Career Services is hosting its sixth annual Career Boot Camp from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday throughout the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union. 

Debbie Endsley, a career adviser, said the boot camp’s goal is to introduce students to the different skills needed to get a job.

Endsley said there are different sessions that help with anything from resumes and cover letters to interviewing and networking. 

The schedule will include four breakout sessions where students can choose what topic they would like to learn about, in addition to lunch with alumni and industry roundtables. 

Students will also get a binder that they can keep with all of the information that will be given during the day. 

Endsley said the boot camp is basically a one-day mini-conference. 

“It’s a great networking opportunity because we bring in alumni who have already been out in the workforce,” Endsley said. “We try to get a variety of industries, and they’ll come back, and they will actually do most of the presentations.”

These alumni will also lead the industry roundtables. This allows students to pick an industry and listen to all the alumni within that field. 

Some of the industries that will be represented at the camp include health care, education, sales, public relations, human resources and retail management among many others.

Endsley said this session allows students to ask questions about the industry and get immediate feedback.

“Out of the boot camp, the roundtables are the most popular sessions,” Endsley said. “The students like being able to talk one-on-one with the alumni. They get a lot of great information and advice.”

Endsley said students have also gained mentors or long lasting connections with some alumni. 

She said that for several years, alumni have made connections to several students and become mentors to them.  

Students do not need to bring anything for the camp, but have the option to bring a resume or their own business cards if they like. Endsley said some alumni may take resumes back to their company.

Endlsey also said students should dress professionally. 

Students can register for the boot camp through the Career Services website and clicking on the boot camp link. 

“I know last year we had many who said this was well worth a Saturday,” Endsley said. 

Samantha McDaniel can be reached at 581-2812 

or slmcdaniel@eiu.edu.

Links

Career Boot Camp- http://www.eiu.edu/careers/bootcamp_students.php

Career Services-  http://www.eiu.edu/careers/index.php