Empowering entry-level professionals with Catapult

After jumping between hospitality jobs and earning an associate’s degree in business administration, Alexis wanted a meaningful career in the financial industry. But he worried that he would struggle to find a path without a bachelor’s degree.

Alexis spoke to friends who worked at Capital One, who raved about our innovative work and inclusive culture. After scrolling through the Careers website, he found the perfect match for his resume: Capital One’s Catapult program. Catapult equips entry-level professionals with a high school diploma, GED or equivalent with the skills and knowledge to launch meaningful careers. 

Providing entry-level opportunities 

Catapult begins with a six-week paid internship where participants sharpen their resume, learn about the financial industry and connect with a mentor who will help guide them through transitions, successes and challenges in their career. 

For Alexis, this six-week period was invaluable as he learned how to improve his interviewing and communication skills.

“When I applied to other jobs before Catapult, the interview was always the hardest part. I was very shy,” Alexis said. “Capital One helped me to develop those skills and gave me confidence.”

Along with professional development, Catapult supports diverse career journeys by focusing on economic empowerment. If interns need support with transportation, housing, internet or other employment barriers, Catapult is able to connect them to community partners and Capital One support resources that will help them succeed. Additionally, interns learn about Capital One’s robust financial benefits, such as our employee stock purchase program and tuition assistance. 

At the heart of Catapult’s mission is community. Each cohort is a small group of individuals who support each other throughout their career journey. Interns can lean on Catapult alumni for professional development and networking.

“I learned how to have different perspectives,” Alexis said. “My background as a hospitality manager was very different from the rest of my cohort. They always pushed me to learn something new, to get out of my comfort zone.”

Career and personal growth

Alexis finished Catapult on a strong note. He earned the FIRE award for excellence, which propelled him straight into a job in customer care. There, he discovered his talent for analyzing and processing data. 

Alexis began speaking to his mentor about transitioning from customer care to data analytics. He used the interviewing and communication skills he sharpened through Catapult to network and interview for new positions. He moved to his current position as data process manager in 2023.

Now, Alexis is using Capital One’s tuition assistance benefits to earn his bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity. 

“I really like to take advantage of every opportunity I have,” Alexis said. “I like to talk to my manager about moving up in my career and getting to the place I want to go. I am always making sure I’m following my goals.”