BY ASHLEY VAN WYHE
PHOTO SUBMITTED Bill Minnick leads students through various job searching skills.
On Jan. 4, 2014, several students returned early to campus for Northwestern’s first Career Boot Camp. Throughout the course of three days, students perfected their résumés and cover letters; were given interview techniques, job searching skills, financial advice; and attended seminars on proper professional dress and dining etiquette all in an attempt to improve their chances of landing a job.
Bill Minnick, Director of Career Development, felt that the camp was a positive experience. Minnick said, “I was pleased, and the students who participated were benefited.”
One of the students who benefited from the boot camp was junior José Martinez.
“I learned so much in the three short days of career boot camp, and a lot of things I usually hear or read about on the Internet related to finding a job were more precisely defined,” Martinez said.
Martinez particularly enjoyed the mock interviews with the human resource professionals. “It really helped me feel more confident. It gives me a general idea of what to expect when someone gives me an interview in the future,” Martinez said.
The boot camp not only grabbed the attention of its attendees but also reached the ears of students who did not have the chance to attend. Senior Megan Rustad heard of the boot camp’s success.
“I heard that it was informative and that they got to practice interviewing and get help on their résumés,” Rustad said.
She said she would have found it helpful to practice her interviewing, and added that she is happy to know that the Career Development Center offers mock interviewing throughout the year.
Because of the boot camp’s success, the CDC is planning on offering the boot camp more often.
“(It will happen)definitely annually, so when you are a senior and you didn’t go as a junior you will have an opportunity to go; we might even do one in the spring and one in the fall.”
The next boot camp will undergo some changes, but much of the material will remain the same. Minnick said he plans to rearrange the schedule by placing the employer panel earlier in the boot camp, rather than towards the end. Minnick said he would also like to bring in other professionals to present at the workshops. He said he thinks it is important to have different perspectives to add greater value to the skills students will learn.