Beyond the Classroom: Career Intensive Boot Camp

In early February, I stumbled upon an opportunity that wound up being an experience that would be the next stepping stone I needed to launch my adult career. Working in the marketing and communication department at CU-Bloomsburg, I was asked to participate in a weekend-long Career Intensive Boot Camp and promote it to my peers. 

The Career Intensive Boot Camp is a college-sponsored program that promises to prepare students for their next stage of adult life by connecting them to alumni and employers. At first, I almost turned it down - after all, I had a pretty full schedule with classes, work, and social commitments. But something about its promise to improve professional skills, examine career goals, network with alumni, and leave more confident than you came caught my eye. As an English major with a concentration in both technical and creative writing, my future goals revolve around promoting both myself and my work. Despite my nervousness and anxiety over networking, I figured it was time to try something new and expand my skills.

A few weeks later, on a Friday evening, I found myself at the Greenly Center with a group of thirty students, each of us a little nervous, but eager to learn. We would spend the entire weekend exploring everything from mock interviews to panels run by alumni on how to manage finances and foster workplace relationships. 

Our first session on Friday night was easygoing, setting the expectations for the weekend and having us learn to dine with proper etiquette. Feeling like I did everything wrong, the night was filled with gentle corrections and delicious food. 

We learned to navigate social settings with a few more skills: polished table manners, how to follow proper seating arrangements, and the art of conversation. Making a positive first impression is crucial when sharing a meal with a potential employer or outside work. I also learned that etiquette is a skill that not only makes an individual look good but also fosters respect for others and encourages others to build strong connections with you. I did not think I was going to get as much as I did out of a simple etiquette dinner, but understanding how to navigate professional settings with confidence gave me a better understanding of what was expected of me throughout the weekend.

Saturday started with three lecture-like panels introducing us to discussions with alumni and professionals who have taken unexpected career paths. These panels stressed reaching out to connections and counselors after college, the importance of networking while in college before leaving, and how it is alright to reach out to people even if you only talked or met once. 

Panelists also discussed how crucial diversity, equity, and inclusion are to the workplace. Each company has its own unique culture. It is important to participate and realize that you at least have one thing in common with someone else in a group. During an exercise where we wrote our hobbies on paper and passed it around, it turned out that a lot of people share the same love for video games, the outdoors, and even cooking. The exercise showed that even though my peers and I came from different backgrounds and had different interests, we all shared at least one connection. 

After discussing how to balance work and life, students shared lunch with alumni. We were encouraged to branch out and try to make new connections with others. This was a practice run students could have before the networking lunch on Sunday. Sitting at a table with a few management and business majors I had befriended, two alumni joined our table. It was my first chance to network and step out of my comfort zone. 

Despite all my expectations and built-up fears, it was surprisingly easy to have a conversation with professionals who graduated between a year and decades ago. One alumna I spoke with was keynote speaker Brandy Weller, a clinical specialist for Boston Scientific. After fourteen years at Geisinger as a physician's assistant, she wanted to explore something new. I felt that could be pretty terrifying.

“It’s okay to explore new career paths after college, and even many, many years down the line,” she said. “You never know what is going to happen in life and where it will take you. The best thing to do is to keep an open mind and know that it is never too late to try something new.” 

My confidence grew and I was able to speak more clearly and describe my skills. I now realize how important interview preparation is, not just for the job itself but for showing up with the right mindset.

I left lunch with a better understanding of how not everything in life needs to be figured out immediately. If you find passion in anything, it is best to pursue it when possible. After talking with the panelists, I learned that a lot of people don't find careers they enjoy immediately, but should strive to. 

Saturday wrapped up with rotating sessions of cover letter/resume reviews and talk to alumni about job hunting. 

The resume and cover letter session were intense. We started in one-on-one groups, some with more than one alumni, some with one alumnus and multiple students. It was important to be matched with someone in the same field of study, but different interests and jobs to make it more difficult. While talking with my two assigned alumni, it became clear to me that I still had a lot of work to do. I have had a few good job positions in the past that I focused on effectively – but my resume was basic, nothing special. The two gave various constructive criticisms, sometimes contradicting the other. I learned to highlight the software tools I had experience using, an aspect of my resume I had not considered before. 

One of the things my peers and I learned is that there is no “perfect” resume. Each one is tailored for a specific job and needs to meet certain requirements. Creating a personal brand and marketing yourself for a role is vital. It is not just a paper or cover letter of qualifications – but a story. 

Then came the “Jump Starting Your Job Search” and “Interview like a Rockstar” session. I had always causally used profiles on job search websites, mostly just browsing and not bothering to set up my account. The instructors walked us through the importance of creating engaging profiles and embodying the skills employers look for in searching for candidates. The interviewing panel also focused on different types of interviews, such as online, over the phone, in-person or over a meal. We learned that while all were vastly different settings, variations of the same three interview questions would be asked in each interview. Employers want to know if you can do the job, if you will do your best, and if you fit the organization. The presenters emphasized being able to answer each interview question by discussing a situation, a task solved, the actions taken, and most importantly, the results.

Feeling more prepared to convey my story with a resume or in an interview, the second day of Boot Camp ended, leaving all students even more anxious for the next day.

On a chilly Sunday morning with the ground still frozen over, I slid my way into the Greenly Center with a pit in my stomach. It was the final, most difficult day at Boot Camp, with an intense back-to-back Zoom and an in-person interview followed up by a networking lunch. 

The kickoff panel to ease students into the difficult day was on “Navigating Conflict in the Workplace,” and on how to set boundaries with future employers without feeling scared. 

Next was the challenge, the mock interviews. The first interview I had was over Zoom, where I was grouped with another student and an alumnus I did not expect to be interviewed at the same time as another student. It admittedly threw me off track multiple times, especially since it was online. I fumbled through my answers, nervous about saying the wrong thing. Afterward, the alumnus gave both of us feedback, pointing out where we could improve our responses to better frame our experience to fit the jobs we were applying for. The constructive criticism stung a little at first, but it was exactly what I needed before going into my in-person interview.  

Paired up with another student, we did the same thing again. I had a much easier time answering questions this time around. I was able to focus more on describing myself and how I would fit the job instead of focusing on my peers and their responses. My confidence grew and I was able to speak more clearly and describe my skills. I now realize how important interview preparation is, not just for the job itself but for showing up with the right mindset. I still fear interviews, but now I feel I can confidently get through them and showcase who I am.

We then moved to panels discussing gap years and grad school before taking on the networking lunch. Encouraged to constantly move and lightly snack, students rotated and talked to all the alumni who had participated in the mock interviews. As the weekend was nearing its close, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the networking after the mock interviews. I expected anxiety to get worse as the day progressed, but it surprisingly became more manageable. 

Compared to the endless questions from before, the networking lunch was easy. I did not expect the lasting impact the few moments I was able to talk to alumni to leave on me. I talked with experts who shared their career journeys and advice, helping me understand that some people took years to land their dream job. I connected with one of these professionals, an Assistant Director at Ernest and Young, who urged me to reach out for any questions about networking I may have and to apply to their company when a position opens up. Since then, her advice and guidance have helped me navigate the job market with a clear sense of direction. 

To end the weekend, we had three more panels on finances and the hidden costs of employment. I learned that salary negotiation is another aspect of interviews I had not considered before. I now know that by articulating my skills to an interviewer I can confidently negotiate my salary and compensation package based on the type of job and what I will be doing for  the company. 

Looking back at Boot Camp, the benefits were worth the discomfort and anxiety I felt through the process. I remember walking out of the Greenly Center feeling exhausted, but also with excitement and pride. I was armed with the knowledge of how to create a refined resume, confidently navigate social settings, and interview skills that gave me confidence. 

I realize now that career success is not only about qualifications. How you present yourself, adapt to challenges, and continue to grow are the true aspects of oneself that people look for when hiring. I feel very grateful for this experience; it is the first stepping stone I need to launch my writing career.