Career Services: My Success Story
What students are saying...
CAREER BOOT CAMP
Over 100 students participated in our 5th Annual Career Boot Camp on Saturday, August 27, 2011. This one day intensive mini-conference builds critical skills needed to succeed in today's job market. Students were able to network and attend informative breakout sessions with 20+ successful EIU alumni. Did you miss it? Find out what our students are saying:
Mark Rosenblum
Corporate Communications
Of course no college student wants to wake up before noon on a Saturday morning. But for the opportunity to be ahead of the game after graduation....I think I would make an exception. I was originally very nervous about networking. But after meeting with Bobbi Kingery (Career Counselor), I began to get excited about meeting some of the Alumni. Having grown up with a father who has been in H.R. for over 20 years, I have heard a lot about networking.
Getting up on a Saturday morning...
"...the opportunity to be ahead of the game after graduation....I think I would make an exception."
I enjoyed meeting many of the Alumni that came to EIU! They were more than willing to give advice, ideas, and even their own contact information so that you can possibly gain a future position with them or someone they may know. After hitting it off with one of the professionals (Bob Glover) I began to gain extreme interest in working for this organization. I sent him a thank you right away and gained a response within 24 hours! He was as interested as I was!! We will be speaking within the next few weeks about positions at Cardinal Health.
Students should attend this event because they want to get an edge in the job search game! Since most jobs are not directly posted on a job search site, the best way to find out how to access them, and maybe get a foot forward into the industry you want or are interested in.
Career Services is something that more people should take advantage of! It's not just for business majors!! Everyone can benefit from them!!!!
Brittney Livingston
Public Relations
Career Boot Camp was one of the most beneficial events that I have attended at Eastern. This was my first event from Career Services' that I had signed up to attend, and because of the outcome it will not be my last. At the beginning of the boot camp we were given a binder of materials that helped with resumes, thank you letters, cover letters, social media, etc. There was also hands on training on how to write a cover letter what was really helpful.
Making connections...
"...I have never made connections like this before and the opportunity was handed to me because of the Career Services Boot Camp!"
At the industry roundtables we were matched with three alumni from EIU that was specific to our field of interest. From these round table discussions I was able to connect with three intelligent, goal driven, successful individuals. I got advice about everything under the sun including graduate school, internships, and how to get the job fresh out of school. The three alumni I sat with really hit home for me because they stressed how important it is to find a career that would not demean your morals and personal standards.
I felt that I connected with the alumni and at the end of the sessions we gave each other our contact information to keep in touch. After personally sending them thank you notes for attending the Career Boot Camp I was able to keep Sparkle Sanders (Marketing Specialist at Carle Foundation Hospital) and Renee DeVore (Financial Professional at Prudential Insurance) as personal mentors! I also received an email with information about Jeff Zilch (President of Delta Technical Solutions, Inc.) looking to fill positions at his company. I have never made connections like this before and the opportunit was handed to me because of Career Services Boot Camp!
Have a success story to share? Contact us at dksmith2@eiu.edu
