Career Launch Bootcamp
This four-day bootcamp is designed to equip you with the strategies, content and connections needed to empower your job search.
You have the dream, the passion and the desire to land that first or next rewarding job. But do you have the materials and preparation to navigate the application and interview process successfully?
The Washington Center's Career Launch Bootcamp offers hands-on workshops that will help you build the essential tools and approaches necessary to succeed in your job search. With hundreds, if not thousands, of individuals applying for the same job, having the skills, tools and strategies to stand out is critical for success.
In today's competitive job market, having a degree or experience is not enough. Employers seek candidates who are well-prepared, confident and able to demonstrate their unique value. This bootcamp ensures that you:
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Craft Your Professional Brand/Image: Learn how to present yourself effectively both online and offline and what potential employers look for.
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Build a Compelling Resume: Create a resume that highlights your strengths and makes you stand out to employers in the private sector and government.
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Optimize Your LinkedIn: Master the art of optimizing your LinkedIn and other online profiles to showcase your skills and experiences.
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Develop Interview Skills: Gain the confidence and preparation needed to excel in interviews, while advocating for yourself and negotiating salary.
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Network Effectively: Learn strategies for building and leveraging professional connections to support your career growth.
By the end of the program, you will have a comprehensive toolkit that will enable you to approach job applications and interviews with confidence, ensuring you stand out from the competition. Don't miss this opportunity to prepare yourself fully and take the next step toward your dream job.
The Power of TWC’s Short-Term Bootcamp Programs
The Washington Center’s short-term “bootcamp” programs take learners beyond the classroom and empower them with tangible tools and approaches to advance their professional future. In less than one week, learners undertake hands-on projects to help build the strategies, skills and confidence that can help them stand out amidst today’s highly competitive job market.
If you have the passion for a strong first or next job and career, but need guidance on how to connect classroom learning, past professional experience and your own personal journey or non-traditional experiences, this program is right for you! Our innovative short-term programs have supported hundreds of learners with an easily accessible and valuable way to shape their futures, with 77% of participants rating their experience in the program as “excellent.”
This program prepared us for life after graduation! Along with all that I learned professionally, I also made lifelong connections.”
Zoe Agunbiade, 2023 TWC Short-Term Program Participant
Scholarship Opportunities to Increase Access
If you are a Pell Grant-eligible student or a student attending a school in Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina or Ohio, you may be eligible to receive a scholarship to cover the full cost of the program and housing at TWC’s Residential and Academic Facility.
To be considered for a scholarship, accepted students meeting residency and other eligibility requirements must commit to attending and fully participating in the Career Launch Bootcamp in Washington, D.C. from December 12-15, 2024 or March 20-23, 2025. Students must also commit to upholding TWC’s Seminar and Short-Term Policies (including the Student Code of Conduct) before and during their program experience.
Housing and Living
During the Career Launch Bootcamp held in the nation’s capital, you’ll stay in TWC’s furnished intern housing in NoMa, a cosmopolitan neighborhood full of unique restaurants and nightlife.
You’ll be within walking distance of the National Mall and the best that D.C. has to offer (not to mention essentials like grocery stores and the Metro).
A program-only option is also available for students who wish to commute to the program daily.
Housing
Most participants share a 2-bedroom/2-bath apartment with three other participants in our modern academic and residential building. We'll provide everything you need, most of what you'll want and even some perks you might not have expected.
Each apartment is fully furnished and includes:
- a full dining set (pots, pans, dishes, silverware, coffee maker and toaster)
- refrigerator
- microwave
- dishwasher
- iron and ironing board
- vacuum cleaner
- mop and broom
- washer and dryer
- wi-fi
What to Pack
Please be prepared to pack the following:
- bed linens (twin XL sheets)
- bath towels
- blanket
- pillow
- personal toiletries
- government-issued ID card
- small folding umbrella
- business casual or smart casual attire for academic sessions and site visits
- casual attire for evenings and weekends
- laptop (optional)
- notebook and pens
- clothes hangers
Housing Services
Our housing is managed by a dedicated housing services team to ensure you have everything you need to live comfortably.
We want every student to be able to maximize their experience, so we offer reasonable accommodations to students with documented disabilities. TWC's housing is ADA accessible, and wheelchair accessible apartments are available to participants who need them. We also allow documented service animals and emotional support animals.
Eligibility
This program is recommended for students who have recently graduated or are close to graduating from an undergraduate or graduate program OR someone beginning their job application process. To be eligible to participate, you must meet the following criteria:
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- If accepted, commit to attending and fully participating in the Career Launch Bootcamp in Washington, D.C. from December 12-15, 2024 or March 20-23, 2025.
- If accepted, commit to upholding TWC’s Seminar and Short-Term Policies (including the Student Code of Conduct) before and during their program experience.
All TWC programs are designed to be inclusive, equitable and accessible to all, including those from historically marginalized backgrounds, those with disabilities and neurodiverse populations. Students from these groups are encouraged to apply:
- Women
- Veterans
- LGBTQ+
- First-generation students
- Persons with disabilities
- Neurodiverse individuals
- Low-income individuals (as measured by Pell Grant eligibility)
- Individuals from historically marginalized racial and ethnic backgrounds
- Students who attend Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, ANNAPISIs, Tribal Colleges and other MSIs
The program's immersive curriculum and networking opportunities exposed me to invaluable skills and insights crucial for success in today's dynamic landscape.”
Felicia Ilori, 2024 TWC Short-Term Program Participant
Program Cost
The program costs $1,095, including housing at TWC’s Residential and Academic Facility. The cost for the program only, without housing, is $695 for those who wish to commute to the program each day. Scholarship opportunities are available for select students. A $200 non-refundable deposit is required for accepted students to reserve a place in this competitive program.
Dates and Deadlines
December 2024 Bootcamp
- Application Deadline: Wednesday, November 13, 2024
- Check-In: Thursday, December 12, 2024
- Check-Out: Sunday, December 15, 2024
March 2025 Bootcamp
- Check-In: Thursday, March 20, 2025
- Check-Out: Sunday, March 23, 2025
How to Apply
Applications for the Career Launch Bootcamp in December 2024 are being accepted now! You’re a simple application form away from setting yourself up for a stronger professional future.
When you're ready to get started, click below to create an account (or log in to your existing account) in the Application Portal. Select Career Launch Bootcamp from the list of available programs in the portal.
If you're interested in attending the Career Launch Bootcamp in March 2025, sign up below! We'll keep you in the loop on program updates and the application launch.
Application Documents
Below are the documents you’ll need to submit with your application. Please note that your documents must be saved as PDFs in order to upload them.
- Statement of Interest: In 100-250 words, tell us what makes you an ideal fit for this program and share your goals for the experience. If you believe you are eligible for state funding, please tell us why receiving a scholarship to fund your participation would make a difference for you.
- One-page Resumé: Share a current copy of your resume. If you're creating one for the first time, include your educational background and other experiences (internships, volunteer work, on-campus leadership positions, honors, or awards). See our resume guide and sample resumes for more details.
- Transcript: Upload an official copy of your transcript from your current college/university directly into the application. Please ensure your transcript includes (a) your name, (b) your school’s name, (c) your cumulative GPA and (d) shows your current courses, if you are currently enrolled. If your social security number is included on your transcript, please conceal it prior to upload. If you have attended multiple institutions, send transcripts for additional schools to info@twc.edu. We’ll use your transcript to verify your enrollment and scholarship eligibility, if applicable.
A Commitment to Access, Equity and Inclusion
TWC recognizes that diversity brings innovation and creativity to the workplace and encourages fresh perspectives. As such, we are committed to shaping the future of the workforce so that it is representative of the full diversity across the U.S. and allows inclusion and belonging for talent of all backgrounds and lived experience.
Students attending Minority Serving Institutions (MSI), such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU), are encouraged to apply.