinder supports that work with additional time and personalized coaching: five-plus hours of one-on-one sessions, backed by evidence-based assessments.
Choosing a path after high school is one of the biggest decisions a student makes. Yet many students make it with more advice than evidence. Pathfinder gives students a framework for making that choice: what draws them, what they're good at, what they value, and where they'll thrive. They apply it to real options, test their choice with mentors in the field, and gain the tools to adjust when plans change.
It all comes together in the Forged Path Profile: a clear direction, a backup route, and next steps the student owns, plus a common language for students and parents as they move forward.
Who Is Pathfinder For?
Parents
Support your student's next steps with a clearer understanding and a practical plan.
Students
Referral Partners
Understand who you are, what matters to you, and where you want to go next.
A structured coaching resource that complements academic and career planning.
The Pathfinder Framework
A way to navigate, not just a plan.
The five phases help students make evidence-based choices through personalized discovery and practical testing. It’s designed to be revisited as life changes and new opportunities emerge.
STAGE 1
PHASES 1–3
Know yourself
Deep dive into your intrinsic motivations, natural talents, and personal values. We help identify your unique internal compass that guides your professional leanings.
TAKE FORWARD
Trailhead Profile, Compass Check Statement
STAGE 02
PHASE 4
Test the terrain
Venture into validating your direction. Compare potential careers against your core priorities to ensure alignment in future planning.
TAKE FORWARD
Route Study
STAGE 03
PHASE 5
Build your route
Finalize your trajectory with a primary plan and a resilient back up strategy. Define specific, measurable steps to secure your pathway.
TAKE FORWARD
Forged Path Profile
Your Five-Phase Journey
Understand → Discover → Define → Find → Build
Intro & Assessment
Meet your coach, share where you're starting from, and get set up with the assessments that drive everything ahead.
Self-Discovery
Unpack how you approach life, what motivates you, and how you add value — together forming your Trailhead Profile
Compass Calibration
The deep work, clarifying your values and priorities to guide meaningful decisions.
Setting the Course
Study the routes — where your aptitudes, interests, and goals actually point for what's next
Forged Path
Studied the routes, set the course — now the path gets forged.
Meet someone who’s walked the path.
Pathfinder Mentor Network
In Development
Connect with a volunteer mentor in your field of interest to ask questions, gain firsthand perspective, and explore next steps.
Pathfinder Alumni Network
COMMUNITY & Resources
Stay connected with lifetime access to peer connections and practical tools.
compass calibrations
Reconnect with a coach to review progress, refine your direction, and identify your next step.
Quarterly trail talks
Gain firsthand insight from professionals and alumni who share their paths, lessons, and advice.
EVENTS
Build meaningful connections through alumni gatherings and networking opportunities.
Included with program completion, at no additional cost
TriMetrix DNA
Understand behavioral style, driving forces, and personal competencies.
Assessments
Assessment insights and guided conversation help build a fuller picture of the student.
Assessments inform exploration and provide a deep self-understanding
Values Inventory
Clarify the priorities you want your education, work, and life to reflect.
Discover your aptitudes and interests to inform possible education and career pathways.
YouScience
A detailed evaluation of potential paths, identifying roadblocks and accelerators based on your specific aptitudes and situational context.
Charted Course
Forged-Path Profile
A personalized plan connecting your self-discovery to education and career options, goals, and practical next steps.
Route Fit Report
Your student's instincts, checked against their assessment results, turned into specific roles, settings, and training routes to explore, plus clear next steps.
What You Walk Away With
Trailhead Profile
A personalized picture of your strengths, motivations, preferred environments and how you bring value to the world around you.
Compass Check Statement
Who you are at your core, in your own words. A compass grounded in your values and priorities to guide your decisions.
Students have full access to their assessment reports. The deliverables above are what they forge from those reports — in their own words, not ours
Common Questions
Does Pathfinder only help students planning to attend college?
Pathfinder is built to support every post-secondary ambition, whether it leads to a university, a skilled trade, or direct entry into the workforce. Our philosophy centers on finding the unique path that aligns with your specific strengths and values, ensuring your next step is a deliberate choice rather than a default track.
What is the typical time commitment for the program?
The program includes over five hours of one-on-one coaching sessions, spread across five distinct phases. Most participants find that dedicating focused time for assessments and guided reflection between sessions leads to the most impactful outcomes for their personal and career journey.
When is the best time for a student to start Pathfinder?
While students of all ages benefit from career clarity, we recommend starting as early as the sophomore year of high school or during the initial transition into college. This allows ample time to align education choices with discovered values and personal competencies.
How do the assessments work in the program?
We utilize scientifically validated tools like TriMetrix DNA and YouScience to gain insights into your behaviors, driving forces, and natural aptitudes. These assessments serve as a foundation for exploration, providing data that guides our one-on-one coaching conversations without prescribing a single fixed path.