Coming down from the high stress of finals and finishing the semester, members of the WashingtonExec College Leadership Group made time on their winter break to meet and discuss internships and the federal contracting industry.
Jason Levin of Ready, Set, Launch, LLC, career and outplacement coaching, and Eric DeKenipp of Vencore, an information solutions, engineering and analysis company, spoke on Dec. 21 at the Attain headquarters in Tysons Corner.
DeKenipp began the discussion with the statistic that in four years, 2020, 50 percent of the workforce will be Millennials. Stepping into an aging workforce, this will mean more opportunities and competition for promotions and paid internships for the Millennial generation.
Speaking on behalf of Vencore was also Kendall Loizou, a Workforce Supervisor for entry-level programs who helped grow Vencore’s college recruiting program.
Levin continued the discussion by emphasizing the importance of having an internship. Internships, consulting projects, and holding leadership positions in a professional organization are three qualifications that employers value on college students’ resumes.
From creating a second resume solely about what you enjoyed at each of your jobs, to sending follow-up thank you notes within 24 hours after an interview, Levin shared helpful tips and tricks to get one step closer to employment.
“In thinking about career moves, it is sometimes hard to know where to begin,” said Levin. “Whether you are transitioning from college or from a job into retirement, the conversation needs begins with yourself. By reflecting honestly on your strengths, interests and values, you will have a better sense of which industries to target and which employers and roles fit your professional needs. It was fun to be with WashingtonExec and interact with a bright group of students on this topic. They were clearly engaged and asked thoughtful questions. Before leaving, they committed to taking action to advance their careers. I am excited for the opportunities in front of them.”
The WashingtonExec College Leadership Group, formerly known as NextGen Beltway Leaders, is comprised of individuals at the undergraduate level whose parents are executives in the government contracting industry. The group provides workshops for these individuals to develop their personal brand, build their professional network, and expand their knowledge of the federal contracting industry.
The growing group will meet again in May 2016.
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