Testimonials



What people are saying:

Marci proved to be a wonderful asset to our daughter in her job search. Throughout the process, Marci helped her to feel confident and to focus on ways to present herself in the most positive light.  Our daughter consulted with Marci before and after each interview and she was extremely helpful in suggesting interview strategies, identifying her strengths and addressing challenges. Whenever she was unsure during the process, the simple solution was always ” “just ask Marci” what to do! Indeed, Marci was always able to give good advice and with her help, our daughter is now looking forward to her first job upon college graduation!
Parent of University of Maryland graduate (BS Accounting)
Thank you for sharing your insights and for helping our daughter feel more confident about her options for the future.   It was hard for us as her parents to objectively advise her and she really needed a knowledgeable third party to help get her approach and options sorted through. You did exactly that.  She now has a renewed sense of her skills and capabilities and is excited about what the future may hold for her. Thank you so much for the time you took to help give my daughter her confidence back and assist her in landing a new job. I know she really enjoyed working with you.
Parent of Gettysburg College graduate (BA Globalization Studies)
Marci has been an incredible help throughout a very difficult job search. She worked with me on everything from my resume to networking with professionals at the institutions to which I had submitted applications. Despite various time conflicts, including training for a part-time job, Marci always worked with my schedule. After a couple of months applying to jobs with literally no response, the marketing materials that Marci helped me create got me a call back within the first week! I’m looking within a very specific area of the United States, but Marci was able to constantly find new postings and teach me new strategies that have helped me get interviews, explore new job areas, and learn how to market myself successfully to potential employers.
Cornell University graduate – BA Psychology
As I started my job search, I had trouble pinpointing the kinds of jobs that interested me. Marci was able to teach me how to use different keywords to discover career paths that were new and exciting to me. She also calmed my nerves before interviews and networking meetings. With Marci’s help, my confidence improved, my networking and interview skills were strengthened, and my cover letter was turned into something that shows my personality. Marci is very accessible, whether it’s for a resume writing session or a quick question on the way to an interview. It is evident that Marci truly wants her clients to succeed. Thank you Marci for helping me secure my first full-time position out of college!
The Pennsylvania State University graduate – B.S. Human Development and Sociology
Marci is my go-to resource.  Even though I am a very good writer and have worked in that capacity in the business world for many years, it is quite a different experience when your children are involved.  Who wants to listen to their parents? Marci has a very patient, engaging, yet firm way that enables her to work well with young adults and gain their respect. Her expertise not only in the nuts and bolts of finding the right job, but in how to communicate with potential employers proved to be the most essential element of my daughter’s job hunt.  Marci actually SAVED our family money because our daughter was employed much earlier thanks to her encouragement, rapport and knowledge.  Making the decision to use First Place Career Solutions was one of the best purchases ever! 
Parent of Indiana University graduate (BA Journalism)
When I graduated college, I didn’t think finding a job would be a problem. I always did the right things from getting good grades to landing great internships. However, a job didn’t come as easily as I had anticipated. Working with Marci has truly been one of the most rewarding experiences.  From cleaning up my resume and crafting a unique cover letter, to researching jobs and prepping for interviews, Marci (gently) pushed me out of my comfort zone and believed in my dreams. She never held my hand, but she steered me in the right direction and was my biggest advocate along the way. Marci became my go to person who I felt comfortable asking for advice. Now that I am happily employed, I can honestly say I would not be where I am without Marci’s invaluable guidance and support. 
American University graduate – BA Public Communications
Marci was a tremendous help throughout my job search process. I had already been through the internship search process when I met Marci at the beginning of my senior year and was starting to apply for a permanent position with a Big 4 accounting firm after graduation. Though I had gotten interviews, I never made it past the first round. Marci sat down with me and helped me “craft my story” so that I could appear more confident in interviews. I knew that I had good substance to speak about, but Marci helped me to present myself well. We spoke before and after each interview, giving me a boost right before and helping me to effectively follow up with my interviewers afterwards. She was extremely helpful and encouraged me to be much more aggressive in my search than I had been previously. Where I was unsure, Marci was confident. Her positive attitude was exactly what I needed to ultimately secure a job offer I was excited to accept!
University of Maryland graduate – BS Accounting and Supply Chain
As I entered my third year post graduation, I found myself at a definite crossroad. I was working in my second job out of college, however I didn’t see a long-term future with that position. I wasn’t sure whether I should look into going back to school or begin searching for a job that would prove to be more long-term. Marci stepped in and helped me to organize and prioritize my goals. Even after a brief consultation, Marci was able to understand my goals as well strengths and experience I had to offer. She invested her time into perfecting and strengthening my resume while keeping an ear to the ground for job openings within my industry. Best of all, I really felt how personally invested she was in my success. I truly felt as if I had a friend and ally with me throughout the entire process of applying, interviewing, and ultimately accepting a new position that is perfect for me!
Gettysburg College graduate – BA Globalization Studies
My daughter graduated from college with a degree in biology. Before committing to medical school, she wanted to try out life in the business world, but was unsure where to begin her search. Marci helped her to refine her resume and search for positions that would incorporate her science background in a business job. Marci was very helpful in preparing her for interviews and reaching out to her connections. She helped my daughter stay on top of her deadlines. Most importantly, Marci taught my daughter how to search the internet for a position, apply for a job, and conduct herself throughout the application process. In addition to successfully finding a job, my daughter now has a skill set that will help her in any future job searches.
Parent of University of Wisconsin graduate (BS Biology)
Hands-down, I believe I wouldn’t have landed the job I got without Marci’s help.  Her dedication to my job search and her unwavering confidence in me went such a long way.  I had tried finding a job on my own, but really didn’t do well in any interviews. I then started working with Marci, talking through different answers, what story to use,how to best frame it and how to relate it well to the position at hand.  I felt confident in the answers we crafted together and was ready to respond to unexpected questions comfortably on the spot, instead of blanking with nervousness as I had in the past. Marci’s help with follow up played a huge part in my job search.  On follow up emails, to people I met with, people who interviewed me and possibly new contacts, I would type up a draft email, send it to Marci and have it edited and back to me honestly within half an hour. Marci is amazing at what she does and I highly recommend her.  She’s so easy to get in touch with, skilled at showing you how to present your best self on paper and in person and instills confidence in you that goes a long way in the job search.
Wesleyan University graduate – BS Earth & Environmental Science
I have been applying for TV writing and TV production internships since my freshman year of college and in 3 years I hadn’t had much success with larger companies and networks.  Marci Hackel worked tirelessly with me to make sure that my resume demonstrated my skills and experience in a way that was easy and enticing to read, and that showed employers why I’d be an asset to their team.  She took my typical, generic, and bland cover letter and helped me turn it around and make it personal, unique, entertaining, and impressive.  Marci will make any job applicant stand out leagues ahead of the rest of the crowd because of her personal, one-on-one approach and because she is passionately committed to getting you the best internship or job that you can get.  Thanks to Marci, I will be starting my dream internship—seriously my dream internship—at “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” in the writer’s department in the Fall.
NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Film and Television Production graduate – BFA Film and Television Production

As a parent of a recent college graduate, I wanted my daughter to try to navigate the job market on her own.  My husband and I quickly realized that guidance from a professional goes a long way and is a valuable asset to a young, intelligent person trying to find their way in the workforce. From the moment she started working with Marci, my daughter was much more focused and confident. Marci helped her concentrate and network in a more productive manner. Whether it was a resume edit, cover letter suggestion or interview prompt question, Marci was always available to give guidance. Marci has a knack for connecting with young adults.  Her jubilant personality, along with her and business knowledge and connections, brings out the best in her clients. Thank you Marci for helping my daughter through the first steps along her career path.
Parent of The Pennsylvania State University graduate – B.S. Human Dev and Sociology
Working with Marci throughout college has been a tremendous aid to my professional development. Her resume reviews, career counseling, and interview preparation has allowed me to position myself ahead of other students vying for similar internships and jobs.  With Marci’s help, I was able to work three internships during college summers and offered a full-time position early in my senior year.  Marci’s extreme attention to detail, respect for individual career aspirations, and optimistic attitude make her a great choice for anyone interested in gaining an advantage in today’s competitive job market.
The Pennsylvania State University graduate – BS Finance
I can’t say enough good things about working with Marci!  She was an integral part of my search for my 2nd job after college and helped me land my dream position, which I never thought was possible.  In addition to being an absolute joy to talk to, Marci has a critical eye for resumes, cover letters, self-marketing and overall communication with potential employers.  She was not afraid to push me out of my comfort zone, which led to several surprising interview invitations.  Marci always made herself available to me and consistently went above and beyond to answer questions, return documents with constructive criticism, help prep for interviews and so much more.  Marci’s passion for helping others and passion for life is contagious! 
University of Maryland graduate – BS Marketing
Working with Marci really increased my confidence throughout my job search. She helped to improve my resume so that I was proud to use it in my job applications. She proof-read and edited all of my cover letters speedy fast and accurately, still wording them in a way I wanted them to be worded. Marci helped me decide which path to take in my job search and with that would/still emails me great job sites and possible places to apply! After working with Marci, she will always remember you and looks to help you out more and more. With Marci’s help, I gained the confidence and job applying skills it takes to make it in a recent college graduate’s world!
Syracuse University graduate – BFA Illustration
I was in my first job out of college for one year and while it was stable, it just wasn’t satisfying me. I reached out to Marci and in our first conversation it really felt like I was talking to a friend who 100% had my back. Marci is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to career tactics and strategies. She has worked her way up the corporate ladder and truly knows what it means to become a successful, hardworking, and positive employee. I explained to Marci the trials and tribulations I was having at my job, and she gave me tips and pointers regarding how to make the most of my time, how to deal with annoying coworkers, how to politely tell my boss I need more responsibilities, etc. Eventually it came to the point where I began looking for new jobs, and Marci was extremely helpful to me. She helped me with my resume, my cover letters, email applications, interview questions, interview outfits, salary expectations, thank you notes, etc. Marci also advised me when I had to give notice to my prior employer and go through the exit interview process; I don’t think I could have done it without her. Marci’s help has enabled me to take steps towards advancing my career and becoming a successful professional. I am so thankful for Marci’s help.
University of Maryland graduate – BA Psychology
Not only did Marci provide me with specific recommendations on how to break into the market research industry, she also armed me with a vast amount of professional knowledge, from which any young person beginning to think about their professional life would benefit. When I began my internship search, Marci helped me consider what type of opportunity would be most beneficial for me to pursue. When it was time to look for a post-graduate opportunity, she gave me guidance on how to best network with professionals, and guided me step-by-step through the process. After I received a job offer, Marci spent hours with me, both on the phone and over email, helping me thoroughly considering the pros and cons of accepting the position. I am so fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with Marci throughout my job search experience, and I cannot recommend her enough to other young people looking for guidance as they begin their post-grad journeys. Thank you x 1 million.
University of Pennsylvania graduate – BA Psychology