Give your career boot camp training

If you are worried about your career’s future and can make it to New York City on June 3 for a two-day event, I recommend registering for College Career Boot Camp NYC. Co-producers Tory Johnson, CEO of Women for Hire and workplace contributor to ABC’s Good Morning America, and Jill Tipograph, parent consultant and CEO of Everything Summer, both are parents of college students and graduates who were inundated with requests to create a smaller, hands-on program that offers comprehensive career advice and solutions for new graduates.

College Career Boot Camp NYC will take place at 3 West 51st Street in New York City on June 3-4, 2009. Readers of this column can receive a special rate—$249, a nearly 40 percent discount—by using the code EXAMINER09 when registering.

I recently had the opportunity to chat with Tipograph about the event.

Heather Huhman: Who should attend College Career Boot Camp NYC?

Jill Tipograph: Career Boot Camp 2009 is designed for up-and-coming young people and recent graduates who have their feet grounded in reality, who pay attention to the world around them and are keenly aware of the challenges they face. They know they’re going to need all the help they can get in finding jobs and beginning their careers and they’re willing to go the extra mile to get that help. While New York City is the location, young adults who live anywhere are welcome and can benefit. 

College students and recent grads are facing the worst job market in 30 years, and their challenges to employment are far greater than their predecessors. They are dealing with unprecedented statistics: College grads face stiff competition among each other, young workers, retirees and moms re-entering the workforce. Many colleges and universities have seen declines in on-campus recruiting by 50 percent. Employers have cut 2 million jobs since January. In nearly all fields, employers expect to hire 22 percent fewer college graduates than last year—a fate is worse in the Northeast at 39 percent and in finance at 71 percent. By attending the College Career Boot Camp, college students and graduates will learn how to navigate the job search process with renewed optimism, learning firsthand insights from and making connections with Fortune 500 industry experts, career pros and recruiters.  

HH: You have some big speakers coming. Who are some of the highlights, and what will they be discussing?

JT: All of the speakers and career pros are industry experts. The first day, the young adults will be walked through the nuts and bolts required to prepare them for the job search process by leaders who know what employers want from prospective workers. Unique perspectives will be shared by Dr. Marcia Cantarella, former dean of Princeton University and Hunter College, and Leslie Grossman, co-founder of Women’s Leadership Exchange.

The second day is chock full of numerous panels of experts who will talk on topics that range from hot industries to small employers and start-ups to career mistakes to graduate school to career paths in media. Speakers include Michelle-Hord White, director of off-air talent recruitment at ABC News; Trish Pescatore, U.S. recruitment and alumni relations at Accenture; Howard Hamilton, vice president of human resources at ESPN; Marisa Thalberg, vice president of global digital marketing at Estee Lauder; Ken Bouyer, director recruiting inclusiveness at Ernst & Young; Margaret Valente, manager of employment services at Memorial Sloan Kettering; Lisa Gerson, director of marketing partnerships at The New York Times; and more. 

HH: What is some of the advice career experts will provide?

JT: Young adults will learn the true art of self-promotion—how to stand out from the pack and deliver a winning elevator pitch; the right creation and management of digital identities, and how to maximize these connections; memorable résumé writing—how to raise your résumé to recruiters’ attention; effective interviewing—answering questions with grace and ease and how to ‘nail’ the follow-up; and business etiquette, professionalism and effective networking strategies.

HH: What are some of the other features of College Career Boot Camp NYC?

JT: Recruiters will provide the inside scoop on hiring, how to overcome hiring freezes, what they look for in candidates and how they review them to determine who gets hired—and who does not—and why. Industry leaders will discuss traditional and unique career paths and options; discover the various roles that exist in various industries and how academic interests, majors and talents can lead to viable career options. Graduate school administrators and consultants will help evaluate the pros and cons of graduate school and if it’s the right move for certain students. New workers will discuss the transition from college to work. And grads will have the opportunity to directly connect with these leaders and recruiters at a structured, interactive networking session. 

HH: What “take-aways” can students and recent graduates expect?

JT: Attendees will leave with a solid understanding of how the recruiting process works—when and how to apply, what employers look for, the number of interviews and types of questions to expect; career hand-outs, worksheets, templates and networking tools that have a proven track record; contact information of the employers and recruiters they connect with for their independent follow-up; realistic portraits of the day-to-day responsibilities of various job types to help refine career goals; an enhanced professional network of contacts and strategies to launch their career and snag the job they want.