On Saturday, more than 100 students gathered in the Martin Luther King Jr. Union for Career Boot Camp, a day-long program of workshops on career skills.

Linda Moore, the director of career services, said they get ideas for the workshops based on what students ask for training in when they come into Career Services.

“The main goal is to very quickly expose them to most of the main topics that make them a polished candidate for an internship or position,” Moore said.

The industry roundtable section of the seminar allowed students to talk with four of the 22 Eastern alumni about the alumni’s career field and ask questions for 15 minutes each.

Brian Bybee, 1997 alumni from The Medicines Company, spoke at a roundtable about health care careers.

Bybee told students to follow a career path they are passionate about, not what will make the most money.

“As long as you’re passionate about something, that’s the best you can do,” Bybee said. “Just don’t do it for the money, ’cause you end up miserable.”

Ashlee McCulley, a senior early childhood education major, agreed with Bybee.

“I wanna wake up every day and love what I’m doing,” McCulley said.

McCulley had attended Career Boot Camp because she “needed a jump start” on going out into the workforce.

Scott Shields, a senior accounting major, came because finding a job in this bad economy is more challenging.

Shields said the seminar gave him a lot of information and tips such as keeping in contact with people.

“Don’t burn bridges,” Shields said, “and keep in contact with people that can be used as references later on.”

Chad Navel, a senior English major, said he thought Career Boot Camp was “necessary” and “very helpful.”

After the seminar had finished, Navel said he learned that employers really care about their interviewees.

“They want you to succeed,” Navel said. “So whenever you go into a job (interview), they want you to do well.”

During one roundtable discussion, a student expressed that she gets nervous during interviews. Bybee told her interviews are nothing but a conversation.

“Interviewing is fun; it’s just talking,” Bybee said.

Dan Halverson, a 2000 alumni from JP Morgan Chase and Co., said to go on interviews even if you are not looking into obtaining that specific job.

“It’s always good to see what questions they’re going to throw at you,” Halverson said.

Halverson said most companies ask the same general questions and that it is a good chance for students to get practice.

At the end of the day, students left Career Boot Camp with information that will help them better prepare themselves after graduation and possible alumni contacts.

“The ultimate sign of success is that our placement rate is better than national averages,” Moore said.

Sam Bohne can be reached at 581-7942 or shbohne@eiu.edu