The Career and Professional Readiness Center’s (CPRC) inaugural year of the EDGE program sought to live up to its name by giving Bonaventure students an edge in the interview process. According to CPRC director, Constance Whitcomb, they were successful.
“We have 75 students who graduated from the program this year,” she said.
The EDGE program is a certificate program that takes place over the duration of two semesters. Students interested in the program sign up in the fall and participate throughout the fall and spring semesters.
Both interview and résumé-making skills are perfected throughout the duration of the program. Students receive a certificate from the university after completing all aspects of the program, including building a résumé and attending six seminars on interviewing and self-marketing skills.
In addition to receiving a certificate of completion, students also receive a letter of endorsement from the university president, said Whitcomb.
“The program is offered to sophomores, juniors and seniors,” she said. “Juniors comprised our largest class, but we had great representation of all classes and all majors.”
The CPRC staff has been planning for the creation of the program for around three years, Whitcomb said. The staff worked with the Board of Trustees to gain support for both the creation and promotion. The program was completely based on original ideas and research.
“We don’t know of any other schools that have programs like this,” Whitcomb said.
Whitcomb is also optimistic that the originality of the program will help market the university to potential students.
Due to the large amount of participating students this year, Whitcomb is optimistic about the future.
“We feel we advertised very well. We now have testimonials from this year’s graduates, she said. “The CPRC staff can sit up here and talk about the program, but it’s more of an impact to hear from their peers.”
Student testimonials were given out at the certificate ceremony last week and have already been looked over to help modify the program.
Matea Britvar, sophomore sports studies major, said that she would have liked to experience more of a hands-on approach during her time in the program.
“I feel that with the interviewing process they could implement more activities that involved working in partners,” she said.
Despite her desire for more authentic practice, Britvar said she believed the program was essential to preparing for a postgraduate career.
“I joined the EDGE program because I have never had a job before, because my life has always been based around basketball training,” she said. “I definitely learned a lot throughout the entire process. The program really covered almost everything necessary to stand out in the workplace.”
Although Britvar agreed that it was difficult to find time outside of her basketball program to participate in the seminars, she said the CPRC was accommodating to her schedule.
“I would definitely recommend the program, especially to sophomores and juniors,” said senior finance major Tanja Kirmse. “I have been interviewed several times since the interview segment of the program for graduate school. The EDGE program helped me prepare and answer the questions confidently. It definitely made a big difference!”
rootcm14@bonaventure.edu
