Skills Workshops and Programs

Career Exploration and Development is committed to helping students secure the jobs and internships they want to pursue.

L.L. Bean Boot at Sophomore Bootcamp 2024

students visiting Amazon on invest trek 2023

That starts with knowing what the range of options are, establishing connections to alumni working in those fields, and developing the career- and industry-specific skills and knowledge necessary to land the job.

Current students can view and sign up for events on Handshake.

CXD eXplore Events encourage all students, from first-years to seniors, to expand their career horizons and to learn more from experienced professionals, including engaged alumni and employers. Topics encompass the full range of interests of Bowdoin students—from education to policy to finance to healthcare—and much more. Events offer an opportunity to learn about a field and its various job functions, and facilitate connections with alumni who are working in those fields.

CXD hosts recruiting events throughout the year, including workshops, talks, lunches, one-on-one chats, and interviews. Our goal is to forge creative partnerships with employers and connect students with opportunities. Learn more about Employer Engagement.

CXD knows that nailing core career development skills early on gives students an edge when applying for jobs and internships. All sophomores participate in a three-day intensive workshop that prepares them (and their résumés) for summer internship and fellowship applications. Sophomore Bootcamp is held during winter break, so students can focus on their futures when they aren’t busy with coursework.

Sophomore Bootcamp Info

CXD subsidizes a selection of conferences, certifications, and courses that help Bowdoin students gain job-specific skills. Each year, the program assists over 150 students in gaining the skills they need to take their next steps.

Bowdoin students have a variety of ways to prep for interviews. Students can practice industry-specific questions using Big Interview, reach out to alumni volunteers and attend industry-specific events throughout the year.

Treks are a chance for students to explore opportunities in specific cities during spring break with day-in-the-life site visits to companies, interactive panels, coffee chats, dinners, and networking events with alumni and other professionals. The purposes of Treks are to deeply eexplore an industry, envision a professional life in a specific city, and network with people and organizations for the purpose of landing jobs and internships. Past treks have taken students to San Francisco, Boston, and New York to meet alumni and employers in person.