Randolph-Macon College students learned firsthand the importance of career planning and preparation at the sixth-annual Edge Career Boot Camp. This hands-on workshop, facilitated by The Edge Career Center and 135 alumni, faculty, staff, and local business leaders, took place February 9-10, 2018 at the Westin Richmond Hotel.

RMC President Robert R. Lindgren welcomed students to Boot Camp.

“Events like Boot Camp are examples of just how valuable a Randolph-Macon education is now, and will be years from now,” he said. “We provide more than an academic degree. At RMC, we are decidedly different—investing in opportunities to advance a lifelong love of learning and develop comprehensive skills that will equip you for the workforce, regardless of your chosen profession.”

A Competitive Advantage
Boot Camp is an integral part of The Edge, RMC’s four-year career program that provides students with a competitive advantage when applying for jobs or graduate school. A two-day immersion program, Boot Camp helps students identify their career passions and hone their interview and communication skills as they prepare for life after college.

The weekend was devoted to helping students develop their own elevator speech and “brand,” learn how to communicate with confidence, and identify their strengths and capabilities—all with the help of expert speakers and facilitators, including alumni. This year, 130 students participated in Boot Camp. In addition, six Boot Camp Ambassadors—students who participated in last year’s Boot Camp—used their knowledge to help students take full advantage of this unique experience.

Finding the Edge
Boot Camp participants attended workshops, formulated an “action plan” for career success, and engaged in simulated interviews. Breakout sessions included “LinkedIn/Social Media,” “Your Best Interview,” “Tell Your Story,” “Communication Styles,” and “Let’s Do Dinner: Dining Your Way to Success.” Business leaders were on hand to offer students career advice and share their business expertise. A closing reception, with alumni and business leaders in attendance, offered students the opportunity to put into practice their networking skills.

Grayson Hubbard ’19, a business major, says that Boot Camp helped him learn how to present himself to potential employers.

“I learned how to tie all of my experiences, accomplishments, and skills together to help define my story in a concise way,” he says. “The workshops helped me learn more about myself and learn how to adapt to others’ characteristics in any given situation. The exciting part was being able to apply all of these newly learned techniques during the mock interviews and the networking reception. Boot Camp gave me the tools I need to go forward in the professional world with confidence.”

Alumni Connections
Katie Wax ’20, a religious studies and Spanish major, says Boot Camp helped her strengthen her communication skills.

“I am a very outgoing person, and, during the mock interviews, my interviewers gave me tips on how to use this to my advantage,” says Wax, a member of RMC’s A. Purnell Bailey Pre-Ministerial program. “For example, Tim Nasworthy ’78 helped me learn how to channel my excitement during interviews. Meeting with alumni at Boot Camp was a great way to make Yellow Jacket connections.” Wax’s post-RMC plans include pursuing a master’s degree in divinity. “After divinity school I hope to become an ordained elder in The United Methodist Church,” she says.

Growing and Flourishing
Dontrese Brown, executive director of The Edge, says Boot Camp continues to grow and flourish.

“This year’s event was filled with tremendous opportunities for our students,” says Brown. “There’s no substitute for hands-on practice, and students exercised their professional skills, including the all-important art of networking. We are grateful for so many volunteers—more than we’ve had in any previous year—from the RMC community and local businesses, and we are especially thankful for the alumni who helped make the weekend a success. Their creative thinking and strong leadership are an inspiration to our students, and we thank them for sharing their time and expertise with us.”

The Randolph-Macon Edge
At Randolph-Macon College, everything’s connected. Our curriculum challenges students; our Edge career program turns skills into action. With an extraordinary education and the help of faculty advisors, coaches, and alumni, preparation for success begins the moment students set foot on campus. And it never ends: The Yellow Jacket connection continues long after graduation. Alumni serve as mentors. Faculty continue to encourage and inspire. These partnerships last a lifetime.

The Edge, a personalized, comprehensive four-year career preparation program, provides students with a competitive advantage with their career or graduate school goals. The Edge takes students from résumé-building to networking opportunities to careers. Yellow Jackets learn how to be leaders, thinkers, and communicators, and they can put it all into practice with a tailormade internship—essential experience in today’s competitive world.

Boot Camp 2018