The Consultant Development Bootcamp series was written with joy by Grayson Harden, Mary Claire Freese, and Rebekah Williamson.
Wrapping Up: Q&A and Takeaways from Our Interns & Associates
Our 10-week Boot Camp training program is coming to a close this week, and though we are sad to see our interns leave, we are lucky to have had such solid team this summer. Each of our fifteen new hires started the Boot Camp with hopes of understanding the ‘ins and outs’ of consulting, learning new software and technologies, and gaining experience in the corporate world. With extensive code-based modules, unique shadowing sessions, and collaborative mini-projects, Perficient was able to exceed Boot Camp expectations and offer many opportunities for personal and professional growth.
Below is a list of questions that our Boot Camp team was asked to summarize their experience in the 2020 Summer Boot Camp.
How have you collaborated with other colleagues?
“I worked with the other business consultant new hires, and we met daily via Microsoft Teams to track progress, put together deliverables, and discuss upcoming projects. It was great to collaborate and bounce ideas off people, and I’ve really enjoyed seeing each of our perspectives reflected in the final products.”
– Mary Claire Freese, Associate Business Consultant
“I was constantly on calls, talking through modules and asking questions about assignments if any blockers arose. Aside from the other new hires, I felt comfortable asking current employees questions, and everyone was very willing to help.”
– Kam Ndirangu, Intern Technical Consultant
“Working with the other interns and new hires has helped me become a better team player. This is a super important skill to learn because collaboration is so vital in any full-time consulting role.”
– Grayson Harden, Intern Business Consultant
When did you start to feel like a part of the Perficient team?
“From the get-go I was treated like a full-time Perficient employee, despite just being an intern. Everyone I spoke with really cared to learn more about my life, goals, and aspirations, which made me feel like a part of the Perficient team all summer.”
– Rebekah Williamson, Intern Business Consultant
Do you feel like you need a technical background to succeed at Perficient? Why or why not?
“Personally, I didn’t come into the Boot Camp as the best coder, but as long as you have an open mind and the resilience to learn the necessary products and technologies, an explicit technical background isn’t needed.”
– Kam Ndirangu, Intern Technical Consultant
“Coming in with a marketing background, I did not have the same level of technical proficiency as most of the other new hires. However, I have never felt unprepared for any Boot Camp project; instead I think that all of our different perspectives help us develop unique solutions and make us well-rounded consultants.”
– Mary Claire Freese, Associate Business Consultant
What has motivated you throughout the Boot Camp?
“The process of learning itself motivates me. The fact that I am learning something practical that enables me to bring value to the business pushes me forward.”
– David Hwang, Associate Technical Consultant
“It’s super cool to come into a workplace with a huge influence in the tech industry that also stresses a relaxed work environment.”
– Jeremy Balemala, Associate Technical Consultant
How do you see this internship benefiting you in the future?
“I believe this Boot Camp experience will be extremely pivotal to my success in the future. I learned an abundance of information throughout the duration of the program, not only from a technical standpoint but from an operational standpoint. I believe I have learned the ways in which to be successful in the consulting industry.”
– David Davenport, Intern Technical Consultant
“The Boot Camp has provided me with so much project experience to talk about in interviews and so many new skills to showcase to potential employers that I feel without a doubt I am prepared to start a career in consulting.”
– Grayson Harden, Intern Business Consultant
Our new hires are thrilled to begin client-facing projects and our interns are ready to take what they have learned from the Boot Camp and apply it to all of their future endeavors. The Boot Camp team has made quite an impact on the Atlanta Office, and the success of the Summer 2020 Boot Camp has us already looking forward to next summer!
Below is a list of some skills and technologies that our Boot Camp team has learned throughout the past 10 weeks:
- Programming: HTML/CSS, JavaScript, C#, SQL, ASP.NET, React, Entity Framework, ADO.NET
- Microsoft: Office365, Azure DevOps, Power Platform
- Project Management Methodologies: Agile Methodology/Scrum Framework, requirements gathering, user stories, wireframing/prototyping
At Perficient, we continually look for ways to champion and challenge our talented workforce with interesting projects for high-profile clients, encourage personal and professional growth through training and mentoring, and celebrate our people-oriented culture and the innovative ways they serve Perficient and the community.
Learn more about what it’s like to work at Perficient at our Careers page.
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