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Asked why he sacrificed the final days of his winter break to return to campus, Andrew Hanson ’26 echoed the sentiments of other seniors who made the same choice. It was a chance to polish his job-search skills and increase his marketability.

Hanson was among 94 Denison seniors who bid their families an early goodbye to attend the Class of 2026 Career Ready Boot Camp.

“This program here is what I need,” Hanson said. “To have dedicated spaces, schedules, resources all at the same time for the next three days is great, and that’s why I’m here.”

The eighth annual event hosted by the Knowlton Center for Career Exploration enjoyed a record turnout, illustrating the growing popularity of the boot camp and the sophistication of the job seekers in attendance. The inaugural event drew about 25 seniors, with only a handful having already created a LinkedIn account. This year, almost every attendee had one.

The seniors spent three days perfecting resumes and cover letters, making the best use of digital networking platforms, and impressing potential employers in the interview process.

Career coaches reviewed the students’ documents required to apply for jobs. Guest speakers, including professionals from top brands, lectured on what companies desire from college graduates. An image consultant offered tips on proper interview attire, grooming, communication skills, body language, and interactions. (For heaven’s sake: Sit up straight and keep your cell phone out of sight.)

“We’re witnessing a culture change in students’ approach to career searches,” said Melanie Murphy, executive director of the Knowlton Center. “Students are participating in career-related activities much earlier in their time here. We recognize there’s a lot on their plate. So, if we can use these three days before classes resume to focus on optimizing checkpoints like cover-letter writing and LinkedIn profiles and job applications, it gives them a jumpstart to their final semester.”

The boot camp featured useful information and granular detail. For instance, students were taught the importance of having a professional LinkedIn profile picture — coaches offered to take them onsite at no charge — and specific keywords and phrasing in describing their career aspirations.

Hanson has a strong lead on a job, but used the three days to examine other options. He arrived at boot camp looking to improve his digital networking skills.

The senior thrives on face-to-face meetings, and he couldn’t wait for the Jan. 15 happy hour reception that included more than 40 alumni and friends of Denison from a wide range of industries.

“I get anxious, especially with all the digital stuff like LinkedIn, fearing I might say the wrong thing,” Hanson said. “But I live and breathe schmoozing.”

Colleen Kearns ’26 and Beatrice Braun-Arnold ’26 believe two major questions from family bookend the college experience.

Five years ago, it was, “Where are you going to go to college?” Now, it’s, “Where are you going to work?”

“I was getting that question during Christmas break,” said Kearns, who began her job search in August 2025.

“This process is not easy when you’re doing it alone,” Braun-Arnold said. “To have this three-day opportunity in this environment with a community behind you is very reassuring.”

Kearns and Braun-Arnold were among six friends who returned to campus early to participate in the boot camp. Both took advantage of having their resumes and cover letters scoured by Knowlton Center coaches and both applied for jobs during the event.

“It feels good to press submit on an application process and feel confident in what I’m submitting,” Braun-Arnold said, “knowing these coaches were reading over my shoulders to make sure I’m on the right track.”

Kearns appreciated the range of career-related topics available. She participated in mock interviews and attended a seminar on negotiating a salary for your first job.

“There were a lot of little things, too, that you don’t always think of in a career search, like how to tell a story about yourself in an interview,” Kearns said.

Like many students, Braun-Arnold began visiting the Knowlton Center as a first-year student. The center’s dedication to career development is a major reason Denison is rated No. 2 in best career services among all 2,400 four-year colleges and universities in the U.S., according to The Princeton Review’s 2026 Best Colleges rankings.

That doesn’t mean seniors are any less anxious as they begin to submit applications, especially in an uncertain job market. It’s just the nature of most career searches: students can’t apply for openings until they exist. It’s not like internship programs where employers have openings every summer.

Murphy understands those feelings, and was thrilled to see nearly 100 students sign up for the boot camp. She believes word of mouth from previous attendees has contributed to the steady rise in attendance.

“These students are intentional about committing to this transition,” Murphy said. “They know the job market is tough right now, and that they need to take it seriously. The fact they are willing to come here early and put themselves through this three-day experience is very encouraging.”

Stephanie Stifel Coughlan ’81 laughed at the memory of what used to pass for college career centers during her undergraduate years.

She spent four summers as a Congressional intern in Washington, D.C., but didn’t want to make politics her life’s work.

“We didn’t have any of this,” Coughlan said, gazing around the spacious Knowlton Center. “We were totally lost. When I graduated, my parents told me, ‘There’s no money left — go find a job.’ I worked as a media planner at an advertising agency and got fired after three months. It happens.”

Coughlan returned to her alma mater during boot camp to help seniors find the right jobs for them. Pursuing a lifelong passion for fashion, she founded her company, Image Intelligence, in 2018, after years of representing media brands such as Vogue, The New Yorker, Gentleman’s Quarterly, Conde Nast Traveler, Rolling Stone, and Women’s Health.

She spoke to students for an hour about first impressions, industry-specific dress codes, and subtle practices that help job applicants stand out with confidence and professionalism. Coughlan also set aside nearly two hours for one-on-one sessions with students.

“Their presentation speaks for them before they have even spoken,” she said. “When 100 candidates all have 4.0 GPAs, all went to good schools, and all have good work-related experience, how are you going to stand out? You’re going to stand out because you looked an employer in the eye, you shook their hand, you showed up as if you cared about them. That little extra effort is going to make a difference in the interview process.”

Coughlan travels the country speaking to university students. She said Denison ranks among the best at preparing them to enter the workforce. According to Knowlton Center figures, 97 percent of graduates are working in their desired field.

Sarah Motley ’26 was among the students who signed up for an individual chat with Coughlan, and found the experience beneficial.

“I wanted to hear more about Stephanie’s transition from interning on Capitol Hill to fashion,” Motley said. “She talked about her gift of gab, and that really stuck with me because sometimes that can have negative connotations. Her point was that it’s important to know how to communicate with people.”

Getting the chance to meet with Denison alumni was a major talking point of the boot camp. Students were encouraged to look for Denison connections when applying for jobs or seeking career advice.

As Hanson prepared for happy hour, he was convinced he had made the right decision to fly back early from his home in Atlanta.

“This is a great example of the Knowlton Center flexing its No. 2 (in career services) status,” Hanson said. “I have friends at other liberal arts schools and state schools, and when they heard about this they said, ‘That’s amazing. I wish my school offered a program like that.’ I’m not just talking about the boot camp, but the entire Knowlton Center experience.”