The following is an interview with Sharon DeLay, SPHR, CPCC, MBA, author of “Career Boot Camp.” The guide can be purchased online.
Heather Huhman: How is "Career Boot Camp" different than the many other career resources out there?
Sharon DeLay: There are a couple of ways that it’s different than the other resources. While you can go to any bookstore—or even a Web site—and find a selection of career transition resources, they’re single subject resources. Résumé books, for example, are plentiful and they give examples, but many don’t go beyond that. They don’t tell the why’s and how’s. Also, there are very few current career transition resources that really tie the entire coaching process together into one comprehensive resource that has a logical, sequential flow from finding focus through negotiating a job offer. The well-ordered modules and various bonus materials, including the companion Web site, address all of this.
HH: Why did you decide to make a self-guided career tool versus other methods of helping people make the transition?
SD: I also offer private coaching and will continue to make the “live” version of Career Boot Camp available a couple of times per year. However, people learn in different ways and many people struggle with finding a consistent time they can schedule into their lives for “live” sessions, so this is one more tool that helps those who struggle with schedule issues or prefer to work at their own pace.
One of the things you’ll notice about this tool is that it includes audio, video, PowerPoint, worksheets and supplemental written materials. On the companion Web site, there is a discussion board, as well. This appeals to every learning style and meets the expectations of those who expect varied delivery channels. The Weekly Reveille will provide “live” interaction with a career coach and helps those who need a little more accountability and guidance.
HH: In your opinion, is "Career Boot Camp" in a format that will resonate with college students and recent graduates? If so, why?
SD: Excellent question. I think it will resonate with recent graduates and students. Students today are receiving their education in a variety of ways: classroom, online and in blended formats. This tool mirrors some of those flavors because students today are growing used to taking responsibility for managing their education and working at their pace. Career Boot Camp meets this same expectation.
Also, like an online class, the Weekly Reveille equates to that “real time” interaction with a faculty member, although with Career Boot Camp, this check in is optional. Additionally, students manage their time in such a way that they typically work on things in segments, working on a lot of different segments within a day. Boot Camp’s modularized format allows students to start and stop as desired. One of the bonus materials is that all the audio files have been converted to a downloadable .mp3 format, so these same students can listen to career coaching audio files while working out.
Also, the assistance students are receiving from their colleges/universities is inconsistent. Some students receive better quality assistance from their school’s placement office than others. Some schools barely offer more than a templated résumé curriculum in the last week or two of their last semester that the student can send to employers, but they do little else to prepare graduates for the workforce. This tool is a great tool for schools to provide to their students, as well, since it provides assistance in a variety of areas to assist with placement.
HH: I found the mock interview guide particularly helpful. Because students and new grads haven't interviewed many times before, I think they would benefit from this section in particular. Wouldn't you agree?
SD: I have found with many of my clients, whether they are new grads or seasoned professionals, that this is an area they can always use help with. The mock interview guide is the result of one of my more popular services and one that many staffing agencies request.
Even if people interviewed in the last five or so years, practice is still helpful because we all need to “get back into our groove.” For new grads, I think this particular tool could be particularly helpful if they do it with someone who is a little bit more “seasoned” and who will be very honest and have their best interests in mind.
I’ve been talking to quite a few hiring managers recently and, quite frankly, they’re frustrated. Today’s students are coming out of schools with technical knowledge, but they lack the ability to present themselves professionally and confidently. They certainly have high expectations, but they aren’t presenting themselves as if they deserve or have earned those expectations being met. I think it’s important that they see themselves and hear themselves as others will see and hear them. Doing the mock interview with someone who can give them unvarnished feedback will give them the important information they need to make the right adjustments.
The mock interview debrief exercise is designed to cover every aspect of the interview from how they walk into the room, shake hands, make eye contact and smile, all the way to how they look and how they answer questions, as well as what they say.
HH: How exactly do your weekly Reveille calls work?
SD: Every Wednesday evening at 9 p.m. Eastern Time, a career coach will be available at the Weekly Reveille number posted in Career Boot Camp member section of the Web site. Boot Campers who need a little encouragement, need assistance if they’re stuck, or have a quick question and need laser coaching can call in and not only ask their own questions, but also listen to other Boot Campers. This not only provides assistance for their own issues or needs, but also they’ll have the opportunity to benefit from the coach’s interaction with others. This is a real-time call.
The guidelines for the Weekly Reveille are outlined in the manual, and the coach reserves the right to redirect inappropriate calls, callers that take up too much time or otherwise dominate the weekly call. This is supplemented by discussion boards on the companion Web site, as well.
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